Prolonged screen use affects ocular health among symptomatic and asymptomatic users

Prolonged computer use, especially among individuals with mild dry eye disease, can lead to significant changes in tear film stability and ocular surface health, according to a study that found that symptomatic users who spent considerable time on video display terminals (VDTs), experienced decreased tear film stability (non-invasive break-up time), increased bulbar congestion, and a reduced blink rate after just 1 hour of laptop use. This shift was more pronounced in symptomatic users compared to asymptomatic users.

The study, which involved 70 participants, divided into 2 groups—35 symptomatic users and 35 asymptomatic users—employed advanced diagnostic tools to closely monitor changes in tear film stability and ocular health. The symptomatic group, characterized by mild dry eye disease, reported a mean daily VDT usage of 11.4 hours, while the asymptomatic group clocked in at 2.3 hours per day.

Upon 1 hour of continuous laptop use, the researchers noted changes in the symptomatic group’s tear film and ocular surface. Non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) decreased from 10.7 seconds to 6.7 seconds, and bulbar congestion increased from 0.8 to 1.1. In contrast, the asymptomatic group displayed insignificant variations in these parameters.

In addition, the researchers discovered a reduction in blink rate among symptomatic users during the final 15 minutes of the task, which demonstrated the potential link between discomfort and reduced blinking. These changes prompted the classification of 67.6% of the symptomatic group as meeting the modified TFOS-DEWS II diagnostic criteria for dry eye after the task, up from an initial 16.2%.

Reference
Srivastav S, Basu S, Singh S. Tear film changes in symptomatic versus asymptomatic video display terminal users following computer challenge test. Ocul Surf. 2023;30:53-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.08.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37595798.