Posters

How are tear meniscus parameters and dry eye tests affected by continuous digital screen use?

Poster Details

First Author: B.Bostanci Ceran TURKEY

Co Author(s):    A. Karatepe Hashas   H. Arifoglu   E. Tasindi              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of continuous digital screen use on tear meniscus height (TMH) and depth (TMD) obtained by anterior segment optical coherent tomography (AC-OCT) and conventional dry eye tests.

Setting:

Okan University Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, İstanbul, Turkey

Methods:

Right eyes of 25 call-center workers were included. People with a history of atopy, allergy or any systemic or ophthalmic disease, which might affect tear production, were excluded. Individuals using contact lenses or topical ophthalmic medication including tear substitutes were also excluded. Following full ophthalmic examination, lower TMH and TMD were measured with AC-OCT. After a 4-hour period of continuous digital screen use, same parameters were evaluated. One day later, Schirmer test and break up time (BUT) were measured in the same test population before and after continuous digital screen use.

Results:

Mean age of the group was 24.48±4.5. Lower TMH was 228.34±51.12μm before computer use whereas, it was 149.24±23.12μm afterwards. Before and after TMD measurements were 135.72±17.12μm and 105.82±10.12μm respectively. The difference between before and after TMH and TMD measurements were statistically significant (p1=0.001, p2=0.001). Mean before Schirmer score was 17.13±5.12mm and BUT was 8.15±2.13 seconds. After 4 hour screen use, mean Schirmer result was 11.59±5.43mm and BUT was 6.12±1.17 seconds. Difference between before and after Schirmer test and BUT scores were statistically significant (p1=0.001, p2=0.001).

Conclusions:

Continuous digital screen use seems to affect not only conventional dry eye tests such as Schirmer and BUT, but also tear meniscus parameters which can be measured by AS-OCT. Protective measures should be taken for people who spend most of their working time in front of digital screens to increase tear production and decrease tear evaporation, since work performance and productivity might easily be affected by ocular health and comfort.

Financial Disclosure:

None