Association between Information and Communication Technology use and Ocular Axial Length Elongation among Middle-Aged Male Workers

Takeshi Hayashi,Yuya Watanabe,Tadashi Nakano,Masayuki Tatemichi,Toru Nakagawa,Toru Honda,Seichi Horie

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-53423-8

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technology devices (ICT) has spread globally; therefore, increasing exposure to these display devices is an important health issue in the workplace. The association between ocular axial length (AL) elongation and ICT use was investigated among 7334 middle-aged Japanese male workers. Detailed ICT use information was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The high AL group was defined as the group with AL above the 75th percentile for each 5-year age interval. Logistic analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for the high AL group of >8 hours/day, adjusted for potent confounding factors, was significantly elevated relative to <1 hour/day. Notably, there was a strong association in the older groups (OR = 6.60, 95% CI = 3.92–11.12), based on work-related uses: word processing, sending e-mails, preparation of presentation materials, and browsing websites. In addition, among workers with extended ICT use for these work-related purposes, a significant lateral difference was observed in AL. However, these associations were not observed for private use, such as playing games. The results of our prospective cross-sectional study show that increased time spent on work-related ICT uses was associated with AL elongation, particularly in older workers.

Highlights

Over the past few decades, the duration of use of display devices with backlight illumination, such as computer monitors, smartphones, and tablets has been increasing in occupational and private activities[1]
This study demonstrated that increased Information and Communication Technology devices (ICT) use was significantly associated with longer axial length (AL) among middle-aged Japanese male workers
In older age groups, the extent of ICT use tended to show a greater influence on AL

Summary

Introduction

Over the past few decades, the duration of use of display devices with backlight illumination, such as computer monitors, smartphones, and tablets (collectively referred to as Information and Communication Technology [ICT] devices) has been increasing in occupational and private activities[1]. The prevalence of myopia, axial myopia in which the ocular axial length (AL) is stretched in the long axis direction, has been increasing globally, such that it comprises an important public health problem in both developing and developed countries[4,5]. Many reports show that education[6], time spent outdoors[7], and physical activity[8] are important causal environmental factors associated with myopia risk. We have previously reported a relationship between ICT use and glaucomatous visual field abnormalities in cross-sectional and cohort study designs[22,23,24]. We collected large-scale data relating to AL to test our hypothesis in this cross-sectional study; after adjusting for known confounding factors, we sought to clarify the association between ICT use and elongation of AL

Methods

Results

Conclusion