Abstract
PurposeTo investigate the factors associated with visual fatigue using monitors with various radii of curvature.MethodsTwenty normal healthy adults (8 men, 12 women; mean age, 26.2 ± 2.5 years) prospectively watched five types of monitors including flat, 4000R, 3000R, 2000R, and 1000R curved monitors for 30 min. An experienced examiner measured the ophthalmological factors including near point of accommodation (NPA), near point of convergence (NPC), refraction, parameters during pupil response at light and saccadic movement just before and after the visual tasks. The questionnaires about subjective ocular symptoms were also investigated just before and after the visual tasks.ResultsThe NPA increased after the visual tasks with a flat monitor compared with the curved monitors, with the 1000R curved monitor showing the smallest change (p = 0.020). The NPC increased for every monitor after the visual tasks; the largest increase occurred with the flat monitor (p = 0.001). There was no difference in refractive error, pupil response, or saccadic movement in the comparison of before and after the visual tasks. Among the nine factors in the questionnaire, the score of “eye pain” was significantly higher for the flat monitor versus the 1000R curved monitor after the visual tasks (p = 0.034).ConclusionsWe identified NPA, NPC, and eye pain as factors associated with visual fatigue. Also, the curvature of the monitor was related to the visual fatigue.
Highlights
Today, most people work at monitors for significant amounts of time, and many activities can be carried out without moving from monitors
The near point of accommodation (NPA) increased after the visual tasks with a flat monitor compared with the curved monitors, with the 1000R curved monitor showing the smallest change (p = 0.020)
The near point of convergence (NPC) increased for every monitor after the visual tasks; the largest increase occurred with the flat monitor (p = 0.001)
Summary
Most people work at monitors for significant amounts of time, and many activities can be carried out without moving from monitors. There have been numerous health complaints associated with working at visual display terminals. Eye problems are the single most common complaint. Studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of visual discomfort in video display terminal users [1,2,3]. Reported complaints after using computers include eye strain, burning, tearing, irritation, redness, foreign body sensation, blurred vision, and double vision [4, 5]. Many of these symptoms have been proposed to be the result of the increased occurrence of dry eye syndrome [6,7,8]. Other studies have reported reversible changes in visual function, such as reduced accommodation velocity, transient myopia, and reduced pupillary movement in the near reflex, suggesting possible effects on visual fatigue [9,10,11]
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