Prolonged Reading Research Articles

Effect of Valuka Swedana Followed by Greeva Basti Along with Physiotherapy and Abha Guggulu in the Management of Asthigata Vata (Cervical Spondylosis)

Aging and degeneration are natural course of life, but in this modern era the advancement of technologies and busy life style contribute to the early degeneration process. Improper continuous postures, jerky movements while travelling, overuse of mobiles etc. will produce undue pressure and stress to the cervical disc and it will lead to inflammatory reaction and eventually degeneration. Cervical spondylosis caused by wear and tear phenomena in cervical spine. It is most frequently involved in the cartilage and bones of the cervical spine and causes loss of normal spine function. According to Ayurvedic perspectives cervical spondylosis can be correlated with Asthigata Vata. A female patient age 23yrs., diagnosed and non-operated case of Cervical spondylosis (19/07/2023 OPD NO.27393, IPD NO. 2150) came to Panchakarma OPD of ITRA, Jamnagar with complaints of pain at nape of neck radiating to right upper limb (Greeva Shoola) since last 5yrs along with restricted ROM of neck (Greeva Stambha) and difficulty in doing daily activities such as reading, etc. The pain aggravated in prolonged reading and morning. She was treated with Valuka Swedana for 3 days followed by Greeva Basti with Ksheera Bala Taila 14 days along with physiotherapy (isometric exercise of neck) and Abha Guggulu. Significant improvements were observed in various subjective and objective parameters after the treatment.

Overt Word Reading and Visual Object Naming in Adults with Dyslexia: Electroencephalography Study in Transparent Orthography.

The study aimed to investigate overt reading and naming processes in adult people with dyslexia (PDs) in shallow (transparent) language orthography. The results of adult PDs are compared with adult healthy controls HCs. Comparisons are made in three phases: pre-lexical (150-260 ms), lexical (280-700 ms), and post-lexical stage of processing (750-1000 ms) time window. Twelve PDs and HCs performed overt reading and naming tasks under EEG recording. The word reading and naming task consisted of sparse neighborhoods with closed phonemic onset (words/objects sharing the same onset). For the analysis of the mean ERP amplitude for pre-lexical, lexical, and post-lexical time window, a mixed design ANOVA was performed with the right (F4, FC2, FC6, C4, T8, CP2, CP6, P4) and left (F3, FC5, FC1, T7, C3, CP5, CP1, P7, P3) electrode sites, within-subject factors and group (PD vs. HC) as between-subject factor. Behavioral response latency results revealed significantly prolonged reading latency between HCs and PDs, while no difference was detected in naming response latency. ERP differences were found between PDs and HCs in the right hemisphere's pre-lexical time window (160-200 ms) for word reading aloud. For visual object naming aloud, ERP differences were found between PDs and HCs in the right hemisphere's post-lexical time window (900-1000 ms). The present study demonstrated different distributions of the electric field at the scalp in specific time windows between two groups in the right hemisphere in both word reading and visual object naming aloud, suggesting alternative processing strategies in adult PDs. These results indirectly support the view that adult PDs in shallow language orthography probably rely on the grapho-phonological route during overt word reading and have difficulties with phoneme and word retrieval during overt visual object naming in adulthood.

Processing references in context: when the polar bear does not meet a polar bear

Discourse understanding is hampered when missing or conflicting context information is given. In four experiments, we investigated what happens (a) when the definite determiner “the,” which presupposes existence and uniqueness, does not find a unique referent in the context or (b) when the appropriate use of the indefinite determiner is violated by the presence of a unique referent (Experiment 1 and Experiment 2). To focus on the time-course of processing the uniqueness presupposition of the definite determiner, we embedded the determiner in different sentence structures and varied the context (Experiment 3 and Experiment 4). Reading time served as an index of processing difficulty in a word-by-word self-paced reading task and acceptability judgments provided hints for a possible repair of a presupposition violation. Our results showed that conflicting and missing context information lowered acceptability ratings and was associated with prolonged reading times. The pattern of results differed depending on the nature of the presupposition (Experiments 1 and 2) and whether supplementing missing context information was possible (Experiment 3 and Experiment 4). Our findings suggest that different cognitive processes come into play when interpreting presuppositions in order to get a meaningful interpretation of a discourse.

Artificial-intelligence-enhanced synthetic thick slabs versus standard slices in digital breast tomosynthesis.

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) can provide additional information over mammography, albeit at the cost of prolonged reading time. This study retrospectively investigated the impact of reading enhanced synthetic 6 mm slabs instead of standard 1 mm slices on interpretation time and readers performance in a diagnostic assessment centre. Three radiologists (R1-3; 6/4/2 years of breast imaging experience) reviewed 111 diagnostic DBT examinations. Two datasets were interpreted independently for each patient, with one set containing artificial-intelligence-enhanced synthetic 6 mm slabs with 3 mm overlap, while the other set comprised standard 1 mm slices. Blinded to histology and follow-up, readers noted individual BIRADS categories and diagnostic confidence while reading time was recorded. Among the 111 examinations, 70 findings were histopathologically correlated including 56 malignancies. No significant difference was found between BIRADS categories assigned based on 6 mm vs 1 mm datasets (p ≥ 0.317). Diagnostic accuracy was comparable for 6 mm and 1 mm readings (R1: 87.0% vs 87.0%; R2: 86.1% vs 87.0%; R3: 80.0% vs 84.4%; p ≥ 0.125) with high interrater agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.848 vs 0.865). One reader reported higher confidence with 1 mm slices (R1: p = 0.033). Reading time was substantially shorter when interpreting 6 mm slabs compared to 1 mm slices (R1: 33.5 vs 46.2; R2: 49.1 vs 64.8; R3: 39.5 vs 67.2 sec; all p < 0.001). Artificial-intelligence-enhanced synthetic 6 mm slabs allow for substantial interpretation time reduction in diagnostic DBT without a decrease in reader accuracy. A simplified slab-only protocol instead of 1 mm slices may offset the higher reading time without a loss of diagnosis-relevant image information in first and second readings. Further evaluations are required regarding workflow implications, particularly in screening settings.

"Prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease and how it is impacted by prolonged reading among senior medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"

"Prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease and how it is impacted by prolonged reading among senior medical students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia"

Changes in Accommodation and Vergence Measurements After Smartphone Use in Healthy Young Adults

Background The primary objective of this study was to explore the impacts of extended smartphone usage on accommodation and vergence measurements among healthy young adults. Specifically it seeks to identify any changes that may occur in these ocular functions as a result of extended use of smartphones.Objectives To determine pre and post accommodation and vergence components.Methods A cross-sectional research project was conducted at Mangala College of Allied Health Sciences in Mangalore. The study involved 32 young and healthy individuals with normal vision emmetropia aged between 18 to 25 years. After initial visual screening the participants were evaluated for their accommodation and vergence abilities. Specifically they were asked to read N8 text on a smartphone device placed at a working distance of 40 cm for a duration of 30 minutes. Measurements were taken before and after this task and tabulated for analysis.Results In this study a total of 32 participants were included comprising of 12 37 males and 20 63 females with an average age of 19.00plusmn1.21 years. The results obtained from the assessment of accommodation and vergence measurements before and after 30 minutes of reading on a smartphone device indicate statistically significant changes.Conclusion The findings of this research indicate that prolonged reading on a smartphone device for 30 minutes can have a significant impact on the accommodation vergence and unit of vision for the individual.

The Effect of Color Combinations on the Efficiency of Text Recognition in Digital Devices

The color combination of the text background in digital reading can significantly impact reading efficiency, and prolonged digital reading can affect the efficiency of text recognition. Text background color combinations designed for the display characteristics of digital devices can make users’ reading more efficient. This study investigated the effects of five factors - hue, saturation, brightness, text color and background texture - on text recognition efficiency and text legibility in digital reading, using eye-tracking technology and the E-prime psychology experimental operating platform. Pupil diameter was recorded using eye-tracking technology, and correctness and response time were recorded on the E-prime psychological operating platform, with subjective assessment of text legibility on a Likert scale. The results showed that the green-black combination had better legibility and higher recognition efficiency among light background and dark text combinations. And the peach-light grey combination performed the worst. As for the dark background and light text combinations, the green-white combination showed better legibility and recognition efficiency. Meanwhile, the background texture did not significantly affect reading efficiency in the experiment. This study investigated the factors influencing digital reading interfaces regarding recognition efficiency and legibility, which provided a reference for the design of digital reading interactive interfaces and had practical implications for reducing recognition efficiency decline due to prolonged reading.

Identifying Visual Stress and Assessing The Effect of Colored Overlay on a Person with Visual Stress Symptoms among MSU Students

Visual stress is identified as the experience of visual distortions and discomfort during prolonged reading and alleviated with coloured overlays. With coloured overlays, it also helps to improve reading speed. The aim of this research is to focus on identifying and assessing visual stress associated with reading speed and most preferred colour overlays during routine eye examination. An experimental study was conducted on 40 MSU students. They were identified using a set of questionnaire designed to accomplish the aims of this study. The detailed questionnaire consisted of 19 questions enquiring on ocular history. Question 2 until 6 shows strong indicator of binocular vision problem while question 14 until 19 shows strong indicator of visual stress. The questionnaire was introduced by Sylvia Moody to differentiate whether the subject is having binocular vision problem or visual stress. Next, we proceed with visual stress assessment. The patients were given a computer screen as a reading material and reading speed was taken before and after using coloured overlays. Data was entered on SPSS version 22.0. It is indicated that more than half of the subject are having visual stress (52.5%). The common symptom reported were eye tired due to reading (76.2%), eye distracted when reading (76.2%), and uncomfortable due to fluorescent lighting (76.2%). There is a significant difference in reading speed before and after using coloured overlays (p-value &lt;0.01). The most preferred colour overlays is Aqua (23.8%), Grass (23.8%), Magenta (19%) and Purple (19%). There are benefit of using coloured overlay if the subject is having a sign and symptoms of visual stress. The coloured overlays chosen by the subject is different from one another depends on their sensitivity and specificity required

Study of KIAA0319, DYXIC1 and DCDC2 Gene Polymorphisms in Children with Dyslexia in Indian Population

Background:Dyslexia is a typical learning disability that does not affect intelligence but causes problems with reading, writing, and spelling. It is influenced by certain genes, due to which several researchers have attempted to identify the susceptible gene. Dyslexia is incurable and diagnosis is difficult because it always overlaps with other learning disabilities. Hence, timely assessment and intervention consequently give the best results. Therefore, our aim was to find the relation between dyslexia and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in several candidate genes like DYX1C1, KIAA0319, and DCDC2 in Indian population. Methods:In the present study, 103 individuals with dyslexia and 100 controls in the age group between 6 to 15 years were taken. Thirteen SNPs in the KIAA gene, seven SNPs of DCDC2, and three SNPs of the DYX1C1 gene were analysed by the Mass Array technique. Results:The association of dyslexia with SNPs rs3756821, rs6935076, rs4576240 of the KIAA gene was found significant. A significant association was found with rs600753 of the DYX1C1 gene and dyslexia and we could not find any association of the DCDC2 gene with dyslexia. Conclusions:Prerequisite genetic analysis is necessary for the diagnosis of dyslexia as it is a crucial educational barrier. Treatment is known to be most effective if dyslexia is identified in the early stages for effective intervention for children before they experience prolonged reading failure. Further, it helps in prenatal diagnosis for early intervention.

P269 Spaciotemporal machine learning analysis of complete small bowel capsule endoscopy videos for prediction of outcomes in Crohn’s disease

Abstract Background Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a prime modality for diagnosis and monitoring of Crohn’s disease (CD). However utilization of CE for monitoring of CE is hampered by prolonged reading time and interobserver variability. Machine learning (ML) techniques such as convolutional neural networks (CNN) are capable of accurate detection and grading of inflammatory findings on isolated images from CE in CD patients, with accuracy above 95%. However, ML-based analysis of complete CE films have not yet been reported; moreover, the predictive utility of ML of CE in CD for disease outcomes has not been examined so far. Methods The study cohort included treatment-naïve CD patients that have performed CE (SBIII, Medtronic) within 6 months of diagnosis of CD and had a minimal follow-up of 6 months. Complete small bowel videos (first duodenal to first cecal image) were extracted using the RAPID reader software, V9.0. Prior to extraction, CE videos were scored using the Lewis score (LS). Clinical, endoscopic and laboratory data were extracted from the electronic medical records. All patients were classified as per start of biological therapy during follow-up. Machine learning analysis was performed by Intel Inc. using TimeSformer computer vision algorithm developed by Facebook. Timesformer algorithm utilizes spaciotemporal Results The patient cohort included 103 patients (54 (52%) female, median age- 25 years, interquartile ratio (IQR) 21–40). The median duration of follow-up was 941 (363–1644) days. The median LS was 450 (IQR-225–900). Biological therapy was initiated by 41(39.8%) of the patients (adalimumab -20 (48.7%), infliximab-14 (34,1%), vedolizumab- 7 (17%) patients, respectively). TimeSformer algorithm achieved training and testing accuracy of 91% and 79% respectively, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 for prediction of the need for biologic therapy. In comparison, the AUC for LS was 0.69. The required time for analysis per complete video was 440ms on a single GPU. Conclusion Spaciotemporal analysis of complete small bowel CE videos of newly diagnosed CD patients achieved accurate prediction of the need for biological therapy. The accuracy was superior to that of human reader index. Following future validation, this approach will allow for fast and accurate personalization of treatment decisions in CD.

Visual noise effect on reading in three developmental disorders: ASD, ADHD, and DD.

Developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Developmental Dyslexia (DD) are reported to have more visual problems, oral language difficulties, and diminished reading skills in addition to their different diagnostic features. Moreover, these conditions also have increased internal noise and probably an impaired ability of external noise filtering. The aim of the present study was to compare the reading performance of these groups in the presence of external visual noise which disrupts the automatic reading processes through the degradation of letters. Sixty-four children and adolescents in four groups, ASD, ADHD, DD, and TD, participated in the study. Two types of stimuli were used - unrelated words and pseudowords. The noise was generated by exchanging a fixed number of pixels between the black symbols and the white background distorting the letters. The task of the participants was to read aloud the words or pseudowords. The reading time for a single letter string, word or pseudoword, was calculated, and the proportion of errors was assessed in order to describe the reading performance. The results obtained showed that the reading of unrelated words and pseudowords differs in the separate groups of participants and is affected differently by the added visual noise. In the no-noise condition, the group with TD had the shortest time for reading words and short pseudowords, followed by the group with ASD, while their reading of long pseudowords was slightly slower than that of the ASD group. The noise increase evoked variations in the reading of groups with ASD and ADHD, which differed from the no-noise condition and the control group with TD. The lowest proportion of errors was observed in readers with TD. The reading performance of the DD group was the worst at all noise levels, with the most prolonged reading time and the highest proportion of errors. At the highest noise level, the participants from all groups read the words and pseudowords with similar reading speed and accuracy. In reading words and pseudowords, the ASD, ADHD, and DD groups show difficulties specific for each disorder revealed in a prolonged reading time and a higher proportion of errors. The dissimilarity in reading abilities of the groups with different development is most evident when the accuracy and reading speed are linked together. The use of noise that degrades the letter structure in the present study allowed us to separate the groups with ASD, ADHD, and DD and disclose specifics in the reading process of each disorder. Error type analysis may provide a basis to improve the educational strategies by appropriately structuring the learning process of children with TD, ASD, ADHD, and DD.

Review of the Literature on Existing Management of Dry Eye Disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease in which the tear film’s homeostasis is lost, along with other ocular symptoms such as tear film instability and high osmolarity, neurosensory abnormalities, and ocular surface inflammation and damage. DED is a condition of lacrimal apparatus which is responsible for tear production. The tear film is a mixture of mucin, aqueous (water and solutes like NacI, sugar, urea, proteins,), lipids secreted by goblet cells, lacrimal glands, and meibomian glands, respectively. It keeps the eye moist, provides oxygen to the cornea, and has antibacterial properties. The lipid layer prevents the evaporation of the aqueous. DED is categorized into (i)Aqueous-tear deficiency, characterized by a deficiency of lacrimal glands to secrete tears, (ii)Evaporative DED, associated with increased tear loss by evaporation because there is a deficiency of the meibomian glands. The mechanism of DED might be loss of tear through evaporation or insufficient aqueous production or a combination of the two. DED is a widespread eye problem, which is often left untreated. It causes irritation, itching, dryness, foreign body sensation, and discomfort; severe case causes conjunctival congestion, keratinization, erosion of the corneal epithelium, and plaque formation. If left Univision- threatening vision-threatening, leading to complications like corneal ulceration and perforation. Various clinical tests are used to diose DED, including tear breakup time, tear osmolarity, Schirmer test, Rose Bengal staining, and expression of inflammatory markers. There is no cure for DED at present. The following modalities are used for its treatment:&#x0D; &#x0D; use of punctual and canalicular plugs,&#x0D; artificial tear products like polyethylene glycol/propylene glycol with guar HP,&#x0D; consuming food rich in omega-three fatty acids, antioxidants zeaxanthin, and lutein,&#x0D; Use of anti-inflammatory drugs, mucolytics, secretagogues.&#x0D; Reducing or avoiding mild risk factors like prolonged reading, prolonged use of contact lenses, excessive screen time, etc.&#x0D; Treatment of causative disease.&#x0D; &#x0D; Appropriate management and establishing reasonable patient expectations are necessary to ensure patient satisfaction and adherence to the treatment.

Ophthalmic Assessment in Patients With Darier Disease

To assess the prevalence of ophthalmic findings in patients with Darier disease, an autosomal dominant genetic skin disorder, in an effort to evaluate the need for eye examinations in the management of the disease. Prospective observational case series. Thirty-six individuals with Darier disease were evaluated by both ocular assessment questionnaire and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination (visual acuity, refraction, external examination, and slit-lamp examination) with emphasis on the eyelids, conjunctiva, and cornea. In addition, questionnaire-based medical interview and skin examination were conducted. According to the medical questionnaire, 39% of patients reported eye problems, 36% dry eye, and 42% eye fatigue after prolonged reading. Ocular examination revealed Darier disease lesions on the eyelids in 55% of the patients, blepharitis in 44%, conjunctival hyperemia in 28%, and short tear film break-up time in 83%. There was no significant relationship between any of these ophthalmic findings and systemic retinoid therapy, sex, or age. The high prevalence of blepharitis and dry eye highlights the importance of ophthalmologic evaluation of patients with Darier disease.

Influence of Reading on Smartphone Screens on Visual Optical Quality Metrics and Tear Film Stability.

To evaluate the impact of a prolonged reading session on a smartphone screen on optical quality metrics and tear film stability. This prospective study was conducted in 41 healthy volunteers who were asked to read an article on a smartphone screen for 20 minutes. The following tests were performed before the reading task in this consecutive order and repeated after the reading task in the same order: automated noninvasive tear break-up time, optical quality assessment including Objective Scatter Index (OSI), modulation transfer function, Strehl ratio, and tear film dynamic analysis as follows: vision break-up time (VBUT) as a function of OSI changes within 20 seconds, using a double-pass aberrometer imaging system, and fluorescein tear break-up time (FBUT) measured using the slit lamp. All break-up time-related parameters (noninvasive tear break-up time, FBUT and VBUT) were significantly reduced after the reading task (P < 0.01). The OSI was significantly worsened after the reading task (P = 0.01), whereas all the other optical quality metrics (modulation transfer function and Strehl ratio) slightly deteriorated, were not statistically significant. A significant correlation was found between the shortening of the FBUT, VBUT, and the worsening of the OSI (r = -0.33, P < 0.05). A reading session on a smartphone screen in healthy subjects was found to significantly affect the tear film stability and objectively worsen the retinal image quality.

Impact of Dry Eye on Prolonged Reading.

Patients with dry eye frequently report difficulty with reading. However, the impact of dry eye on reading has not been studied in detail. This study shows the unfavorable effect of dry eye on reading speed and offers mechanisms that may be responsible. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of dry eye signs as well as symptoms on both short-duration out-loud and prolonged silent reading. This study included 116 patients with clinically significant dry eye, 39 patients with dry eye symptoms only, and 31 controls, 50 years or older. After the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, objective testing of dry eye (tear film stability studies, Schirmer's test, and ocular surface staining) was performed. Total OSDI score and two subscores (vision related and discomfort related) were calculated. A short-duration out-loud reading test and a 30-minute sustained silent reading test were performed. Reading speed for each test was calculated as words per minute (wpm) and compared across the three groups. Patients with clinically significant dry eye read slower than controls measured with sustained silent reading test (240 vs. 272 wpm, P = .04), but not with short-duration out-loud reading test (146 vs. 153 wpm, P = .47). Patients with dry eye symptoms only did not have slower reading speed measured using either reading test as compared with controls. However, vision-related OSDI subscore independently was associated with slower reading speed (P = .02). Multivariable regression models demonstrated that each 1-point (between 0 and 6) increase in corneal staining score led to a 10-wpm decrease in sustained silent reading speed (P = .01). This study demonstrates a significant negative impact of dry eye (particularly presence of corneal staining) on prolonged reading. Prolonged reading task may serve as an objective clinically relevant test to measure the impact of dry eye on vision-related quality of life.

Is hiragana decoding impaired in children with periventricular leukomalacia?

BackgroundThere are few studies on hiragana reading skill and phonological awareness in Japanese schoolchildren with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). MethodsThree seven-year-old children with PVL who had no intellectual disabilities or dysarthria were recruited. Their perinatal information, brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) at term equivalent age, accompanying neurodevelopmental disorders, ophthalmologic features, Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC), a hiragana reading test (four tasks), and a phonological awareness task (mora reversal tasks) were analyzed. ResultsPatient (Pt) 1 and pt2 were male. Pt2 and pt3 were siblings of triplets. Their gestational age was 28 or 32 weeks, and their birth weights were 1196, 1554, and 1848 g, respectively. Their brain MRI revealed cystic or non-cystic periventricular white matter injury involving the deep white matter at the trigone of both lateral ventricles. Pt1 had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and pt3 had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. All patients had strabismus with spared best-corrected visual acuity. Scores of Reading/Decoding in K-ABC ranged from 89 to 99. As for the single mora reading task or the non-word reading task in the kana reading test, Z scores of their reading time ranged from 2.3 to 5.9 compared to control children. Pt1 and pt3 made significant errors in the mora reversal task of three-mora words, whereas all patients could answer all words correctly in the mora reversal task of two-mora words. ConclusionAll children showed significantly prolonged reading time despite their adequate letter recognition. Two patients showed delayed phonological awareness. It was suggested that hiragana decoding impairment due to subcortical and/or cortical injury related to PVL affected their reading ability.

Effects of Prolonged Reading on Dry Eye

To demonstrate the effects of prolonged silent reading on tear film and ocular surface parameters. Prospective, observational clinical study. A total of 177 patients with dry eye and 34 normal controls aged 50 years and older. After evaluating symptoms using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, the following tests were performed in consecutive order: automated noninvasive tear break-up time (TBUT), surface asymmetry and regularity indices, Schirmer's testing without anesthesia, corneal staining using fluorescein, and conjunctival staining using lissamine green. The participants were then asked to read a 30-minute validated passage silently. The tests were repeated after the reading task. Changes in tear film and ocular surface parameters after reading. All parameters, with the exception of surface asymmetry index, worsened after the reading task in patients with dry eye and in controls. The worsening reached a statistical significance for corneal and conjunctival staining in the dry eye group (P < 0.001) and for corneal staining in the control group (P < 0.01). At baseline, OSDI scores correlated only with corneal and conjunctival staining scores (r= 0.19, P= 0.006 and r= 0.27, P < 0.001). Among postreading measurements, baseline OSDI scores correlated with TBUT (r=-0.15, P= 0.03) in addition to corneal and conjunctival staining (r= 0.25, P < 0.001 and r= 0.22, P= 0.001). Changes in TBUT and Schirmer's test correlated significantly with their respective baseline values (r=-0.61, P < 0.001 and r=-0.44, P < 0.001), indicating that the more unstable the tear film and the lower the aqueous tear secretion, the worse they became after the prolonged reading task. Worsening in corneal staining directly correlated with the baseline conjunctival staining (r= 0.17, P= 0.02) and surface regularity index (r= 0.21, P= 0.01). Evaluating tear film and ocular surface parameters at rest may miss clinical findings brought about by common everyday tasks such as reading, leading to discordance between patient-reported symptoms and clinician-observed signs. Quantifying dry eye after visually straining activities such as prolonged silent reading may help better understand patient symptomatology.

Influence of spectral distribution on accommodation—vergence and reading performance

Background: To assess the influence of different spectral energy distribution on accommodation, vergence and reading performance. Methods: A Randomized experimental study was conducted after getting the approval of the Ethical Committee of University of Hyderabad. Forty participants with an age group of 18–21 years was integrated, out of which 50% was male and 50% was female. Subjects with emmetropia and no history of ocular pathology were included in the study. Near point of accommodation (NPA) & near point of convergence (NPC) was measured with the help of royal air force (RAF) ruler followed by near visual task of a readability passage. Results: A statistically significant result was obtained when reading rate, reading speed and NPC was compared among different spectral distribution of light (P Conclusions: This study concluded that reading performance (reading rate and reading speed) and NPC has a significance change if we use inappropriate lighting during visual tasks. It will cause visual fatigue and strain after sustained near work. In addition, tungsten spectral energy influences the convergence which can also show an impact on reading and near visual tasks because of its brightness and miosis. Prolonged reading and working under this lighting can cause convergence disorders and visual fatigue.

Effect of Different Illumination Sources on Reading and Visual Performance.

Purpose:To investigate visual performance during reading under different illumination sources.Methods:This experimental quantitative study included 40 (20 females and 20 males) emmetropic participants with no history of ocular pathology. The participants were randomly assigned to read a near visual task under four different illuminations (400-lux constant): compact fluorescent light (CFL), tungsten light (TUNG), fluorescent tube light (FLUO), and light emitting diode (LED). Subsequently, we evaluated the participants’ experiences of eight symptoms of visual comfort.Results:The mean age of the participants was 19.86 ± 1.09 (range: 18–21) years. There was no statistically significant difference between the reading rates of males and females under the different illuminations (P = 0.99); however, the reading rate was fastest among males under CFL, and among females under FLUO. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a strong significant difference (P = 0.001) between males and females (P = 0.002) regarding the visual performance and illuminations.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the influence of illumination on reading rate; there were no significant differences between males and females under different illuminations, however, males preferred CFL and females preferred FLUO for faster reading and visual comfort. Interestingly, neither preferred LED or TUNG. Although energy-efficient, visual performance under LED is poor; it is uncomfortable for prolonged reading and causes early symptoms of fatigue.

Symptoms associated with reading from a smartphone in conditions of light and dark

Asthenopia symptoms were investigated in visually-normal subjects without computer-related vision symptoms after prolonged reading from: smartphone versus hardcopy under photopic conditions, and smartphone in conditions of ambient versus dark room illumination. After reading from the smartphone, total symptom scores and nine out of ten questionnaire symptoms were significantly worse than for the hardcopy (“blurred vision while viewing the text, “blurred distance vision after the task”, “difficulty in refocusing from one distance to another”, “irritated or burning eyes”, “dry eyes”, “eyestrain”, “tired eyes”, “sensitivity to bright lights” and “eye discomfort”). Mean total symptom scores and scores for “irritated or burning eyes” and “dry eyes” were significantly higher for the dark versus photopic conditions. In conclusion, prolonged smartphone reading could cause worse asthenopic symptoms than reading from a hardcopy under similar conditions. Symptoms could be even worse when reading from a smartphone in the dark.