Visual Display Terminal Research Articles

Computer vision syndrome, musculoskeletal, and stress-related problems among visual display terminal users in Nepal.

BackgroundThe use of computers and other Visual Display Terminal (VDT) screens is increasing in Nepal. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and other occupational health concerns among employees working in front of VDT screens in the Nepalese population.ObjectivesThis study aims to estimate the prevalence of CVS, musculoskeletal and work-related stress among VDT screen users in the office, as well as their understanding and usage of preventive measures.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional descriptive study among 319 VDT users in office settings in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal, using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the associated factors at 95% CI. P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of CVS was 89.4%. More than eight out of ten study participants reported at least one visual and musculoskeletal symptom. Work-related stress, which was moderate-difficult to handle, was present in 36.7% of the study population. The mean±SD computer usage per day was 7.9±1.9 hours. Tired eye (63.3%), feeling of dry eye (57.8%), headache (56.9%) were the common visual symptoms of CVS reported. Total computer use/day > = 8 hours OR 2.6, improper viewing distance OR 3.2, Not using an anti-glare screen OR 2.6, not using eye-drops, and not wearing protective goggles OR 3.1 were significantly associated with the presence of CVS. There was no statistically significant association between visual symptoms of CVS, musculoskeletal symptoms, and stress with gender.ConclusionCVS was substantially related to not employing preventive measures, working longer hours, and having an incorrect viewing distance. With more hours per day spent in front of a VDT screen, work-related stress and musculoskeletal complaints were also found to be important correlates. Similarly, work-related stress was found more among those who had less than five years of job.

Assessing the Risk Factors For Diagnosed Symptomatic Dry Eye Using a Smartphone App: Cross-sectional Study

BackgroundDry eye (DE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the ocular surface of the eye that affects millions of people throughout the world. Smartphone use as an effective health care tool has grown exponentially. The “Dry eye or not?” app was created to evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic DE, screen for its occurrence, and provide feedback to users with symptomatic DE throughout Thailand.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of symptomatic dry eye (DE), blink rate, maximum blink interval (MBI), and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) between people with and without symptomatic DE and to identify risk factors for symptomatic DE in Thailand.MethodsThis cross-sectional study sourced data from the “Dry eye or not?” smartphone app between November 2019 and July 2020. This app collected demographic data, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, blink rate, MBI, BSCVA, and visual display terminal (VDT) use data. The criterion for symptomatic DE was OSDI score ≥13.ResultsThe prevalence of symptomatic DE among individuals using this smartphone app in Thailand was 85.8% (8131/9482), with the Northeastern region of Thailand having the highest prevalence, followed by the Northern region. Worse BSCVA (median 0.20, IQR 0.40; P=.02), increased blink rate (median 18, IQR 16; P<.001), reduced MBI (median 8.90, IQR 10.80; P<.001), female sex (adjusted OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.59-2.09; P<.001), more than 6 hours of VDT use (adjusted OR 1.59; 95% CI 1.15-2.19; P=.004), and lower than bachelor’s degree (adjusted OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.03-1.64; P=.02) were significantly associated with symptomatic DE. An age over 50 years (adjusted OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.60-0.99) was significantly less associated with symptomatic DE (P=.04).ConclusionsThis smartphone DE app showed that the prevalence of symptomatic DE in Thailand was 85.8%. Signs and risk factors could be also evaluated with this smartphone DE app. Screening for DE by this app may allow for the development of strategic plans for health care systems in Thailand.

Gender Differences in Insomnia and Role of Work Characteristics and Family Responsibilities Among Healthcare Workers in Taiwanese Tertiary Hospitals.

BackgroundInsomnia is common among healthcare workers (HCWs), especially those working in tertiary hospitals. This study aimed to clarify whether gender differences in insomnia could be explained by gender differences in work characteristics and family responsibilities among HCWs in tertiary hospitals in Taiwan.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 departments of two tertiary hospitals in Northern Taiwan from December 2018 to March 2019. All data were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire given when participants underwent annual health check-ups. Insomnia was evaluated using the Chinese Athens Insomnia Scale. Work characteristics and family responsibilities were as follows: department, working hours, shift work, visual display terminals used at work, demand-control-support model, burnout level, breadwinner status, living conditions, and caregiver status. Data of 2,811 participants (317 men, 11.3%; 2,494 women, 88.7%) were analyzed (response rate: men, 85%; women, 88%). Logistic regression analysis examined howwork characteristics and family responsibilities explained gender differences in insomnia.ResultsThe prevalence of insomnia in women (61.7%) was significantly higher than that in men (52.7%), and gender differences strengthened after adjusting for work characteristics and family responsibilities [odds ratio: 1.45 (1.11–1.90) and 1.62 (1.18–2.22), p < 0.01]. Stratified analyses revealed that significant gender differences were found among HCWs with comparatively unfavorable work and family conditions. Furthermore, women had a higher association of insomnia owing to these factors.ConclusionThese results suggest that gender differences in insomnia among HCWs are mainly explained by gender differences in work characteristics and family responsibilities.

Review on the possible pathophysiological mechanisms underlying visual display terminal-associated dry eye disease.

Visual display terminal (VDT) use is a key risk factor for dry eye disease (DED). Visual display terminal (VDT) use reduces the blink rate and increases the number of incomplete blinks. However, the exact mechanisms causing DED development from VDT use have yet to be clearly described. The purpose of the study was to conduct a review on pathophysiological mechanisms promoting VDT-associated DED. A PubMed search of the literature investigating the relationship between dry eye and VDT was performed, and relevance to pathophysiology of DED was evaluated. Fifty-five articles met the inclusion criteria. Several pathophysiological mechanisms were examined, and multiple hypotheses were extracted from the articles. Visual display terminal (VDT) use causes DED mainly through impaired blinking patterns. Changes in parasympathetic signalling and increased exposure to blue light, which could disrupt ocular homeostasis, were proposed in some studies but lack sufficient scientific support. Together, these changes may lead to a reduced function of the tear film, lacrimal gland, goblet cells and meibomian glands, all contributing to DED development. Visual display terminal (VDT) use appears to induce DED through both direct and indirect routes. Decreased blink rates and increased incomplete blinks increase the exposed ocular evaporative area and inhibit lipid distribution from meibomian glands. Although not adequately investigated, changes in parasympathetic signalling may impair lacrimal gland and goblet cell function, promoting tear film instability. More studies are needed to better target and improve the treatment and prevention of VDT-associated DED.

Wearing face masks and possibility for dry eye during the COVID-19 pandemic

This population-based observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive survey was to investigate the relationship of increased face mask usage in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) era with mask-associated dry eye (MADE). Participants aged 6–79 years old with formal school education were selected. All participants finished the 19-item questionnaire online, distributed through different social media platforms. From 6925 participants who submitted eligible questionnaires, MADE was reported in 547 participants, which included 419 participants who developed new dry eye symptoms after wearing face masks and 128 participants whose pre-existing dry eye symptoms worsened with mask wearing. Longer time of face mask wearing, nonstandard wearing of face masks, reduced outdoor time, decreased daily reading time, shortened visual display terminals time, and dry environment were positively associated with MADE. There were significant associations between perceived MADE and age, female sex, education, use of glasses and contact lenses, and pre-existing dry eye. MADE was more common in adults aged > 20 years than those aged ≤ 20 years or juveniles. MADE incidence increased. Standard wearing of face masks was suggested as a protective factor for MADE. Awareness about the possible risk of MADE should also be created and the clinical dry eye signs should be verified.Clinical trial registration number: NCT04744805.

Prevalence of symptomatic dry eye disease with associated risk factors among medical students at Chiang Mai University due to increased screen time and stress during COVID-19 pandemic.

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most common ophthalmological disorders, resulting from several systemic and ocular etiologies including meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical students are among the high-risk group for DED, mainly due to the increasing use of a visual display terminal (VDT) for online lectures and psychological stress from encountering several changes. Our study aimed to explore the prevalence of DED using the symptom-based definition and potential risk factors in medical students. This is a prospective cross-sectional study that included medical students at Chiang Mai University between November 2020 and January 2021. All participants were assessed using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, the Thai version of the 10-Item Perceived Stress Scale-10 (T-PSS-10), the LipiView® II interferometer, and an interview for other possible risk factors. Overall, 528 participants were included in the study; half of the participants were female. The prevalence of DED was 70.8%. In the univariate analysis, female sex, contact lens wear, and T-PSS-10 stress scores were significantly higher in the DED group (P = 0.002, 0.002, and <0.001, respectively). Moreover, participants with severe DED were likely to have higher meibomian gland tortuosity but not statistically significant. In the multivariate analysis, contact lens use and T-PSS-10 score were significant risk factors associated with the severity of DED. In conclusions, the prevalence of DED in medical students was as high as 70.8%. Contact lens use and psychological stress evaluated using the T-PSS-10 questionnaire had a significant correlation with a risk of DED. Female gender and duration of VDT use were also associated. Most of the risk factors were modifiable and may be used as initial management in patients with DED.

Evaluation of VDT-Induced Visual Fatigue by Automatic Detection of Blink Features.

This study evaluates the progression of visual fatigue induced by visual display terminal (VDT) using automatically detected blink features. A total of 23 subjects were recruited to participate in a VDT task, during which they were required to watch a 120-min video on a laptop and answer a questionnaire every 30 min. Face video recordings were captured by a camera. The blinking and incomplete blinking images were recognized by automatic detection of the parameters of the eyes. Then, the blink features were extracted including blink number (BN), mean blink interval (Mean_BI), mean blink duration (Mean_BD), group blink number (GBN), mean group blink interval (Mean_GBI), incomplete blink number (IBN), and mean incomplete blink interval (Mean_IBI). The results showed that BN and GBN increased significantly, and that Mean_BI and Mean_GBI decreased significantly over time. Mean_BD and Mean_IBI increased and IBN decreased significantly only in the last 30 min. The blink features automatically detected in this study can be used to evaluate the progression of visual fatigue.

Assessment of Dry Eye Syndrome Among Contact Lens Users in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia.

BackgroundPatients with contact lens-associated dry eye (CLADE) disease had different symptoms, such as dryness, foreign body sensation, eye strain, and blurred vision. In addition, CLADE is characterized by end-of-day pain. The degradation of the ocular surface as a result of extended dryness or employment with a visual display terminal (VDT) causes these symptoms. Because these symptoms worsen as the day progresses, practitioners should evaluate contact lens wearers at the end of the day to identify symptomatic patients.AimTo assess dry eye syndrome among contact lens users in the Asir region, Saudi Arabia.MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional study was used, targeting all accessible contact lens users in the Asir region, South of Saudi Arabia. A total of 250 individuals received the study survey. Data were collected from participants using an online pre-structured questionnaire. The authors initiated the study tool with the help of a comprehensive review of similar articles in the literature and consulting specialized experts, including an ophthalmologist and Arabic translator, to ensure the accuracy of the questionnaire's translation process. The questionnaire covered the following data: participants' socio-demographic data, contact lens use and frequency of use, dry eyes symptoms (DESs) questions, Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 (CLDEQ-8), and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI).ResultsOut of 405 respondents, only 201 contact lens users in the Asir region were included in the study, with a participation rate of 80.4%. Respondents' ages ranged from 18 to 50 years with a mean age of 24.3 ± 12.8 years old. A total of 122 (60.7%) contact lens users had eye disease, including myopia among 94 (77%), hyperopia among 8 (6.6%), and 20 (16.4%) had other eye diseases. A total of 91% of the study participants felt dry eyes two weeks before study time, 88.1% experienced burning sensation, and 82.6% complained of red-eye. A total of 131 (65.2%) contact lens users had non-dry eyes, 41 (20.4%) had mild dry eyes, 20 (10%) had moderate dry eyes, and 9 (4.5%) had severe dry eyes. A total of 48.8% of those who used lenses daily had dry eyes compared to 25% of those who used lenses annually (P = 0.049).ConclusionsIn conclusion, the current study showed that nearly one out of three contact lens users in the Asir region experienced contact lens-related dry eye syndrome mainly with a moderate degree. A higher dry eye syndrome rate is estimated among those who reported a higher frequency of contact lens use and others with a history of eye diseases.

Association of visual display terminal time with prevalence of temporomandibular disorder among Japanese workers.

Visual display terminal (VDT) time has been reported to affect the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, no study has investigated the association between VDT time at and outside of work with TMDs Adjusting for known TMJ risk factors. This study aimed to investigate whether TMDs were associated with VDT time at and outside of work after adjusting for various working conditions in Japanese workers. This cross-sectional study was based on an internet survey of 3930 workers (2057 men and 1873 women), The TMD Screening Questionnaire (SQ-TMD), occupational factors, VDT time at and outside of work, psychosocial factors, and habits were assessed. We applied logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of VDT time on SQ-TMD with adjustment for confounders. The mean age of the respondents was 43.3 ± 11.7 years, and 778 (19.8%) and 3152 (80.2%) subjects were at high and low TMD-related symptoms (TRS). Logistic regression analysis adjusting for all covariates (Model 2), the prevalence of high TRS was significantly higher among those with VDT time at work of 60-179 min (OR=1.52, 95% CI 1.18-1.94), 180-359 min (OR=1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.62), and more than 360 min (OR=1.44, 95% CI 1.10-1.88) compared to those with 0-59 min. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of high TRS for VDT time outside of work. VDT time at work, but not VDT time outside of work, influences the prevalence of TRS. Since the association between VDT time at work and the prevalence of TRS was found even after adjusting for sociopsychological factors and habits generally associated with TMD, further investigation of other factors is needed.

Risk Factors and Prevalent of Sick Building Syndrome among Back-office Workers in a Thai University Hospital

Objective: To investigate risk factors and prevalent of sick building syndrome (SBS) among backoffice workers in a Thai university hospital.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 back-office workers who always had been working in their office rooms not less than 3 months. Two anonymous self-administrated questionnaires collected data. Ten parameters of Indoor air quality were measured by air sampling. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with SBS. Result: The prevalence of SBS symptoms was 80% sample, followed by 68.5% with less specific symptoms and 41.8% suffering from poor concentration, with 40.6% experiencing similar prevalence in both groups of irritated, dry or watering eyes, and irritated, runny or blocked nose dry, and 26.7% sore throat. The result of the model shows that neuroticism, visual display terminal used, and allergy history were risk factors related to SBS (p-value &lt;0.05). Conclusion: Neuroticism, allergy history, and visual display terminal used were risk factors of SBS. These findings suggest that hospital administrators should be aware of neuroticism worker, allergic history, and visual display terminals used to prevent SBS symptoms among back-office worker who may leave their jobs due to aggravated symptoms and decreased productivity

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Computer Vision Syndrome Among Academic Staff in the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: An Institution-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction:Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is the leading occupational hazard of the 21st century, which causes the critical public health issues in the present era. In developing countries, including Ethiopia, data on the proportion and the causes of CVS are scarce among academic staff for policy conclusions. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and factors associated with CVS among academic staff at the University of Gondar.Methods:Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March to April, 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 525 study participants. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were then entered into EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed using STATA version 14 software. The association between dependent and independent variables was computed with a binary logistic regression.Results:The prevalence of CVS was found to be 78.8% out of a total of 500 participants [95% CI (74.95, 82.30)], of which the majority (71.60%) of them were males. Using a computer for more than 9 years [AOR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.01, 2.71)], using visual display terminals [AOR = 2.63, 95% CI (1.60, 4.32)], and working in improper illumination levels (300 and >500 lux) [AOR = 2.47, 95% CI (1.47, 4.33)] increased the risk of CVS, whereas, Using eye droplets [AOR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.15, 0.58)] and taking rest breaks [AOR = 0.55, 95% CI (0.34-0.92)] were protective factors.Conclusion:This study disclosed that CVS was common among academicians. In the current study, the manifestation of CVS was affected by years of computer use, visual display terminals use, workplace illumination level, rest breaks, and eye droplets. Taking rest breaks in between the work, reducing exposure to display screens, use of eye drops, and optimizing workplace illumination levels are recommended to reduce the problem.

Usage of devices with visual display terminals and the occurrence of various types of headaches: a cross-sectional study

Usage of devices with visual display terminals and the occurrence of various types of headaches: a cross-sectional study

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dry Eye Disease at a Tertiary Care Centre in Haryana, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease which causes ocular discomfort and visual disturbances. It is one of the major causes of patients’ visit to the clinic. The prevalence of DED has increased in recent times due to increased time spent on computers and mobile phones, ageing population and highly stressful social environment. Various studies done in past on DED prevalence have given the variable results. Aim: To determine the prevalence of DED and analyse the associated risk factors in a tertiary care centre in Sonepat, Haryana, India. Materials and Methods: Present study was a cross-sectional observational study done in outpatient Department of Ophthalmology at Bhagat Phool Singh Government Medical College for Women, Sonepat, Haryana, India, from April 2021 to December 2021. Total 820 patients, aged &gt;18 years were administered Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Patients with OSDI score &gt;12 and positive one or both of the dry eye objective tests of Schirmer’s and Tear film Break Up Time (TBUT) below cut-off value were labeled as DED and were evaluated for association with various risk factors. Data were statistically analysed by Chi-square test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: The mean age of patients were 39.65±15.52 years ranging between 18-79 years. DED was found to be more prevalent in females 120 (56.1%) compared to males 94 (43.9%). The prevalence of DED was 26.1% (214/820). Maximum prevalence was found in the age group 18-40 years (43.9%). Out of the 214 DED patients, 113 (52.8%) had mild, 95 (44.4%) had moderate and 6 (2.8%) had severe dry eye. The risk factors significantly associated (p&lt;0.05) with DED were: more than 3.71 hours of Visual Display Terminal (VDT) use, occupational VDT users, homemakers, previous ocular surgery, uncorrected refractive error, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), alcohol intake and mask use. Conclusion: DED is a significant cause of ocular morbidity, affecting more than quarter (26.1%) of the study population. Awareness and identification of risk factors for dry eye which are occupational VDT users, previous ocular surgery, uncorrected refractive error, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, alcohol intake and mask use is important for effective prevention and management of DED.

Screen exposure time and computer vision syndrome in school-age children during COVID-19 era: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: With the advent of COVID-19 era, teaching activities have migrated from offline to online platform. In this study, we assess whether the increased exposure to visual display terminal (VDT) devices is affecting the health of school-age children with regard to computer vision syndrome (CVS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out by means of an online questionnaire. Participants were students ranging from Class 1 to Class 12. Questions were posed to participants pertaining to screen exposure time, physical activity levels, dry eye symptoms, and asthenopia symptoms. The dry eye part was adapted from the 5 Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ5 questionnaire), and the asthenopia part was adapted from the questionnaire developed by Ames et al. A total of 554 students were included in the study. The data received were statistically analyzed. Results: An increase in screen exposure time during COVID era was reported by 237 (42.8%) students. The major contributors to screen usage were online classes and assignments (94% of students). The prevalence of headache was higher in students using tablet/iPad and smartphone as the VDT device. The headache, eyeache, DEQ5 scores, and asthenopia scores were significantly correlated with screen exposure time, and a significant increase was observed in parameters from pre-COVID to COVID era. Concentration span in online classes showed a positive correlation with amount of physical activity of the student. Conclusions: Dry eye, asthenopia, and musculoskeletal symptoms of CVS have increased significantly during COVID era. Screen exposure needs to be restricted and adequate attention needs to be given to physical activity.

Efficacy of Saindhavadi Rasakriya Anjanain Krimigranthiwith special reference to Seborrheic Blepharitis-A Case Study

Acharya Vagbhatahas explained nine Sandhigata Rogasand Krimigranthiis one among them. Signs and symptoms of Krimigranthican be analyzed with seborrheic blepharitis which is one of the commonly encountered eye lid margin diseases in OPD. Study shows that 50 percent of population develop the disease with increasing age and contact lens usage. Treatments mentioned for Krimigranthiinclude Swedana, Bhedana and pratisarana. This case is of a female patient who complained of itching over both eyes, foreign body sensation, burning sensation, watering of eyes and falling of eyelashes since two years which gets aggravated on exposure to dry climate, increased Visual Display Terminals (VDT) usage &amp; reduced sleep. Anjanawith Saindhavadi Rasakriya Anjanawas given for 15 days. Significant reduction in signs and symptoms were observed after the treatment

Changes in Electroencephalographic Results and Heart Rate Variability after Exposure to Green Landscape Photographs Correlated with Color Temperature and Illumination Level

Background and objective Various images from visual display terminals (VDTs) as well as living lighting are important parts of our daily life; thus, properly controlling the lighting environment – that is, illuminance, color temperature and good images from VDTs – can have a substantial effect on improving the mental health and work efficiency in everyday life. We examined electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) responses to various lighting conditions in 25 university students as they viewed images of a green landscape or traffic congestion. Methods EEG was performed in darkness and when the room was illuminated with 10 different light-emitting diode (LED) color temperatures, while the EEG and HRV responses to green landscape or traffic congestion image stimuli were measured in darkness and during room illumination with three different LED color temperatures. Results We found a significant difference between darkness and high LED illumination (400 lx) at 7 (CZ, F4, FZ, O1, O2, OZ, and T6) of 30 channels, while the alpha wave activity increased during darkness. In the second experiment, the green landscape image stimuli in the 30 lx–2600 K lighting condition elicited theta wave activity on the EEG, whereas the traffic congestion image stimuli under high LED illumination elicited high beta and gamma wave activities. Moreover, the subjects exhibited better stress coping ability and heart rate stability in response to green landscape image stimuli under illuminated conditions, according to their HRV. Conclusion These results suggest that lower color temperatures and illumination levels alleviate tension, and that viewing green landscape image stimuli at low illumination, or in darkness, is effective for reducing stress. Conversely, high illumination levels and color temperatures are likely to increase tension and stress in response to traffic congestion image stimuli.

The Effect of Stretching the Clavicular Fibers of the Pectoralis Major Muscle on Thoracic Kyphosis The Effect of Stretching the Clavicular Fibers of the Pectoralis Major Muscle on Thoracic Kyphosis Angle

Background : In modern society, many people spend considerable time using visual display terminals, which can accelerate the induction of thoracic kyphosis. The abnormal arrangement of the thoracic vertebrae causes shortening of the pectoralis major muscle, in order to alleviate the thoracic spine lesions, stretching movements in the thoracic spine and thorax can relieve the tension in the intervertebral discs and surrounding tissues between the vertebrae and improve the thoracic kyphosis posture. Objectives : Three kinds of pectoralis major muscle extension training were designed to explore the effect of pectoralis major muscle extension on the angle of thoracic kyphosis, so as to provide theoretical guidance and data support for the clinical treatment and prevention of thoracic kyphosis. Methods : Ten adults with normal thoracic curvature were included in this study. Three methods 1) self-stretching on wall corner, 2) self-stretching with foam roller, 3) stretching in standing posture were applied for 5 days to stretch the pectoralis major. A double inclinometer was placed on the spinous process of the 1st and 12th thoracic vertebrae before and after the experiment, to measure changes in the thoracic kyphosis angle and compare the differences between the anterior and posterior data. Results : The thoracic kyphosis angle after extension exercise of the pectoralis major muscle was 24.9 ±6.78, while the thoracic kyphosis angle calculated before extension exercise was 27.4 ± 7.59, and there was a significant difference between the two p < 0.05. Conclusions : This study suggests that stretching the clavicular fibers of the pectoralis major muscle helps to reduce thoracic kyphosis.

Provocation of dry eye disease symptoms during COVID-19 lockdown

To assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on dry-eye symptoms in a community-based population, a cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. An online survey was distributed via social media between June and July 2020. The questionnaire elicited information on demographics, dry-eye symptoms, use of visual display terminals, and mental health status. There were 535 respondents. Thirty-seven percent reported having been diagnosed with dry-eye disease (DED). During the lockdown, the mean dry-eye symptom score (DESS) of overall participants dropped significantly from 81.6 ± 15.9 to 79.8 ± 17.4 (P < 0.001). The mean, daily, visual display terminal (VDT) usage increased from 10.55 ± 5.16 to 13.08 ± 5.65 h (P < 0.001). A negative correlation between age and VDT usage was observed in both the normal and lockdown situations. One-quarter of all participants had an abnormal mental health status. The female gender (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14–3.04) and increased VDT usage during the lockdown (OR 5.68; 95% CI 3.49–9.23) were independently associated with worsening dry-eye symptoms. The lockdown measures abruptly altered the behaviors and lifestyles of the overall population. Excessive exposure to VDTs were associated with deteriorated dry-eye symptoms, and it possibly contributed to the increased DED incidence in the surveyed population.

The association between visual display terminal use and dry eye: a review.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the tear film and ocular surface. It causes ocular symptoms, reduced quality of life and a considerable economic burden on society. Prolonged use of visual display terminals (VDTs) has been suggested as an important risk factor for DED. This review aims to study the association between DED and VDT use with an emphasis on the prevalence of DED among VDT users and harmful daily duration of VDT use. A PubMed search was conducted and yielded 57 relevant articles based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The studies were subclassified according to study design. The far majority of the studies showed an association between VDT use and DED or DED-related signs and symptoms. The prevalence of definite or probable DED in VDT and office workers ranged from 26% to 70%, with as few as 1-2 hr of VDT exposure per day being associated with DED. VDT use is strongly associated with DED. VDT-associated DED is prevalent, but the exact prevalence needs to be further elucidated using standardized DED diagnosis criteria. Furthermore, a safe lower limit of daily VDT use has yet to be established. More research is needed on the effect of digitalization and digital transformation, which are particularly high during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Excessive Blinking in Children and Its Association with Dry Eyes and Visual Display Terminal: A 200 Case-Control Study

Objective: To identify the cause of excessive blinking in apparently healthy children, and to evaluate its association with visual activities including visual display terminal use. Material and Methods: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional case-control study included 200 children aged 6 to 14 years with chief complaints of excessive blinking (study group) and routine eye check-up visits (control group). All participants underwent a complete eye examination including blink rate and tear break-up time measurement. Parents were asked to answer questionnaires regarding tic disorder and duration of visual activities. Results: One hundred children in the study group (mean age 7.9±2.0 years) and 100 children in the control group (mean age 9.5±2.3 years) were enrolled. Participants in the study group were predominantly male (77% versus 44%) and had a higher blink rate (30 versus 9 blinks/minute) compared to the control group. In the study group, there was a significantly higher percentage of participants diagnosed with dry eyes (73% versus 6%, p&lt;0.001), allergic conjunctivitis (41% versus 0%, p&lt;0.001) and tic disorder (19% versus 9%, p 0.042) than in the control group. One third of the participants in the study group had mixed diagnoses of dry eyes and allergic conjunctivitis. There was no significant difference in the duration of visual activities including visual display terminal use between groups. Conclusion: Excessive blinking occurred more commonly in boys. The most common associated disorders with excessive blinking in children were dry eyes, followed by allergic conjunctivitis and tic disorder. There was no association between excessive blinking in children and duration of visual display terminal use. Keywords: Blinking; Excessive blinking; Dry eyes; Visual display terminal