Changes in Tear Lipid Layer Thickness After Short Exposure to Light Emitting Diode Displays
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 60
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Lipid Layer Thickness
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Video display terminals (VDTs) are ubiquitous, and engagement in digital screens has grown substantially across all age groups worldwide. Prolonged exposure to VDTs is associated with the development of various health problems. By now, it is unclear whether transient exposure to VDTs leads to ocular surface changes, especially regarding lipid layer thickness (LLT). This study aim to determine if short-term exposure to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) leads to ocular parameter changes.
This is a prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients were recruited at the National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, a tertiary referral center in southern Taiwan, for examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), lipid layer thickness (LLT), and blink rates and patterns before and after watching an LED display for 15 minutes. The estimated result is that the LLT and blink rates will decrease after VDT watching.
Detailed Description
Video display terminals (VDTs) are ubiquitous, and engagement in digital screens has grown substantially across all age groups worldwide. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, lockdowns and increasing demand for digital learning and working have led to more frequent and sustained VDT use. Prolonged exposure to VDTs is associated with the development of various health problems, including psychosocial issues, venous thromboembolism, fatigue, and visual complaints.
Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is one of the most frequently encountered problems among VDT users. CVS comprises several visual and musculoskeletal symptoms resulting from VDT use, such as eye strain, dryness and burning sensation of the eye, blurred vision, and neck and shoulder pain. A major alteration is the development of dry eye disease (DED), occurring in 60 % of those with CVS. Dry eye symptoms, corneal erosions, short tear-film breakup time (BUT), low tear meniscus height, and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) are all DED presentations encountered by VDT users. The continuous use of VDTs is an established risk factor for CVS and DED. However, it is unclear whether transient exposure to VDTs leads to ocular surface changes, especially regarding lipid layer thickness (LLT).
This study investigated if the short-term use of light-emitting diode (LED) displays (one type of VDT) changed the ocular parameters, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular ocular pressure (IOP), the CVS-Questionnaire (CVS-Q) score, the blink rate, the partial blink ratio, and LLT. To our knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the immediate effects of LEDs on the eye.
This prospective clinical study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Department of the National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH), Tainan, Taiwan. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of NCKUH and followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants.
The inclusion criteria were generally healthy individuals aged between 20 and 65 years who were willing to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria were ages below 20 or over 65 years, a BCVA score of <0.1 on the Landolt C chart in either eye, a BCVA difference of >0.2 between the eyes, and a history of ocular diseases or previous ocular surgery.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Other
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •generally healthy individuals aged between 20 and 65 years who were willing to participate in the study
Exclusion Criteria
- •ages below 20 or over 65 years
- •a BCVA score of <0.1 on the Landolt C chart in either eye
- •a BCVA difference of >0.2 between the eyes
- •a history of ocular diseases or previous ocular surgery
Arms & Interventions
LED screen
Intervention: LED screen (InnoLux, Taiwan) (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Lipid Layer Thickness
Time Frame: Change from baseline lipid layer thickness at 15 minutes
Secondary Outcomes
- Intraocular Pressure(Change from baseline intraocular pressure at 15 minutes)
- Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire Score(Change from Baseline Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire Score at 15 minutes)
- Visual Acuity(Change from baseline visual acuity at 15 minutes)
- Blink rates(Change from baseline blink rates at 15 minutes)