Vision problems at video display terminals: a survey of optometrists

One thousand three hundred seven optometrists responded (25.3 percent response rate) to a mail questionnaire concerning VDT patients in their practice. On the average, 14.25 percent of optometric patients present with symptoms primarily associated with use of the VDT, or almost 10 million examinations annually when projected to the U.S. population. A majority (55.3 percent) reported that their VDT patients have symptoms that are different than other near point workers, especially as related to glare, lighting, unique viewing conditions and spectacle requirements, and the greater frequency and severity of symptoms. They judged that they were unable to arrive at a confident diagnosis and treatment plan for 20.87 percent of VDT patients, which was significantly more than the 14.05 percent for non-VDT patients. Uncorrected refractive errors, accommodative disorders, irritated eyes, binocular vision disorders, and spectacle design problems were the most frequently cited diagnoses. On the average, 39.3 percent of their VDT patients receive a special VDT prescription or spectacle design that is different than they would require for other daily activities. They judged that 36.8 percent of the symptoms were related to visual environmental factors, primarily glare, lighting, screen resolution and work arrangement. The best way to resolve symptoms for VDT workers is to provide thorough vision examination and treatment in conjunction with diagnosis and treatment of visual environmental problems.