Study of the relationship between lacrimation and blink in VDT work

VDT (Visual Display Terminal) work generates various symptoms in operators' eyes such as strain, a sensation of dryness, the presence of a foreign body, and so on. Research suggests that lacrimal abnormality may be related causally to such symptoms. In this paper, the relationship between lacrimation (the secretion of tears) and the frequency of blink due to VDT work in health subjects and VDT workers with such symptoms, and consequent therapeutic methods, were studied. When lacrimation, BUT (Break-UP Time), and the frequency of blink before and after VDT work compared in the control subjects and VDT-operators, an essential difference was noted in experiment 1 the frequency of blink decreased only during VDT operation, and a decreasing tendency of lacrimation was also noted while lacrimation before operation was already less in the VDT group; no large variation was noted before or after VDT operation. The frequency of blink was relatively high during operation, and a decreasing tendency of BUT was noted, compared with that for control subjects. In experiment 2, lacrimation increased remarkably in four eyes (of two operators), and relief from the subjective symptoms was noted. However, BUT intactly reduced similarly before the use of a gelatin rod during the whole process. The insertion of a gelatin rod was consecutively carried out every two weeks for approximately eight months; the development of complications such as dacryosolenitis, etc., was not noted. From these results, it is considered that the insertion of a gelatin rod is clinically useful for VDT operators with decreasing lacrimation.