Binocular Coordination during Smartphone Reading in Esophoric Patients

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Vision Science

Background:

• Esophoria (EP) is a common condition affecting binocular coordination.
• Smartphone usage is prevalent, raising concerns about its impact on visual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate binocular coordination using video-oculography (VOG) in patients with esophoria (EP) during smartphone reading.
• To compare eye movement patterns in EP patients with control subjects at various reading distances.

Main Methods:

• Ten patients with EP and seven control subjects were enrolled.
• Eye movements were recorded using VOG during smartphone reading at 20, 30, and 50 cm.
• Horizontal fixation disparity was analyzed at each distance between and within groups.

Main Results:

• Patients with EP exhibited significantly greater horizontal esodeviation at 20 cm compared to 30 cm.
• Esodeviation in the EP group at 20 cm was significantly greater than exodeviation in the control group at the same distance.
• Horizontal fixation disparities in EP patients shifted towards the eso-direction during close smartphone use.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone reading at close distances exacerbates horizontal fixation disparities in individuals with esophoria.
• These findings highlight potential challenges in binocular coordination for EP patients using smartphones.
• Video-oculography is a valuable tool for assessing visual function during digital device use.