Tear film changes in symptomatic versus asymptomatic video display terminal users following computer challenge test

To assess the real-time changes in the tear film and ocular surface of symptomatic video display terminal (VDT) versus asymptomatic users.

A total of 35 symptomatic (29 ± 5.6 years; Group 1, mild dry eye disease) and 35 asymptomatic (24.1 ± 4.6 years; Group 2) VDT users with a mean OSDI of 28 ± 11 and 0.86 ± 2.1, respectively, had tear film examination (Oculus Keratograph 5 M and Tearlab Osmolarity System) at baseline and after 1 h of watching a movie on the laptop inside a controlled environment chamber along with blink rate calculation.

The mean VDT use was 11.4 ± 3.2 h/day in Group 1 and 2.3 ± 2.3 h/day in Group 2. In Group 1, the mean pre- and post-VDT task values for NIBUT and bulbar congestion were 10.7 ± 3.7s and 6.7 ± 3.1s (P = 0.007), and 0.8 ± 0.4 and 1.1 ± 0.5 (P = 0.01), respectively. There were no significant changes in tear meniscus height (P = 0.77), Schirmer I (P =0.14), corneal staining score (P = 1.0), and tear osmolarity (P > 0.05). Group 2 showed insignificant change in all parameters. Only 16.2% individuals in Group 1 met modified TFOS-DEWS II diagnostic criteria at baseline that increased to 67.6% following VDT task. The blink rate reduced significantly during the last 15 min (6.8 ± 3.4 vs. 9.3 ± 4.5; P = 0.006) compared to the first 15 min of the task in Group 1, whereas no significant change occurred in Group 2.

Tear film instability and increased bulbar congestion are observed in symptomatic VDT users after computer work despite baseline stable tear film. The changes are significantly altered in symptomatic VDT users compared to asymptomatic users.