Dry eye among computer operators at a tertiary care centre in India

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Occupational Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• Increasing global digitalization and computer use in the workplace are linked to rising eye health concerns.
• Refractive errors and dry eye disease are becoming more prevalent among computer operators.
• Understanding the impact of prolonged screen time on ocular health is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effects of long-term computer use on tear production and evaporation.
• To determine the prevalence of dry eye disease among computer operators.
• To investigate the relationship between computer usage duration and dry eye indicators.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 97 computer operators at a tertiary care center.
• Dry eye disease assessment using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.
• Objective measurements included Schirmer's test for tear production and Tear Break-up Time (TBUT) for tear evaporation.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of dry eye disease among computer operators was found to be 51%.
• Participants diagnosed with dry eye exhibited a mean TBUT of 12.65s and a mean Schirmer's test value of 10.3mm.
• A positive correlation was identified between the duration of computer usage and the incidence of dry eye disease.

Conclusions:

• Computer users are predisposed to developing dry eye diseases due to prolonged usage.
• Regular ophthalmic examinations are necessary for computer operators to prevent and manage dry eye symptoms.
• This study highlights the occupational health risks associated with extensive computer use and the need for preventative eye care strategies.