Full-spectrum LED screen-bar lighting as an adjunct to artificial tears in visual display terminal-related dry eye: a...

To evaluate the short-term clinical effect of adding a full-spectrum screen-bar lamp as an environmental adjunct to artificial tear therapy in participants with newly diagnosed visual display terminal (VDT)-related dry eye.

In this prospective, randomised, single-center study, 66 participants with newly diagnosed VDT-related dry eye and limited corneal staining were assigned to a full-spectrum screen-bar lamp plus artificial tears (intervention group, n = 34) or artificial tears alone with no study lamp (control group, n = 32). Primary endpoints were changes in Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) and non-invasive tear breakup time (NIBUT) from baseline to one month.

The modified intention-to-treat population included 65 participants. OSDI improved significantly in both groups at 1 month (both P < 0.001), with greater symptom reduction in the intervention group (adjusted between-group difference, - 7.33; P = 0.042). NIBUT increased in both groups (P < = 0.017), without a significant between-group difference (adjusted difference, 0.26; P = 0.726). No significant between-group differences were observed in changes in tear meniscus height, conjunctival hyperemia, lipid layer thickness of the tear film or partial blinking rate. No study-related adverse events were reported.

Adding a full-spectrum lamp to artificial tears was associated with a greater short-term improvement in subjective dry eye symptoms in VDT-related dry eye, without corresponding between-group differences in objective ocular surface parameters. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. Trial registration number ChiCTR2400084309, 2024/05/14.