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Prevalence of dry eye in video display terminal users: a cross-sectional Caucasian study in Italy

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Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the prevalence of dry eye among video-terminal (VDT) users and to assess risk factors for dry eye in this population.

Study design

A single-centre, cross-sectional study was carried out on subjects employed as VDT workers and on a control group.

Methods

Demographic data, years spent working at a VDT, number of effective hours at VDT/day, number and hours of breaks/day were considered. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and completed the Italian version of the computer vision symptom scale 17-item (CVSS17) questionnaire. Both groups were classified as definite, suspect and non-dry eye syndrome (DES).

Results

One-hundred and ninety four subjects completed the study; 70 (36.1%) of which represented the control group, and 124 (63.9%) represented the VDT group. Among VDT workers, 29 (23.4%) presented definite DES and 55 (44.4%) suspect DES, while among controls, only 2 (2.9%) presented definite DES and 37 (52.8%) suspect DES. In the univariate analysis, the DES group was older (p < 0.001), spent more time a day at VDT (p < 0.001), used VDT from more time (p < 0.001), instilled artificial tears (p = 0.031), and presented worst quality of life (p < 0.001). At the multivariate analysis, only age and time at VDT retained association with DES (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.09; p = 0.01 and OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.07–2.02; p = 0.017, respectively).

Conclusions

The global increase of VDT workers is accompanied by a higher frequency of ocular complaints. Older subjects and people spending more than 4 h a day at VDT are at major risk to develop DES and should take precautions to prevent the onset of the disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Eye Clinic of Pavia, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Gemma Caterina Maria Rossi, Federica Bettio & Paolo Emilio Bianchi

  2. Scientific Direction, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Luigia Scudeller

  3. Oculistica, Istituto Beato Palazzolo, Bergamo, Italy

    Gian Maria Pasinetti

Authors
  1. Gemma Caterina Maria Rossi
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  2. Luigia Scudeller
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  3. Federica Bettio
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  4. Gian Maria Pasinetti
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  5. Paolo Emilio Bianchi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gemma Caterina Maria Rossi.

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Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (Local Ethics Committee of the IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation of Pavia) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Rossi, G.C.M., Scudeller, L., Bettio, F. et al. Prevalence of dry eye in video display terminal users: a cross-sectional Caucasian study in Italy. Int Ophthalmol 39, 1315–1322 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-018-0947-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-018-0947-6

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