Excessive Blinking in Children and Its Association with Dry Eyes and Visual Display Terminal: A 200 Case-Control Study

Objective: To identify the cause of excessive blinking in apparently healthy children, and to evaluate its association with visual activities including visual display terminal use. Material and Methods: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional case-control study included 200 children aged 6 to 14 years with chief complaints of excessive blinking (study group) and routine eye check-up visits (control group). All participants underwent a complete eye examination including blink rate and tear break-up time measurement. Parents were asked to answer questionnaires regarding tic disorder and duration of visual activities. Results: One hundred children in the study group (mean age 7.9±2.0 years) and 100 children in the control group (mean age 9.5±2.3 years) were enrolled. Participants in the study group were predominantly male (77% versus 44%) and had a higher blink rate (30 versus 9 blinks/minute) compared to the control group. In the study group, there was a significantly higher percentage of participants diagnosed with dry eyes (73% versus 6%, p<0.001), allergic conjunctivitis (41% versus 0%, p<0.001) and tic disorder (19% versus 9%, p 0.042) than in the control group. One third of the participants in the study group had mixed diagnoses of dry eyes and allergic conjunctivitis. There was no significant difference in the duration of visual activities including visual display terminal use between groups. Conclusion: Excessive blinking occurred more commonly in boys. The most common associated disorders with excessive blinking in children were dry eyes, followed by allergic conjunctivitis and tic disorder. There was no association between excessive blinking in children and duration of visual display terminal use. Keywords: Blinking; Excessive blinking; Dry eyes; Visual display terminal

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY OF SHATAVARI GHRUTA ANJANA AND ERANDA TAILA ANJANA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VISUAL DISPLAY TERMINAL SYNDROME

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Shatavari ghutra Anjana and Eranda taila anjana in the management of the visual display syndrome. For this work patients attending the netraroga (oph- thalmology) OPD at the hospital attached to Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Pune (Maharashtra) was selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. Ethical clearance was accredited by the institutional ethical committee of the institute and written consent from all the selected patients was taken before the treatment. The selected patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was given Shatavari ghruta anjana in each eye one time a day for one month and group B was given Eranda taila anjana in each eye one time a day for one month. The clinical data collected and compiled from this clinical trial was sorted out processed by implying various statistical methods and it was found that Group A showed comparatively better results in redness of eyes and eye irritation. Keywords: Shatavari ghruta anjana, Eranda taila anjana, visual display syndrome.

Association of Visual Display Terminal Usage with Self-Rated Health and Psychological Distress among Japanese Office Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to examine the association of the duration of visual display terminal (VDT) usage for work and non-work activities with self-rated health (SRH) and psychological distress among office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. A cross-sectional data of 7088 office workers from a web-based, self-administered survey conducted from 25 August 2020, to 30 September 2020, was used. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied. Compared to those who used a VDT for 4–9 h for work, office workers who used a VDT for ≥10 h for work had poor SRH (odds ratio (OR): 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 2.41) and severe psychological distress (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.52, 3.28). VDT usage for less than 1 h (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.67) and 1–3 h (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.80) for work were also associated with severe psychological distress. Stratification analysis by age showed a significant association of VDT usage for work with poor SRH among 30–64-year-olds, while a U-shape association was found between VDT usage for work and psychological distress with the younger age group (15–29 years old). During the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, the prolonged usage of VDT for work can deteriorate both general and psychological health, while moderate usage of VDT for work can reduce psychological distress.

“ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL DISPLAY TERMINAL USE AS A RISK FACTOR FOR PAEDIATRIC DRY EYE DISEASE” : A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Purpose: To assess Visual Display Terminal(VDT) exposure as a risk factor for paediatric Dry Eye Disease(DED). Methodology: In this cross sectional study, children(5-15 years) from both urban and rural regions with VDT(computer,smartphone,television) exposure(1-2,3-4,>=5hours) were enrolled. Dry eye evaluation was done using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) Questionnaire, Schirmer's without anesthesia, Fluorescein-Tear lm Break-up Time(F-TBUT) and corneal , conjunctival uorescein staining as per Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society(TFOS) Dry Eye Workshop II Guidelines 2017(DEWS II). DED diagnosis was based on OSDI grading(>=13) and objective tests(>=1 positive test). Results: 315 children exposed to VDTwere selected for the study. Burning sensation and redness were the most common symptoms. Prevalence of DED was observed to be 6.03%(19 children-38 eyes). Mean age and hours of VDT exposure was signicantly higher and hours of outdoor activity and sleep signicantly lower in DED children compared to NON DED children(p<.05). Urban elder children had highest DED prevalence rate of 13.19% .Prevalence of DED in children using VDTfor 1-2 hours was .74%,3-4 hours was 28.57%, and >=5 hours was 47.83% (p=<.001). Children with short hours of outdoor activity(<3hours) had DED prevalence of 24.62 % whereas children with longer outdoor activity(>=3 hours) showed 1.20% prevalence(p<.001). Children with less hours of sleep(<8hours) showed DED prevalence of 22.58% and those with longer hours(>=8 hours) of sleep had only 1.98% DED prevalence (p<.001). Conclusion: DED was found to be associated with elder age, longer hours of VDT exposure , short hours of outdoor activity and sleep in VDTexposed children.

Five-year Survey of Personal Computer Work by the Staff of a Teacher Training University and Affiliated Schools

Objective: Occupational research relevant to visual display terminal (VDT) work is expanding on a global scale. To date, examination of possible occupational health-related issues has been insufficient. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal survey (2007-2011) at a teacher training university, investigating various kinds of problematic VDT work, revealing the relationships between occupational and environmental factors (work content, workplace, and working posture) and ocular and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results: Whereas symptoms varied somewhat for men and women who were VDT users, “stooping posture” and “work time (≥ 6 hours)” were the causes of symptoms of “eye fatigue” for both sexes. We identified numerous other sex-specific symptoms as well. Conclusions: These results contribute to improvement of teachers’ occupational and environmental health and offer direction for pre-work education.