The impact of contact lens wear and visual display terminal work on ocular surface and tear functions in office workers.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of contact lens (CL) wear and visual display terminal (VDT) work on the ocular surface and tear functions.

DESIGN

Prospective case-control study.

METHODS

Sixty-nine CL wearers (45 women and 24 men; mean age, 35.2 ± 7.3 years), and 102 age- and sex-matched non-CL wearers were enrolled in the study (66 women and 36 men; mean age, 36.7 ± 7.3 years). Ocular surface and tear function tests, including vital stainings (fluorescein and rose bengal), Schirmer test, tear meniscus height measurement, and tear film break-up time were performed. The subjective symptoms of dry eyes were evaluated using a dry eye symptom questionnaire. The participants were divided into 4 subgroups according to the total time of VDT work in 1 day (VDT work time in 1 day ≥ 4 hours or < 4 hours) and presence of CL wear. Main outcome measures included ocular surface vital staining scores, Schirmer test results, tear film break-up time, tear meniscus height measurement, and symptom questionnaire score.

RESULTS

CL users and long-term VDT workers showed significantly worse tear meniscus height values than non-CL users and short-term VDT workers (P < .001). The mean visual symptom scores in CL wearers and long-term VDT workers were significantly higher than the other groups (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Office workers who wore CLs and spent more than 4 hours engaged in VDT work had a lower tear meniscus volume with significant dry eye and visual symptoms triggered by environmental factors.