Head-mounted display did not have significant clinical effect on normal eyes

Volunteers who watched video using a head-mounted display for 30 minutes did not experience significant clinical effects in their normal adolescent eyes, according to a study.

The study, completed at Korea University College of Medicine in Seoul, included 60 volunteers between 13 and 18 years of age who watched either a three-dimensional movie or a virtual reality application using the head-mounted display. Researchers measured refractive error before viewing, immediately after the start of viewing and repeatedly every 10 minutes after viewing when a myopic shift greater than 0.15 D was observed.

After 30 minutes of viewing in the head-mounted display, spherical equivalent, near point of accommodation and stereoacuity did not change significantly in any of the eyes.

Researchers noted transient myopic shifts of 17.2% to 30% in both the virtual reality and three-dimensional movie cohorts; the volunteers fully recovered within 40 minutes.

An esophoric shift was observed immediately after watching the head-mounted display (0.6 ∆D 1.5 D to 0.2 ∆D 1.5 D), but it was not significant.

“There were no significant clinical effects on normal adolescent eyes with 30 minutes of watching the head-mounted display. Although transient changes in refractive error and esodeviation in a few participants after watching the head-mounted display were found, the changes were not significant,” the study authors wrote. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Ha SG, et al. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2016;doi:10.3928/01913913-20160511-01.