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PALs may prevent computer vision syndrome in pre-presbyopes
Wearing progressive-addition lenses specially designed for use with handheld digital devices resulted in increased working distance and better eye comfort, according to a study.
Prolonged use of digital devices can cause computer vision syndrome, which has symptoms of ocular discomfort, such as blurred vision, asthenopia, dry eye, eye redness and pain. It also induces headaches and neck, back and shoulder pain.
In addition to these symptoms, prolonged computer usage induces a transient refractive shift in the minus direction, potentially linked to the development of myopia, researchers said.
This study, conducted in Hong Kong, where myopic and astigmatic refractive error are highly prevalent among the population of all ages, tested the effects of a new occupational lens specifically designed for handheld digital devices.
Sixty-four participants recruited from a younger (18 to 25 years old) and older (30 to 40 years old) pre-presbyopic cohort were tested in subsequent appointments after using the computer for video games wearing two pairs of spectacle lenses: conventional single vision lenses and the progressive-addition lenses (PALs) designed for digital devices.
Results showed that switching from the conventional single vision lenses to the PALs significantly increased the working distance by 1.88 cm, equivalent to a 0.15 to 0.16 D of dioptric change. It also induced a small positive refractive shift, and wearers reported less increased sensitivity to light and less eye pain and eye redness.
“Whether these impacts of lens design could interfere with the effectiveness of optical intervention on myopia development should be investigated,” the authors concluded. – by Michela Cimberle
Disclosure: None of the authors reported a relevant financial disclosure.