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. (Am J Ophthalmol 2011;152:933-940. (C) 2011 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)