Effect of Computer Use on Tear Film Production Among Commercial Computer Operators

Abstract

The study was aimed at investigating the effect of computer use on tear film production among commercial computer operators in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State, Nigeria. The study was an experimental study that adopted a purposive sampling technique to collect relevant data from 50 randomly-selected commercial computer operators in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo state, Nigeria. The Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaires were administered to 50 participants aged 18-50 to elicit relevant information; whereas the Schirmer 1 test was administered to determine the level of tear production. Findings revealed a significant decline in tear production after 2 hours of uninterrupted computer use showing that increase in age results in a greater decline in the mean tear production as shown among ages 41-50. Results across gender lines shows that the mean tear volume of females at all testing times was greater than in their male counterparts. Mean tear production at baseline and after 2 hours in female subjects were 38.92mm and 33.40mm respectively in contrast to the mean baseline tear production of their male counterparts at 31.66mm and 30.20mm after 2 hours. Tearing, blurry vision and irritation were the major symptoms cited by computer users over time. The use of the computer results in prolonged visual concentration and this was shown to affect the rate of tear production over time. The study under consideration has shown that apart from long-term computer use, factors like age and gender contribute significantly to decline in tear production. These have proved to be major contributors to symptoms of dry eye disease. This demonstrates the need to observe eye health precautions while using the computer over a long-term duration.