Useful Drug For Computer Vision Syndrome

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Comparative Randomised Active Drug Controlled Clinical Trial of a

Herbal Eye Drop in Computer Vision Syndrome

 

Eye and vision problems due to prolonged use of computer is

considered as computer vision syndrome. It has been recognised as an

occupational condition and has significant effects on workplace

productivity. Computer use is a high visually demanding task and may

result in various symptoms like eyestrain, headache, blurred vision,

glare, irritation, burning sensation, watering, double vision, back

pain, neck and shoulder pain, contact lens discomfort and changes in

colour perception. Computer related visual problems are related with

frequent saccadic eye movements, continuous eye focusing

(accommodation) and alignment demands. Various factors such as screen

resolution and contrast, image refresh rates and flicker (to focus

and refocus to keep images sharp) and screen glare may contribute to

visual discomforts. Prolonged staring, associated with reduced blink

rate results in evaporation of tear film, leading to dry eye and

reduces the focusing ability still further leading to blurred vision

and headache. Other factors like working distance, posture, height of

computer screen, illumination may also contribute to visual problems.

 

Material and Method

 

This study was a double-blind randomised active drug-controlled

clinical trial. Identical vials with code number containing either

itone, placebo or tears substitute (tears plus) were used in this

study. Informed consent was taken from each patient to participate in

this study. Patients using computer for at least 3 hours / day having

symptoms of irritation, foreign body sensation, watering, redness,

headache, eyeache and signs of conjunctival congestion, mucus debris,

corneal filaments, staining, lacrimal lake were included in this

study. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, impaired

renal function, clinically relevant hepatic and cardiac dysfunction,

pregnant and lactating women were excluded from this study. Ocular

examination included detailed history regarding computer use,

Snellen's visual acuity, refraction, intra-ocular pressure

assessment, anterior segment examination, orthoptic work-up. Special

tests like Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein

staining, rose Bengal staining were conducted in each patient.

 

All the patients having symptoms and signs of computer vision

syndrome were instructed to instill one drop of itone, tears

substitute or placebo four times daily in each eye for 6 weeks.

Patients were asked to come for follow-up at 2 weeks interval to

observe any change in objective and subjective findings. Side-effects

if any were also noted.

 

The data were arranged for statistical analysis. The outcome

variables were scored by means of mean and standard deviation. The

mean scores were analysed to assess the significance of difference in

between multiple groups (A, B, and C) by Kunshal – Wallis test ( non-

parametric equivalent of ANOVA) and assessment of significance of

difference in means scores between individual groups were done by

Mann - Whitney U test ( non-parametric equivalent of unpaired `t'

test). P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

 

Observations

 

A total of 120 cases attending outpatient department of Susrut Eye

Foundation & Research Centre were studied. Out of 120 cases, 39

received itone, 41 cases received tears substitute and 40 cases

received placebo. There were 45 females and 75 males. Average ages of

patients were 28.24 years for itone group, 27.54 for tears substitute

group and 27.64 for placebo group. Comparison was done between

baseline symptoms and symptoms at 6weeks. Comparison was also made

between each group at 6 weeks time. Results are shown in Table 1. In

this study the herbal eye drop was found significantly better than

placebo (þ<0.01). No statistically significant difference was found

between itone and tears substitute and both are almost equally

effective in reducing symptoms in computer vision syndrome. No side-

effects from any of the drugs were noticed in this study.

 

Discussion

 

Computer vision syndrome is a rapidly increasing problem world-wide

due to widespread use of computers in almost every field in modern

life. And as it is a high visually demanding task, vision problem and

symptoms have become very common in today's work-place. Prolonged use

of computer is associated with reduced blink rate to maintain a clear

image. This in association with compromised visual environment gives

rise to various symptoms like eyestrain, headache, blurred vision,

glare, irritation, redness, watering and neck and shoulder pain.

 

Several studies have reported the effectivity of tears substitutes in

dry eye and computer vision syndrome. Biswas et al found that itone

was significantly effective than placebo in the management of dry eye

syndrome. Biswas et al11 also reported a comparative clinical trial

of an herbal eye drop with tears substitute and placebo. They have

found that itone was significantly better than tears substitute and

placebo in computer vision syndrome.

 

In the present study it has been observed that itone is significantly

better than placebo in reducing symptoms in computer vision syndrome

and also it is comparable with tears substitute in reducing symptoms

(the difference is not statistically significant). It is concluded

that itone is an effective drug in reducing symptoms in computer

vision syndrome.

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