Korean J Ophthalmol.  2017 Oct;31(5):388-393. 10.3341/kjo.2016.0095.

Visual Fatigue Induced by Viewing a Tablet Computer with a High-resolution Display

• Kim DJ
• Lim CY
• Gu N
• Park CY

• KMID: 2390281
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2016.0095

Abstract

PURPOSE
In the present study, the visual discomfort induced by smart mobile devices was assessed in normal and healthy adults.
METHODS
Fifty-nine volunteers (age, 38.16 ± 10.23 years; male : female = 19 : 40) were exposed to tablet computer screen stimuli (iPad Air, Apple Inc.) for 1 hour. Participants watched a movie or played a computer game on the tablet computer. Visual fatigue and discomfort were assessed using an asthenopia questionnaire, tear film break-up time, and total ocular wavefront aberration before and after viewing smart mobile devices.
RESULTS
Based on the questionnaire, viewing smart mobile devices for 1 hour significantly increased mean total asthenopia score from 19.59 ± 8.58 to 22.68 ± 9.39 (p < 0.001). Specifically, the scores for five items (tired eyes, sore/aching eyes, irritated eyes, watery eyes, and hot/burning eye) were significantly increased by viewing smart mobile devices. Tear film break-up time significantly decreased from 5.09 ± 1.52 seconds to 4.63 ± 1.34 seconds (p = 0.003). However, total ocular wavefront aberration was unchanged.
CONCLUSIONS
Visual fatigue and discomfort were significantly induced by viewing smart mobile devices, even though the devices were equipped with state-of-the-art display technology.

Keyword

Asthenopia; Dry eye syndrome; iPad; Smart mobile device

MeSH Terms

Adult
Asthenopia*
Computers, Handheld*
Dry Eye Syndromes
Female
Humans
Male
Tears
Video Games
Volunteers

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