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International Journal of Ophthalmology 2018To investigate the associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of asthenopia among Chinese college students.
AIM
To investigate the associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of asthenopia among Chinese college students.
METHODS
A total of 1022 students were selected from five universities by a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. They were surveyed a self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic features, dietary and lifestyle habits, eye-related symptoms, eye care habits and history of diseases. Ascertainment of asthenopia was based on participants' subjectively reported symptoms. The associations between fruit and vegetable intake with asthenopia risk were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
There were no significant associations between total fruit and vegetable, total vegetable, or fruit and the risk of asthenopia. Higher intake of dark-green leafy vegetable was likely to be inversely associated with asthenopia risk [odd ratio (OR): 0.60; 95%CI: 0.37-0.97; =0.21] after controlling for nondietary and dietary risk factors. Stratified analysis showed that the inverse association between dark-green leafy vegetable intake and asthenopia risk was limited to participants with suboptimal eyesight (OR: 0.45; 95%CI: 0.25-0.82; =0.05), wearing glasses (OR: 0.35; 95%CI: 0.17-0.72; =0.03) or using computer ≥3h/d (OR: 0.48; 95%CI: 0.25-0.93; =0.08).
CONCLUSION
A higher consumption of dark-green leafy vegetable is associated with a lower asthenopia risk among college students with suboptimal eyesight and poor eye care habits.
PubMed: 29977818
DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2018.06.21 -
Nutrients Sep 2022Digital eye strain is a complex, multifactorial condition that can be caused by excessive screen time exposure to various electronic devices such as smartphones,... (Review)
Review
Digital eye strain is a complex, multifactorial condition that can be caused by excessive screen time exposure to various electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and computers. Current literature suggests oxidative damage concomitant with a chronic pro-inflammatory state represent significant etiopathogenic mechanisms. The present review aims to discuss the potential dietary role for micronutrients with nutraceutical properties to ameliorate various ocular and vision-related symptoms associated with digital eye strain. For ocular surface dysfunction, enhanced anti-inflammatory benefits with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been well documented for treatment of dry eye disease. The anti-oxidative and immunosuppressive properties of anthocyanin phytochemicals may also confer protective effects against visually induced cognitive stress and digital asthenopia. Meanwhile, nutraceutical strategies involving xanthophyll macular carotenoids demonstrate enhanced cognitive functioning and overall visual performance that aids digital eye strain. Collectively, preliminary findings seem to offer a strong line of evidence to substantiate the need for additional randomized controlled trials aimed at treating digital eye strain with adjunctive nutraceutical strategies. Further RCT and comparisons on commercially available nutritional supplements are needed to quantify the clinical benefits.
Topics: Anthocyanins; Asthenopia; Dry Eye Syndromes; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Humans; Micronutrients; Xanthophylls
PubMed: 36235656
DOI: 10.3390/nu14194005 -
Clinical Optometry 2020Accommodative insufficiency (AI), defined as the inability to stimulate accommodation in pre-presbyopic individuals, has gained much attention over recent years. Despite... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Accommodative insufficiency (AI), defined as the inability to stimulate accommodation in pre-presbyopic individuals, has gained much attention over recent years. Despite the enormity of the available information, there is a significant lack of clarity regarding the criteria for definition, methodology adopted for testing and diagnosis, and the varied prevalence across the globe. This review aims to gather evidence that is pertinent to the prevalence, impact and efficacy of available treatment options for AI.
METHODS
PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane Collaboration search engines were used with the keywords prevalence, accommodative insufficiency, symptoms, plus lens, vision therapy and treatment. Peer-reviewed articles published between 1992 and 2019 were included in the review. After reviewing the studies for study methodology and robustness, 83 articles were chosen for this literature review.
RESULTS
The prevalence of AI ranges between <1.00% and 61.6% across studies. The prevalence shows considerable variation across ethnicities and age groups. There is significant variation in the study methodology, diagnostic criteria and number of tests performed to arrive at the diagnosis. Not many studies have explored the prevalence beyond 20 years of age. The prevalence of AI is high among children with special needs. There is no high-quality evidence regarding the standard treatment protocol for AI. Both vision therapy and low plus lenses have shown efficacy in independent studies, and no studies have compared these two treatment options.
CONCLUSION
The understanding of AI prevalence is currently limited owing to the lack of a standard set of diagnostic criteria and wide variations in the study methodology. There is a lack of high-quality evidence suggesting the best possible treatment for AI. The current gaps in the literature have been identified and future scope for exploration is elucidated.
PubMed: 32982529
DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S224216 -
Clinical & Experimental Optometry Nov 2019Aniseikonia is a difference in the perceived size or shape of images between eyes, and can arise from a variety of physiological, neurological, retinal, and optical... (Review)
Review
Aniseikonia is a difference in the perceived size or shape of images between eyes, and can arise from a variety of physiological, neurological, retinal, and optical causes. Aniseikonia is associated with anisometropia, as both anisometropia itself and the optical correction for anisometropia can cause aniseikonia. Image size differences above one to three per cent can be clinically symptomatic. Common symptoms include asthenopia, headache and diplopia in vertical gaze. Size differences of three and more impair binocular visual functions such as binocular summation and stereopsis. Above five per cent of aniseikonia, binocular inhibition or suppression tend to occur to prevent diplopia and confusion. Aniseikonia can be measured using a range of techniques and can be corrected or reduced by prescribing contact lenses or specially designed spectacle lenses. Subjective testing of aniseikonia is the only way to accurately measure the overall perceived amount of aniseikonia. However, currently it is not routinely assessed in most clinical settings. At least two-thirds of patients with amblyopia have anisometropia, thus we may expect aniseikonia to be common in patients with anisometropic amblyopia. However, aniseikonia may not be experienced by the patient under normal binocular viewing conditions if the image from the amblyopic eye is of poor quality or is too strongly suppressed for image size differences to be recognised. This lack of binocular simultaneous perception in amblyopia may also prevent the measurement of aniseikonia, as most common techniques require direct comparisons of images seen by each eye. Current guidelines for the treatment of amblyopia advocate full correction of anisometropia to equalise image clarity, but do not address aniseikonia. Significant image size differences between eyes may lead to suppression and abnormal binocular adaptations. It is possible that correcting anisometropia and aniseikonia simultaneously, particularly at the initial diagnosis of anisometropia, would reduce the need to develop suppression and improve treatment outcomes for anisometropic amblyopia.
Topics: Amblyopia; Aniseikonia; Anisometropia; Humans
PubMed: 30791133
DOI: 10.1111/cxo.12881 -
The Hospital Jul 1897
PubMed: 29832563
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023The role of ophthalmologists is defined by tasks requiring visual effort, emphasizing the importance of examining their condition within the realm of occupational visual...
INTRODUCTION
The role of ophthalmologists is defined by tasks requiring visual effort, emphasizing the importance of examining their condition within the realm of occupational visual health. Our goal was to explore the occurrence of asthenopia among Chinese ophthalmologists and identify contributing factors through the use of a reliable and validated survey instrument.
METHODS
A national cross-sectional online survey was carried out in June 2017, involving 6,220 practicing ophthalmologists in China. Utilizing an 11-item Asthenopia Survey Questionnaire with established reliability and validity. Prevalence rates of asthenopia among subgroups categorized by age, gender, hospital classification, physician level, daily near vision activity duration, sleep duration, sleep quality, presbyopia status, and history of eye surgery were determined using the independent -test, chi-square test and bonferroni test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to pinpoint independent factors linked to asthenopia.
RESULTS
Out of the 5,009 ophthalmologists who completed the survey, a 40.7% prevalence of asthenopia was identified. Multivariate analysis revealed that good sleep quality (OR: 0.24, 95%CI: 0.20-0.30), moderate sleep quality (OR: 0.47, 95%CI: 0.38-0.59), engaging in daily near vision activities for less than 7 h (OR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.68-0.86), having daily sleep duration exceeding 7 h (OR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.77-0.98), and working in tertiary hospitals (OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.78-0.99) were protective factors against asthenopia. Conversely, presbyopia was identified as a risk factor (OR: 1.33, 95%CI: 1.04-1.70). All calculated values were below 0.05. Age, gender, physician level, and eye surgery history were not related factors.
CONCLUSION
Asthenopia is prevalent among Chinese ophthalmologists, with employment in tertiary hospitals providing a protective effect and presbyopia is a risk factor. Preventive strategies include improving sleep quality, restricting daily near vision activity to under 7 h, and extending daily sleep duration to over 7 h. Further investigation is needed to explore the protective implications of working in tertiary hospitals.
Topics: Humans; Asthenopia; Presbyopia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prevalence; Ophthalmologists; Reproducibility of Results; China
PubMed: 38222083
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1290811 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2022To assess the connection between the prevalence of asthenopia and the use of electronic devices in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PURPOSE
To assess the connection between the prevalence of asthenopia and the use of electronic devices in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Asthenopia prevalence and its connection to electronic screens during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated in an analytical, cross-sectional investigation among the Jazan population. The sample population included 784 participants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pre-tested, organized, and self-administered questionnaire was used as the study method. Social media invitations were used to contact the sample group.
RESULTS
Of the 784 participants, 587 (74.96%) had asthenopia symptoms after using digital devices at the end of the day. A total of 56.30% used digital gadgets for > 6 hours each day, whereas 55.36% spent <2 hours per day reading papers or books or writing. Daily usage of digital gadgets did not significantly differ from asthenopia (p=0.46), as well as reading papers, books, or writing and asthenopia (p=0.098). A total of 45.92% of the study population maintained digital devices/books at a distance <25 cm, which was significantly associated with symptoms of asthenopia (p=0.048). Furthermore, 90.10% of the sample population used laptops, cellphones, and iPads before going to bed or after turning off lights. A total of 63.52% preferred using devices while lying in bed. There was no positive link between asthenopia symptoms and cellphone usage at bedtime or after turning off lights (p=0.028).
CONCLUSION
Digital technology is used by people of all ages for a wide range of daily activities, including education, employment, business, and recreation. We concluded that this group had a high prevalence of asthenopia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high frequency of asthenopia emphasizes the significance of conducting public awareness campaigns concerning asthenopia symptoms and prevention methods.
PubMed: 36193511
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S377541 -
Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology... Dec 2020Prolonged and continuous daily use of digital screens, or visual display terminals (VDTs), has become the norm in occupational, educational, and recreational settings.... (Review)
Review
Prolonged and continuous daily use of digital screens, or visual display terminals (VDTs), has become the norm in occupational, educational, and recreational settings. An increased global dependence on VDTs has led to a rise in associated visual complaints, including eye strain, ocular dryness, burning, blurred vision, and irritation, to name a few. The principal causes for VDT-associated visual discomfort are abnormalities with oculomotor/vergence systems and dry eye (DE). This review focuses on the latter, as advances in research have identified symptomology and ocular surface parameters that are shared between prolonged VDT users and DE, particularly the evaporative subtype. Several mechanisms have been implicated in VDT-associated DE, including blink anomalies, damaging light emission from modern devices, and inflammatory changes. The presence of preexisting DE has also been explored as an inciting and exacerbating factor. We review the associations between digital screens and DE, mechanisms of damage, and therapeutic options, hoping to raise awareness of this entity with the goal of reducing the global morbidity and economic impact of screen-associated visual disability.
Topics: Asthenopia; Computer Terminals; Dry Eye Syndromes; Humans; Tears
PubMed: 33181547
DOI: 10.1097/APO.0000000000000328 -
Clinical and Translational Science Apr 2022This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of circularly polarized light smartphones in affecting dry eye symptoms and asthenopia through a comparison with linearly... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of circularly polarized light smartphones in affecting dry eye symptoms and asthenopia through a comparison with linearly polarized smartphones. One hundred twenty participants were randomly divided into four groups. Dry eye and asthenopia symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Computer Vision Syndrome Scale 17 (CVSS17), Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS), and visual analogue scale (VAS). Objective ocular examinations were assessed by confusion flicker frequency (CFF), tear meniscus height (TMH), noninvasive break-up time (NIBUT), conjunctiva redness, fluorescein tear break-up time (FTBUT), corneal fluorescein staining, and the Schirmer I test. Tests were performed before and after a reading task. Subjective evaluations including the OSDI, CVSS17, and CISS were all significantly increased after reading on a linearly polarized smartphone, whereas no change was observed in the circular polarization groups in both light and dark environments. A significantly enlarged VAS was shown in all of the four groups, but a significant increase in ΔVAS only appeared in the linear polarization groups. There were significant decreases in TMH, NIBUT, conjunctiva redness, FTBUT, and CFF after reading on a linearly polarized smartphone but the circularly polarized smartphone had lesser effects on these parameters. Our study indicated that reading on linearly polarized smartphones may cause dry eye disorder, asthenopia, and ocular discomforts, whereas circularly polarized smartphones appears to minimize these adverse effects on eye dryness and visual fatigue in light and dark environments.
Topics: Asthenopia; Dry Eye Syndromes; Fluorescein; Humans; Smartphone; Tears
PubMed: 34962062
DOI: 10.1111/cts.13218 -
Marine Drugs May 2020Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment belonging to the family of xanthophylls, and is typically found in marine environments, especially in... (Review)
Review
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment belonging to the family of xanthophylls, and is typically found in marine environments, especially in microalgae and seafood such as salmonids, shrimps and lobsters. Due to its unique molecular structure, astaxanthin features some important biologic properties, mostly represented by strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities. A growing body of evidence suggests that astaxanthin is efficacious in the prevention and treatment of several ocular diseases, ranging from the anterior to the posterior pole of the eye. Therefore, the present review aimed at providing a comprehensive evaluation of current clinical applications of astaxanthin in the management of ocular diseases. The efficacy of this carotenoid in the setting of retinal diseases, ocular surface disorders, uveitis, cataract and asthenopia is reported in numerous animal and human studies, which highlight its ability of modulating several metabolic pathways, subsequently restoring the cellular homeostatic balance. To maximize its multitarget therapeutic effects, further long-term clinical trials are warranted in order to define appropriate dosage, route of administration and exact composition of the final product.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Crustacea; Dietary Supplements; Eye Diseases; Humans; Marine Biology; Xanthophylls
PubMed: 32370045
DOI: 10.3390/md18050239