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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year : 2021  |  Volume : 69  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 779

Computer vision syndrome in the time of COVID-19: Is blue-blocking lens a panacea for digital eye strain?


Department of Optometry, Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Date of Web Publication17-Feb-2021

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Viswanathan Sivaraman
Department of Optometry, Medical Research Foundation, 18, College Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 006, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_3786_20

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How to cite this article:
Sivaraman V, Janarthanam JB. Computer vision syndrome in the time of COVID-19: Is blue-blocking lens a panacea for digital eye strain?. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021;69:779

How to cite this URL:
Sivaraman V, Janarthanam JB. Computer vision syndrome in the time of COVID-19: Is blue-blocking lens a panacea for digital eye strain?. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2021 [cited 2024 Mar 28];69:779. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2021/69/3/779/309415



Dear Editor,

The lockdown has led to an increase in screen time and its influence on the wellbeing of users is a concern to healthcare practitioners.[1] Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is one of these health concerns. CVS, also known as Digital Eye Strain (DES), describes a group of eye- and vision-related problems that result from prolonged use of electronic gadgets. DES symptoms fall into two categories: internal symptoms may be linked to the user's accommodative or binocular vision stress and external symptoms may be related to dry eye.[2] It has been suggested that the short-wavelength blue light emitted from these devices may be the reason for these symptoms,[2] although the evidence to support such a claim is minimal. Though these devices generate blue light in the 380–450 nm range, the radiant energy is at such low levels that they do not in any way represent a biohazard.[3]

Makers of blue light filter lenses claim that the blue light emitted from the computer and mobile phones may cause eye damage.[2] However, a recent systematic review reported a low evidence in alleviating DES symptoms using blue-blocking filters.[4] More recent work by Rosenfield et al. (2020) found no difference in symptoms of DES between lenses with a blue-blocking filter and a clear CR 39 lens.[5] So, there is little support for this treatment paradigm at this time.

A comprehensive care plan focusing on control of DES symptoms becomes paramount in the current context. It is important to consider some evidence-based approaches to prevent and decrease DES symptoms, like blinking often, taking breaks from screen time, set devices to night mode, and enlarging screen type sizes for easier reading.[2] Also, more people should be made aware of the preventive measures that can be taken to prevent DES.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Anitha GF, Narasimhan U. Coronavirus disease 2019 and the inevitable increase in screen time among Indian children: Is going digital the way forward? Ind Psychiatry J 2020;29:171-5.  Back to cited text no. 1
  [Full text]  
2.
Sheppard AL, Wolffsohn JS. Digital eye strain: Prevalence, measurement and amelioration. BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2018;3:e000146.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
O'hagan JB, Khazova M, Price LL. Low-energy light bulbs, computers, tablets and the blue light hazard. Eye 2016;30:230-3.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Lawrenson JG, Hull CC, Downie LE. The effect of blue-light blocking spectacle lenses on visual performance, macular health and the sleep-wake cycle: A systematic review of the literature. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2017;37:644-54.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Rosenfield M, Li RT, Kirsch NT. A double-blind test of blue-blocking filters on symptoms of digital eye strain. Work 2020;65:343-48.  Back to cited text no. 5
    



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2 A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey on Eye Strain and Perceived Stress amid the COVID-19 Online Learning among Medical Science Students
Virginia M. Victor, Ameera Parsan, Aliyah Dookran, Amisha Lulkool, Ammara Ali, Amethyst Mahabir, Amanda Marchan, Ambernique Monroe, Amir Ramharack, Kingsley Ekemiri, Ngozika Ezinne, Esther Daniel
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