Effect of Direct Glare on Orbicularis Oculi and Trapezius During Computer Reading

Mork, Randi; Bruenech, Jan Richard; Thorud, Hanne-Mari Schiøtz

doi:10.1097/opx.0000000000000855

Cited by 13 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Glare is commonly experienced by computer users, has been found to reduce reading speed, and may also be a major cause of digital eye strain symptoms . The source of glare can be light from the visual display unit or from the surrounding environment, such as improper desk lighting .…”

Section: Symptoms and Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of digital eye strain

Coles-Brennan

Sulley

Young

2019

Clinical and Experimental Optometry

184

133

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Digital eye strain, an emerging public health issue, is a condition characterised by visual disturbance and/or ocular discomfort related to the use of digital devices and resulting from a range of stresses on the ocular environment. This review aims to provide an overview of the extensive literature on digital eye strain research with particular reference to the clinical management of symptoms. As many as 90 per cent of digital device users experience symptoms of digital eye strain. Many studies suggest that the following factors are associated with digital eye strain: uncorrected refractive error (including presbyopia), accommodative and vergence anomalies, altered blinking pattern (reduced rate and incomplete blinking), excessive exposure to intense light, closer working distance, and smaller font size. Since a symptom may be caused by one or more factors, a holistic approach should be adopted. The following management strategies have been suggested: (i) appropriate correction of refractive error, including astigmatism and presbyopia; (ii) management of vergence anomalies, with the aim of inducing or leaving a small amount of heterophoria (~1.5 Exo); (iii) blinking exercise/training to maintain normal blinking pattern; (iv) use of lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) to help alleviate dry eye-related symptoms; (v) contact lenses with enhanced comfort, particularly at end-of-day and in challenging environments; (vi) prescription of colour filters in all vision correction options, especially blue light-absorbing filters; and (vii) management of accommodative anomalies. Prevention is the main strategy for management of digital eye strain, which involves: (i) ensuring an ergonomic work environment and practice (through patient education and the implementation of ergonomic workplace policies); and (ii) visual examination and eye care to treat visual disorders. Special consideration is needed for people at a high risk of digital eye strain, such as computer workers and contact lens wearers.

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Section: Symptoms and Risk Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of digital eye strain

Coles-Brennan

Sulley

Young

2019

Clinical and Experimental Optometry

184

133

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“…Increased psychological load has been shown to induce different physiological responses in humans; such as increased activity in the sympathetic nervous system, increased heart rate, decreased blink rate, and increased muscle activity and blood flow in trapezius and facial muscles (Hidaka et al 2004b ; Larsson et al 1995 ; Lundberg et al 2002 ; Nilsen et al 2007 ; Rodriguez et al 2018 ; Skoluda et al 2015 ). Some similar responses have been found to be induced by excessive light/glare, a visual stressor (Belkić 1986 ; Mork et al 2016 ; Saito et al 1996 ), suggesting that effects seen during exposure to visual stress also may involve a central mediated stress response.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…The sample consisted of 43 healthy female undergraduate students recruited from the University College of Southeast Norway (Table 1 ). Sample size was calculated a priori with a test power of 80%, a significance level of 5% (two-tailed) and standard errors based on trapezius photopletysmography measurements from Mork et al ( 2016 ) (Owen 1962 ). Trapezius muscle blood flow was a main variable to investigate in the current study, and the power analysis showed that 36 participants should suffice to identify a 15% difference in trapezius blood flow between two repeated means, without and with glare exposure.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased visual stress during near-visual work, such as inadequate lighting (e.g., glare), uncorrected refractive errors, and accommodative and binocular disorders, puts extra stress on the visual system and head-stabilizing musculature, and may aggravate symptoms from the eyes and the neck and shoulder area (Gowrisankaran and Sheedy 2015 ; Rosenfield 2011 ). In addition, glare has been shown to affect subjects with normal binocular vision during computer work, resulting in decreased reading speed/productivity (Glimne et al 2015 ), increased fixation disparity variation (Glimne et al 2013 ), and increased muscle blood flow in the trapezius (Mork et al 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect of glare varies from hardly noticeable to detrimental for functional vision and the visual system contains several adaptations aimed at reducing the negative impact of glare. Examples could be: the anatomical design of the face with the eyes placed within the orbital cavity to shield for overhead light, increased eyelid squinting (Mork et al 2016 ; Sheedy et al 2003 ), increased blink rate (Gowrisankaran et al 2007 ; Nahar et al 2007 ), and pupillary contraction (Ellis 1981 ). Behavioral countermeasures like changing posture, looking away, or shielding the eyes from the bright light source is also often used during glare conditions (Boyce 2014 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Visual and psychological stress during computer work in healthy, young females—physiological responses

Mork

Falkenberg

Fostervold

et al. 2018

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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PurposeAmong computer workers, visual complaints, and neck pain are highly prevalent. This study explores how occupational simulated stressors during computer work, like glare and psychosocial stress, affect physiological responses in young females with normal vision.MethodsThe study was a within-subject laboratory experiment with a counterbalanced, repeated design. Forty-three females performed four 10-min computer-work sessions with different stress exposures: (1) minimal stress; (2) visual stress (direct glare); (3) psychological stress; and (4) combined visual and psychological stress. Muscle activity and muscle blood flow in trapezius, muscle blood flow in orbicularis oculi, heart rate, blood pressure, blink rate and postural angles were continuously recorded. Immediately after each computer-work session, fixation disparity was measured and a questionnaire regarding perceived workstation lighting and stress was completed.ResultsExposure to direct glare resulted in increased trapezius muscle blood flow, increased blink rate, and forward bending of the head. Psychological stress induced a transient increase in trapezius muscle activity and a more forward-bent posture. Bending forward towards the computer screen was correlated with higher productivity (reading speed), indicating a concentration or stress response. Forward bent posture was also associated with changes in fixation disparity. Furthermore, during computer work per se, trapezius muscle activity and blood flow, orbicularis oculi muscle blood flow, and heart rate were increased compared to rest.ConclusionsExposure to glare and psychological stress during computer work were shown to influence the trapezius muscle, posture, and blink rate in young, healthy females with normal binocular vision, but in different ways. Accordingly, both visual and psychological factors must be taken into account when optimizing computer workstations to reduce physiological responses that may cause excessive eyestrain and musculoskeletal load.

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Discomfort glare and psychological stress during computer work: subjective responses and associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow

Mork

Falkenberg

Fostervold

et al. 2019

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Exposure to additional environmental stress during computer work, such as visual and psychological demands, is associated with increased eye and neck discomfort, altered moods, and reduced well-being. The aim of this study is to elucidate further how subjective responses in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision are affected by glare and psychological stress during computer work, and to investigate possible associations between trapezius muscle blood flow and neck pain development. Methods Forty-three females participated in a laboratory experiment with a within-subject design. Four ten-minute computer work conditions with exposure to different stressors were performed at an ergonomically optimal workstation, under the following series of conditions: no additional stress, visual stress (induced as direct glare from a large glare source), psychological stress, and combined visual and psychological stress. Before and immediately after each computer work condition, questionnaires regarding different visual and eye symptoms, neck and shoulder symptoms, positive and negative state moods, perceived task difficulty, and perceived ambient lighting were completed. Associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow were also investigated. Results Exposure to direct glare induced greater development of visual/eye symptoms and discomfort, while psychological stress exposure made participants feel more negative and stressed. The perception of work lighting during glare exposure was closely related to perceived stress, and associations between visual discomfort and eyestrain, and neck pain were observed in all conditions. Furthermore, participants with high trapezius muscle blood flow overall reported more neck pain, independent of exposure. Conclusions Exposure to visual and psychological stresses during computer work affects the development of symptoms and negative moods in healthy, young females with normal binocular vision, but in different ways. The results also demonstrate the complex interactions involved in symptom development and lighting appraisal during computer work. When optimizing computer workstations, the complexity of the field must be taken into account, and several factors, including visual conditions, must be considered carefully.

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Effect of Direct Glare on Orbicularis Oculi and Trapezius During Computer Reading

Cited by 13 publications

References 46 publications

Management of digital eye strain

Management of digital eye strain

Visual and psychological stress during computer work in healthy, young females—physiological responses

Discomfort glare and psychological stress during computer work: subjective responses and associations between neck pain and trapezius muscle blood flow

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