Effects of virtual distant viewing technology on preventing nearwork-induced ocular parameter changes

Abstract

Purpose This study investigates whether virtual distant viewing technology can prevent nearwork-induced ocular parameter changes. Methods Twenty-six volunteers read a textbook on one day and the same content on a virtual distant viewing display on another day based on a randomization sequence, with both reading sessions at 33 cm for 4 hours. Visual acuity, diopter, ocular biology, visual fatigue, and accommodative function before and after the nearwork, as well as the number of pages read, were recorded. Results After 4 hours of nearwork in the textbook group, the spherical equivalent refraction decreased from −3.13 ± 2.65 D to −3.32 ± 2.70 D ( P < 0.001), corneal thickness decreased from 531.6 ± 33.5 μm to 528.9 ± 33.0 μm ( P = 0.015), anterior chamber depth decreased from 3.65 ± 0.35 mm to 3.60 ± 0.30 mm ( P = 0.002), accommodative facility increased from 15.1 ± 3.5 to 16.4 ± 3.9 ( P = 0.018), and subjective visual fatigue increased from 14.0 ± 9.2 to 19.3 ± 7.6 ( P = 0.002); no significant changes were seen in the other parameters. In the virtual distant viewing group, the spherical equivalent refraction (from −3.17 ± 2.60 D to −3.11 ± 2.73 D, P = 0.427), corneal thickness (from 531.9 ± 32.8 μm to 529.7 ± 33.2 μm, P = 0.054), and anterior chamber depth (from 3.67 ± 0.35 mm to 3.69 ± 0.32 mm, P = 0.331) did not show significant changes, whereas accommodative facility increased from 14.7 ± 5.8 to 15.9 ± 5.5 ( P = 0.042) and subjective visual fatigue increased from 13.5 ± 8.4 to 18.9 ± 8.6 ( P = 0.002). In addition, choroidal thickness (from 217.7 ± 76.0 μm to 243.0 ± 85.0 μm, P = 0.043), positive relative accommodation (from −2.32 ± 1.07 D to −2.85 ± 0.89 D, P = 0.007), and amplitude of accommodation (from 7.26 ± 1.41 D to 7.89 ± 1.69 D, P = 0.022) also significantly increased in the virtual distant viewing group. The textbook group and the virtual distant viewing group read 176.0 ± 133.1 pages and 188.0 ± 102.0 pages, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P = 0.708). Conclusion Virtual distant viewing technology can prevent the increase in myopia degree due to nearwork and improve accommodation function without increasing visual fatigue.