Useful Medicine For Computer Vision Syndrome

Comparative Randomised Active Drug Controlled Clinical Trial of a Herbal Eye Drop in Computer Vision Syndrome Eye and vision problems due to prolonged use of computer is considered as computer vision syndrome. It has been recognised as an occupational condition and has significant effects on workplace productivity. Computer use is a high visually demanding task and may result in various symptoms like eyestrain, headache, blurred vision, glare, irritation, burning sensation, watering, double vision, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, contact lens discomfort and changes in colour perception. Computer related visual problems are related with frequent saccadic eye movements, continuous eye focusing (accommodation) and alignment demands. Various factors such as screen resolution and contrast, image refresh rates and flicker (to focus and refocus to keep images sharp) and screen glare may contribute to visual discomforts. Prolonged staring, associated with reduced blink rate results in evaporation of tear film, leading to dry eye and reduces the focusing ability still further leading to blurred vision and headache. Other factors like working distance, posture, height of computer screen, illumination may also contribute to visual problems. Material and Method This study was a double-blind randomised active drug-controlled clinical trial. Identical vials with code number containing either itone, placebo or tears substitute (tears plus) were used in this study. Informed consent was taken from each patient to participate in this study. Patients using computer for at least 3 hours / day having symptoms of irritation, foreign body sensation, watering, redness, headache, eyeache and signs of conjunctival congestion, mucus debris, corneal filaments, staining, lacrimal lake were included in this study. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, impaired renal function, clinically relevant hepatic and cardiac dysfunction, pregnant and lactating women were excluded from this study. Ocular examination included detailed history regarding computer use, Snellen's visual acuity, refraction, intra-ocular pressure assessment, anterior segment examination, orthoptic work-up. Special tests like Schirmer test, tear film break-up time (BUT), fluorescein staining, rose Bengal staining were conducted in each patient. All the patients having symptoms and signs of computer vision syndrome were instructed to instill one drop of itone, tears substitute or placebo four times daily in each eye for 6 weeks. Patients were asked to come for follow-up at 2 weeks interval to observe any change in objective and subjective findings. Side-effects if any were also noted. The data were arranged for statistical analysis. The outcome variables were scored by means of mean and standard deviation. The mean scores were analysed to assess the significance of difference in between multiple groups (A, B, and C) by Kunshal - Wallis test ( non-parametric equivalent of ANOVA) and assessment of significance of difference in means scores between individual groups were done by Mann - Whitney U test ( non-parametric equivalent of unpaired 't' test). P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Observations A total of 120 cases attending outpatient department of Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre were studied. Out of 120 cases, 39 received itone, 41 cases received tears substitute and 40 cases received placebo. There were 45 females and 75 males. Average ages of patients were 28.24 years for itone group, 27.54 for tears substitute group and 27.64 for placebo group. Comparison was done between baseline symptoms and symptoms at 6weeks. Comparison was also made between each group at 6 weeks time. Results are shown in Table 1. In this study the herbal eye drop was found significantly better than placebo (