Background/Objectives: Modern life is inconceivable without visual display terminal (VDT) work, including smartphones, computers, and games for both children and adults. VDT work under air conditioning and low humidity poses a high risk of dry eye and digital eye strain. Methods: Thirty-one participants were randomly divided into two groups using a desktop humidifier with photocatalytic technology, namely the \"with mist\" (humidifier) group and \"without mist\" (control) group. Participants performed VDT tasks using the humidifier with or without mist for 1 h. Ocular subjective symptoms and objective tear film parameters were assessed before, immediately after, and 1.5 h after the VDT task with or without mist. (Registry ID: UMIN000054379) Results: Ocular symptom scores improved significantly in the humidifier group immediately after the VDT task and up to 1.5 h later compared to before the task (p < 0.001, =0.006, respectively). Immediately after the VDT task, tear meniscus height was significantly higher and non-invasive breakup time was significantly longer in the humidifier group than in the control group (p < 0.001, =0.040, respectively). Plugging of the meibomian gland orifices was significantly reduced only in the humidifier group immediately after the VDT task compared to before the VDT task and remained significantly reduced up to 1.5 h later (p = 0.004, 0.016, respectively). Conclusions: The use of the photocatalytic desktop humidifier during VDT task resulted in significant improvements in the tear film parameters and subjective symptoms. The photocatalytic desktop humidifier could be effective in alleviating dry eye and eye strain in computer users in a modern office environment.

This population-based, cross-sectional study was performed to assess the influence of life-style modalities, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and visual display terminal (VDT) use, on the prevalence of dry eye disease (DED).
The study included a total of 102,582 participants aged 40-74 years, from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next Generation, a large nationwide prospective ongoing Japanese cohort study. Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the relationship of total and leisure-time physical activity, duration of sedentary behaviors, and VDT use (hours/day) with DED.
Among 47,346 men and 55,236 women, 25,234 (8315 males and 16,919 females) cases of DED were documented. Total physical activity was significantly related to decreased DED in both sexes; for the highest vs. lowest total physical activity quartiles, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for DED were 0.90 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.97; Ptrend<0.03) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.86-0.95; Ptrend<0.001) for men and women, respectively. Conversely, prolonged sedentary behaviors and VDT use had significantly higher prevalence of DED in both sexes (Ptrend<0.001). Notably, the favorable effect of total physical activity on decreased DED in women was more prevalent with prolonged VDT use (≥2 h/day) (Pinteraction<0.01). In men, the duration of VDT use or sitting was a significant modifier of the inverse relationship between leisure-time physical activity and DED (Pinteraction<0.05).
Physical inactivity, prolonged sedentary behaviors, and use of VDT were related to increased susceptibility to DED among middle-aged to older Japanese adults.

[Purpose] This study examined changes in the onset of neck movement in young adults with and without mild neck pain (MNP) during visual display terminal (VDT) work. [Subjects] Ten control subjects and 10 subjects with MNP who were VDT workers were recruited. The upper (UC) and lower cervical (LC) spine angles in the sagittal plane were collected using an ultrasound-based motion analysis system during VDT work for 5 min. [Results] The MNP group had faster movement initiation in the UC and LC compared with the control group during VDT work. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that young adults with MNP should be cautious when performing VDT work while sitting.

A questionnaire study of Swedish public employees with frequent and different types of VDT work (n = 2,025) was conducted. Eight different kinds of eye discomfort were examined, and an additive index was constructed. Eye discomfort was statistically related to aspects of work organization. The highest levels of discomfort were reported by computer-aided design (CAD), data entry, and word processing groups; groups with mixed VDT tasks displayed the lowest level of symptoms. Time spent at a VDT, low degree of work control, time pressure, and high pace of work were all associated with relatively high levels of eye discomfort. There was significant interaction between experience of stress and time spent at a VDT with respect to both the eye discomfort index and three specific symptoms (itching, gritty feeling, and dryness). Whereas dryness, smarting, and itching of the eyes seem most strongly related to work conditions, redness and watery eyes seem most weakly related.