Clinical Trial: Effects of Gunnar Computer Glasses on Viewing Comfort and Performance

Study Status: Terminated
Recruit Status: Terminated
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Effect of Computer Eyewear on Viewing Comfort and Performance in Office Work

Brief Summary:

The proposed study aims to test if Gunnar computer glasses provide any advantages, in comparison to no glasses, on the following aspects in computer-related office work:

  • Any enhancement on visual performance of basic visual function, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color discrimination, etc.
  • Any enhancement on visual performance of typical office work, including reading, word-spelling check, number searching, or target identification.
  • Any benefit in objective viewing comfort measured with viewing distance, blink frequency, post-viewing pupil size.
  • Any benefit in subjective viewing comfort reflected on the questionnaire of viewing symptom survey.
  • Any benefit in viewing comfort and visual performance with increased environmental ventilation or under strong glare.
  • Any benefit in life quality from daily wearing (e.g., better comfort or sleep quality).

Detailed Summary:

<Introduction>

When performing near work, one must focus at (accommodate) and point toward (converge) at a closer distance, and constantly re-focus the eyes in order to see small text and images with clarity. Sustaining such efforts can lead to eye fatigue and eye strain, among a host of vision problems. Most visual tasks on a screen also demand heightened visual concentration and this decreases blink rate. Combined with working in a heated or air-conditioned office environment, which leads to over-evaporation of tear film and lipid deficiency, irritation and dryness to the surface of the cornea are expected. Disruptive glare from excessive screen reflection and ambient lighting also deteriorates the image quality and heaps on viewing discomfort. With extensive screen viewing also exacerbate discomfort in people with existing vision problems like eye muscle imbalance, astigmatism, farsightedness and presbyopia. Since technology is almost unavoidable to modern life, preventions should be taken to lessen the total toll on the eyes and visual system. Gunnar computer glasses address the above issues by providing mild yellow tint anti-reflection coating aimed to shield the harmful blue light and lessen strong glare. The glasses also have a small amount of magnification (+0.5 D) to enhance acuity. The curved frame is designed to retain moisture and reduce dry eye symptoms. All these special characters are devised to enhance visual performance and minimize eye fatigue and visual discomfort in digital viewing. The current study aimed to validate the aforementioned benefits.

Gunnar over-the counter (OTC) computer glasses adopt yellow lenses to cut off the active short wavelength and lessen the bright glare, which often induces the detrimental effect caused by excessive illumination or intense scattered reflection. While the g
Sponsor: Pacific University

Current Primary Outcome: Subjective rating of Gunnar computer glasses preference [ Time Frame: Measurement was taken at the end of the study for each subject, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]

At the end of the study, subjects were asked to rate their satisfaction level of using the Gunnar OTC computer glasses on improving viewing comfort task performance.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Viewing discomfort [ Time Frame: Subjective ratings of discomfort were assessed after each condition on the second and third visits, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]
    Subjects subjective rating of viewing comfort with the assigned treatment on the Viewing Symptom Survey. They will rate their discomfort sensation on a 5-point Likert scale for symptoms including: dry or watery eyes, tired eyes, irritated eyes, ache in or behind the eyes, sensation of eye-pulling, sensation of eye-burning, sensitive to lights, blurred vision, double vision, difficulty in adjusting eye focus, difficulty in seeing things with bright light, difficulty in seeing things with normal light, distortion in object shapes, distortion in object colors.
  • Visual acuity [ Time Frame: Performance was measured in each condition on the second and third visits, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]
    subject's ability in identifying high- and low-contrast objects
  • Color perception [ Time Frame: Performance was measured in each condition on the second and third visits, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]
    subject's ability to identify the number of shades of a color
  • Reading [ Time Frame: Performance was measured in each condition on the second and third visits, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]
    subject's reading speed and speed and accuracy in spelling check
  • Dry eye measurements [ Time Frame: Measurement was taken at baseline and after each condition on the second and third visits, up to 16 days. Data collection and preliminary analysis has been completed. ]
    Dry eye condition was measured with one subjective measurement on a standardized survey (Ocular Surface Disease Index , OSDI) and four objective measurements: (1)Tear Break-Up Time (TBUT), (2) tear osmolarity with The TearLab Osmolarity System), (3) corneal integrity with Lissamine green, and (4) real-time blink-contingent visual acuity.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Pacific University

Dates:
Date Received: June 17, 2013
Date Started: June 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: October 4, 2016
Last Verified: October 2016