A Comparison between Effect of Viewing Text on Computer Screen and iPad® on Visual Symptoms and Functions
Keywords:
Computer vision syndrome, iPad®, eyestrainAbstract
Objective: To compare the ocular symptoms following sustained near vision between laptop computer and iPad®.
Methods: Forty normal subjects read text from a laptop computer screen and an iPad® screen for a continuous 20 min period. Similar text was used in both sessions, which was matched for size and contrast. After finishing viewing text, subjects immediately completed a written questionnaire categorizing symptom scores into three groups: Dry eye, Pain and Blurred vision score. The accommodative amplitude and fusional convergence amplitude at near vision were also assessed before and after reading.
Results: In both conditions, mean symptom scores were higher during iPad use. When comparing the computer and iPad conditions, mean scores were statistically significant different in Pain score (6.30 vs 8.70; p=0.025) and Blurred vision score (10.13 vs 12.03; p=0.041) but no statistically significant difference in Dry eye score (6.30 vs
6.60; p=0.71). There were significant change in accommodative amplitude and fusional convergence amplitude with near vision when compared before and after near-vision tasks in both cases.
Conclusion: Pain and Blurred vision symptoms following sustained iPad use were significantly worse than those reported after computer use under similar viewing conditions. However, both computer screen and iPad cause ocular symptoms having an impact on quality of life.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Users are free to share, copy, and redistribute all articles published in the Siriraj Medical Journal (SMJ) in any medium or format as long as you follow the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the material, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the publisher endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.