Characteristics of spontaneous eyeblink activity during video display terminal use in healthy volunteers

PurposeTo analyse the spontaneous eyeblink rate (SEBR) and inter-eyeblink intervals (IEBI) of normal volunteers before and during video display terminal (VDT) use.MethodsThe SEBR of 51 normal volunteers was measured by counting the absence of the corneal reflex using a computer-based video analysis system. Only complete eyeblinks were recorded within 10 min under three different conditions: during a conversation, during VDT use without corneal anaesthesia, and during VDT use with corneal anaesthesia. The IEBI (in seconds) were determined to study individual time-dependent changes of SEBR.ResultsIn comparison with SEBR during conversation (mean 15.54 eyeblinks/min, standard deviation ±13.74 eyeblinks/min) the SEBR decreased significantly during VDT use without corneal anaesthesia (5.34 ± 4.53 eyeblinks/min). Corneal anaesthesia further significantly reduced SEBR (2.78 ± 2.77 eyeblinks/min). The SEBR was characterized by marked interindividual variability, ranging between 11 and 664 eyeblinks/10 min during conversation, between 4 and 189 eyeblinks during VDT use without corneal anaesthesia and between 1 and 119 eyeblinks at VDT use with corneal anaesthesia. No significant correlation between SEBR (during conversation or during VDT use) and quality (break-up time) or quantity (Schirmer I test, Jones test) of the tear film could be detected. Evaluation of the IEBI revealed three different types of eyeblink pattern during VDT use without corneal anaesthesia. Type 1 was characterized by a very low SEBR (0–2 eyeblinks/min) and relatively homogeneous distribution of eyeblinks, type 2 showed a moderate SEBR (1.2–8.5 eyeblinks/min) including three further subtypes. Type 3 was characterized by a high SEBR (6.8–18.9 eyeblinks/min) of regular or irregular pattern.ConclusionsVDT use is associated with a profound decrease of the SEBR in healthy subjects. There are marked interindividual differences in SEBR and no correlation between the SEBR and ocular tear film parameters in normal eyes. The SEBR is further reduced by corneal anaesthesia. The presence of different patterns of eyeblinking may be related to various exogenous and endogenous factors and may lead to a better understanding of ocular reactions during VDT use.

[1]  L. T. Jones.  The lacrimal secretory system and its treatment. , 1966, Journal of the All-India Ophthalmological Society.

[2]  J. Kleinman,et al.  Speaking, thinking, and blinking , 1981, Psychiatry Research.

[3]  L. Carney,et al.  THE NATURE OF NORMAL BLINKING PATTERNS , 1982, Acta ophthalmologica.

[4]  J. Prause,et al.  Relation between blink frequency and break‐up time? , 1987, Acta ophthalmologica.

[5]  S J Dain,et al.  Symptoms in VDU Operators , 1988, American journal of optometry and physiological optics.

[6]  Ross M. Henderson,et al.  Effect of Visual Display Unit Use on Blink Rate and Tear Stability , 1991, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[7]  M. Yap.  Tear break‐up time is related to blink frequency , 1991, Acta ophthalmologica.

[8]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Dry eyes and video display terminals. , 1993, The New England journal of medicine.

[9]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Ocular fatigue is the major symptom of dry eye , 1993, Acta ophthalmologica.

[10]  D. Schroeder,et al.  Blink Rate: A Possible Measure of Fatigue , 1994, Human factors.

[11]  C. Salibello,et al.  Is there a typical VDT patient? A demographic analysis. , 1995, Journal of the American Optometric Association.

[12]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Effects of ocular surface area and blink rate on tear dynamics. , 1995, Archives of ophthalmology.

[13]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Quantitative videographic analysis of blinking in normal subjects and patients with dry eye. , 1996, Archives of ophthalmology.

[14]  K. Nakamori,et al.  Blinking is controlled primarily by ocular surface conditions. , 1997, American journal of ophthalmology.

[15]  Thomson Wd,et al.  Eye problems and visual display terminals—the facts and the fallacies , 1998 .

[16]  W D Thomson,et al.  Eye problems and visual display terminals—the facts and the fallacies , 1998, Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians.

[17]  M J Doughty,et al.  The exposed ocular surface and its relationship to spontaneous eyeblink rate in elderly caucasians. , 1998, Experimental eye research.

[18]  M. C. Acosta,et al.  The influence of eye solutions on blinking and ocular comfort at rest and during work at video display terminals. , 1999, Experimental eye research.

[19]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Results of a population-based questionnaire on the symptoms and lifestyles associated with dry eye. , 1999, Cornea.

[20]  M Al-Abdulmunem,et al.  Relation between tear breakup time and spontaneous blink rate. , 1999, International contact lens clinic.

[21]  M. Doughty.  Consideration of Three Types of Spontaneous Eyeblink Activity in Normal Humans: during Reading and Video Display Terminal Use, in Primary Gaze, and while in Conversation , 2001, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[22]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Prevalence of dry eye in Japanese eye centers , 1995, Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

[23]  Prof. Otto Schirmer.  Studien zur Physiologie und Pathologie der Tränenabsonderung und Tränenabfuhr , 1903, Albrecht von Graefes Archiv für Ophthalmologie.