Article 4 Effect of Colored Overlays on Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

Background: Colored overlays may produce an improvement in reading when superimposed over printed materials. This study determined whether improvements in reading occur when the overlays are placed over a computer monitor. Methods: Subjects (N=30) read from a computer screen for 10 minutes with either a Cerium or control overlay positioned on the monitor. In a third condition, no overlay was present. Immediately following each trial, subjects reported ocular and visual symptoms experienced during the task. Results: Mean symptom scores following the Cerium, control, and no overlay conditions were 12.83, 17.37, and 15.65, respectively (p=0.47). However, a subgroup of 7 subjects (23%) reported significant improvements with the Cerium overlay. The mean symptom scores for the Cerium, control, and no overlay trials for this subgroup were 12.14, 29.86, and 28.93, respectively (p=0.03). No significant improvements in either reading speed or reading errors were observed in this subgroup. Conclusion: The use of colored overlays may provide a treatment method for some subjects reporting symptoms during computer use.

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