Digital Blinking Stimuli As An Innovative Solution To Screen-Induced Dry Eye Symptoms.

Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PP02.06 | Type: ESCRS 2022 - Posters | DOI: 10.82333/ekxq-jp57

Authors: Luis Alfonso Hernandez-Pinamora* ¹ , Everardo Hernandez-Quintela ² , Valeria Sanchez-Huerta ¹ , Francesc March de Ribot ³ , Angelica Pacheco-Varela ¹ , Juan Lara-Vera ¹

¹Association to Prevent Blindness,Mexico City,Mexico, ²The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute,Baltimore,United States, ³University Hospital ,Barcelona ,Spain

Purpose

To develop a novel solution to screen-induced dry eye symptoms that is cheap, easily deployable and scalable.

Setting

The protocol was conducted at the Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico City in close collaboration with Everardo Hernandez-Quintela at The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute.

Methods

A previously validated questionnaire for screen-induced dry eye symptoms was applied to participants after a 30 minute read on a laptop while the blink rate was being recorded on camera. This happens twice for each participant; once with Digital Blinking Stimuli (DiBS) on, and once with DiBS off. Each participant is randomized to start with either DiBS on or off without her/his knowledge. DiBS is an innovative computer program that produces screen distortion during 100ms every 4s in order to induce participants to blink at a normal rate while looking at screens.

Results from both groups were compared with a student T test

Results

Results showed a significant reduction in the eye soreness, eye strain and tearing subscores with DiBS on. Additionally, with DiBS on, a significant increase in the blink rate was observed.

Conclusions

DiBS is a promising new technology that may aid in decreasing screen-induced dry eye symptoms, while at the same time being cheap and easy to deploy.