{"title":"A pilot study of the impact of repeated blink refrainment on ocular surface temperature and the interblink period.","authors":"Wing Li, Andrew D Graham, Meng C Lin","doi":"10.1097/OPX.0000000000002195","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Significance: </strong>This study examines a potential stress test of repeated blink refrainment and its effects on the interblink period and the rate of evaporative ocular surface cooling. Such a test could aid in the study of computer vision syndrome, in which screen users unconsciously delay blinking, leading to onset of symptoms.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to examine the relationship between the length of the maximum achievable interblink time and the rate of ocular surface cooling under stress test conditions of repeated refrainment from blinking for as long as possible.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Subjects acclimated to the examination room for 10 minutes before measurement and then were asked to hold the eyes open and refrain from blinking for as long as possible (the maximum blink interval), while ocular surface temperature was recorded using an infrared thermographic video camera. Subjects completed 20 trials with four successive blinks separating each trial.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen subjects (8 female and 7 male subjects) completed the study. The grand mean ocular surface cooling rate was -0.027°C/s (range, -0.338 to +0.014°C/s). A faster ocular surface cooling rate was significantly related to an exponentially shorter maximum blink interval (p<0.001). An increasing number of trials was related to a clinically insignificant increase in the length of the maximum blink interval overall, and a post hoc analysis revealed subject subgroups for whom the stress test was effective or ineffective.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The ocular surface evaporatively cools exponentially during periods of blink refrainment. With a subgroup of subjects with initially stable tear films and normal lipid layer thickness, cumulative tear film stress from repeated, longer-term blink refrainment could contribute to tear evaporation and symptoms of computer vision syndrome.</p>","PeriodicalId":19649,"journal":{"name":"Optometry and Vision Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Optometry and Vision Science","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000002195","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"OPHTHALMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Significance: This study examines a potential stress test of repeated blink refrainment and its effects on the interblink period and the rate of evaporative ocular surface cooling. Such a test could aid in the study of computer vision syndrome, in which screen users unconsciously delay blinking, leading to onset of symptoms.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the length of the maximum achievable interblink time and the rate of ocular surface cooling under stress test conditions of repeated refrainment from blinking for as long as possible.
Methods: Subjects acclimated to the examination room for 10 minutes before measurement and then were asked to hold the eyes open and refrain from blinking for as long as possible (the maximum blink interval), while ocular surface temperature was recorded using an infrared thermographic video camera. Subjects completed 20 trials with four successive blinks separating each trial.
Results: Fifteen subjects (8 female and 7 male subjects) completed the study. The grand mean ocular surface cooling rate was -0.027°C/s (range, -0.338 to +0.014°C/s). A faster ocular surface cooling rate was significantly related to an exponentially shorter maximum blink interval (p<0.001). An increasing number of trials was related to a clinically insignificant increase in the length of the maximum blink interval overall, and a post hoc analysis revealed subject subgroups for whom the stress test was effective or ineffective.
Conclusions: The ocular surface evaporatively cools exponentially during periods of blink refrainment. With a subgroup of subjects with initially stable tear films and normal lipid layer thickness, cumulative tear film stress from repeated, longer-term blink refrainment could contribute to tear evaporation and symptoms of computer vision syndrome.
期刊介绍：
Optometry and Vision Science is the monthly peer-reviewed scientific publication of the American Academy of Optometry, publishing original research since 1924. Optometry and Vision Science is an internationally recognized source for education and information on current discoveries in optometry, physiological optics, vision science, and related fields. The journal considers original contributions that advance clinical practice, vision science, and public health. Authors should remember that the journal reaches readers worldwide and their submissions should be relevant and of interest to a broad audience. Topical priorities include, but are not limited to: clinical and laboratory research, evidence-based reviews, contact lenses, ocular growth and refractive error development, eye movements, visual function and perception, biology of the eye and ocular disease, epidemiology and public health, biomedical optics and instrumentation, novel and important clinical observations and treatments, and optometric education.
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