Effects of digital screen property modification on symptoms of digital eye strain.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether use of digital screen color temperature-modulating software is associated with changes in severity of symptoms associated with digital eye strain.

Methods: In this prospective, interventional study, participants were recruited at ophthalmology clinics and via email. Participants completed a pre-intervention survey regarding demographics, digital screen use patterns, and severity of eight digital eye strain symptoms on a five-point Likert scale. Participants were randomized to use color temperature modulating software, reduce digital screen brightness, or change no digital screen properties on their personal computers for 1 month, after which time participants completed a post-intervention survey on digital eye strain symptom severity and adherence to intervention use. Changes in symptom severity scores were assessed using paired t tests.

Results: Pre-intervention and post-intervention questionnaires were completed by 47 participants. There was no significant difference in computer screen use times and baseline symptom severity across groups. Regarding usability, 19/19 participants (100%) in the color temperature modulation group and 16/17 (94%) in the brightness reduction group used the intervention half the time or more. In the brightness reduction group, there was a significant reduction in the eye fatigue severity score by 0.82 (P = 0.0007). There was no significant reduction in symptom severity in the color temperature modulation and control groups.

Conclusions: In our study cohort, digital screen color temperature modulating software was associated with a high level of usability but was not associated with a reduction in digital eye strain symptom severity.