Visual problems in young adults due to computer use.

BACKGROUND: Computer use can cause visual problems. The purpose of our study was to evaluate visual problems due to computer use in young adults. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants in our study were 87 adults, 48 male and 39 female, mean aged 31.3 years old (SD 7.6). All the participants completed a questionnaire regarding visual problems detected after computer use. RESULTS: The mean daily use of computers was 3.2 hours (SD 2.7). 65.5 % of the participants complained for dry eye, mainly after more than 2.5 hours of computer use. 32 persons (36.8 %) had a foreign body sensation in their eyes, while 15 participants (17.2 %) complained for blurred vision which caused difficulties in driving, after 3.25 hours of continuous computer use. 10.3 % of the participants sought medical advice for their problem. There was a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of visual problems and the duration of computer use (p = 0.021). 79.3 % of the participants use artificial tears during or after long use of computers, so as not to feel any ocular discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: The main symptom after computer use in young adults was dry eye. All visual problems associated with the duration of computer use. Artificial tears play an important role in the treatment of ocular discomfort after computer use.

Frequency of fundus pathology related to patients' dissatisfaction after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: The benefit of cataract surgery in the general population concerning visual acuity and subjective visual function has been well established. However, a small proportion of patients are dissatisfied after cataract surgery. Our study aims to evaluate patients' dissatisfaction after phacoemulsification cataract surgery related to low visual function and to analyze the factors associated with this outcome. METHODS: 397 patients, who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery, participated in the study. All the participants completed a self-administered questionnaire which evaluated their visual function pre- and post-operatively. Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) was measured before and after cataract surgery and patients' contentment if they were satisfied or not with the result of the surgery was also recorded. RESULTS: Macular disease, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma were the main factors limiting the final visual result after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important for the patients to be preoperatively fully aware of the presentation of the aforementioned fundus pathology and to be warned about the predicted visual outcome after cataract surgery.