Vision screening, eye examination and risk assessment of display screen users in a large regional teaching hospital

Abstract

In January 1993 the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust, which employs approximately 5000 staff, implemented the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Northern Ireland Regulations (1992). During 1994 all regular display screen equipment users were offered a vision screening test. In total 571 employees were screened using computerized vision screening software (City Visual Systems Ltd). Risk assessments were completed for 293 display screen work-stations. One hundred and twelve full eye examinations, carried out by optometrists, were performed on those who failed vision screening and on those who specifically requested an optometric assessment. Results indicate that whereas the proportion of users experiencing visual and general symptoms differed markedly from department to department (28-82%), the median number of individuals failing the screening test was 25% (range 9-40%). Those involved in uninterrupted display screen equipment work for prolonged periods reported visual and general work-related symptoms twice as frequently as those who spent less time working with DSE. The outcome of full eye examinations confirmed that less than 5% of display screen users required spectacles solely for display screen use. Work-station analysis indicated that ergonomic problems were common. The authors conclude that the successful management of health risks from display screen equipment requires simultaneous attention to work-place design, working patterns and eye care.

Vertical gaze direction and postural adjustment: An extension of the Heuer model.

“…The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has reported that working with computer displays is a leading cause of work-related disorders. Visual fatigue (Jackson et al, 1997) and musculoskeletal discomfort (Bergvist et al, 1995) are commonly associated with computer workstations. The results reported here suggest that visual and musculoskeletal factors may interact in a complex fashion, depending on the vertical location of a computer display.…”

“…The problems associated with computer displays should not be thought of as benign: In severe .cases, the problems are associated with stress and clinical depression (Mino et al,, 1993). Furthermore, the incidence of adverse symptoms has been found to rise as the time spent working with computer displays increases (Jackson et al, 1997;Scullica & Rechichi, 1993). Some progress has been made in understanding the etiology of both ocular (Pickwell, Kaye, & Jenkins, 1991) and musculo-skeletal (Bergvist, Wolgast, Nilsson, & Voss, 1995) discomfort.…”

“…For a number of people, however, work with such displays is associated with ocular discomfort (e.g., eye strain; Jackson et al, 1997) and musculoskeletal problems (e.g., neck and shoulder discomfort; Grandjean & Hunting, 1977). The incidence of such problems is surprisingly high: A recent comprehensive study (Jackson et al, 1997) found that 41% of 571 computer users from a hospital setting complained of adverse visual symptoms, with 33% complaining of general problems (33% of those complaining of symptoms reported both visual and general difficulties). The problems associated with computer displays should not be thought of as benign: In severe .cases, the problems are associated with stress and clinical depression (Mino et al,, 1993).…”

A New Method for Evaluating the Visual Environment

“…Valid and reliable risk assessment methods are required in order to detect risks in the visual environment, and to evaluate workplace interventions. Preferably, they should cover all aspec ts of the work environment, such as workstation arrangement, task demands, and the worker's perceived visual comfort (Jackson et al, 1997;Long, 2014). Leccese et al (2016) recommends that objective measurements of luminance should be performed at the workstation ( e.g., the desk) as well as in the surroundings (e.g., the surrounding walls) to get a complete assessment of the lighting conditions.…”

Visual Display Height

“…Many occupations require employees to fixate visual targets (e.g., computer monitors or other visual displays). Although some people perform such tasks with no adverse consequences, others can experience visual and postural discomfort (e.g., Bergqvist, Wolgast, Nilsson, & Voss, 1995;Jackson et al, 1997). One aspect of workstation design that influences the incidence of discomfort is the vertical location of the visual display (Bergqvist et al, 1995).…”