Publication: Refractive and Binocular Vision Status and Associated Asthenopia among Clinical Microscopists
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Clinical microscopists are at a greater risk of developing binocular vision anomalies
and asthenopia.
Objective
To assess the refractive and binocular vision status and to explore the association
between the presence of asthenopic symptoms and microscopy work among clinical
microscopists working at medical laboratory department.
Method
This cross-sectional study involved 37 clinical microscopists working at medical
laboratory department of Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal. The study was conducted from
January to December 2013. Only those participants who had been using microscope
for at least a year were enrolled in this study. Each participant underwent distance
visual acuity (VA) assessment, refractions, and orthoptic evaluation, including
measurement of distance and near phoria, near point of convergence (NPC), near
point of accommodation (NPA), positive fusional vergence (PFV), adduction, and
calculation of accommodation convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio. The
tear test was also carried out in each subject. Information about use of glasses,
microscopy work (duration, and time spent per day in microscope), and visual
symptoms associated with the use of microscope such as eye strain, headache,
double vision, and near vision were collected.
Result
The mean age of the clinical microscopists was 29 ± 5.7 years. The prevalence of
refractive error was 56.76% and the mean spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error
was -0.77 ± 0.86 D. Refractive error had neither correlation with microscopy work and
asthenopic symptoms associated with it, and nor with binocular vision parameters-
NPC, AA and AC/A ratio. However, there was a positive association between
asthenopic symptoms and microscopy work. There was statistically significant
difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects for binocular vision
parameters, including NPC, AA and positive fusional vergence (PFV) for near.
Conclusion
Microscopy work has an impact on near binocular vision. Asthenopic symptoms
bear a positive association with microscopy work. Refractive error has no significant
correlation with either microscopy works or associated asthenopic symptoms.
KEY WORDS
Asthenopia, Binocular vision, Microscopists, Orthoptic, Refractive error
Description
Kaiti R, Shrestha JB, Dev MK, Pradhan A
Consultant Optometrist
Nepal Eye Hospital
Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Asthenopia, Binocular vision, Microscopists, Orthoptic, Refractive error