The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students
Derrick Liu,1 Bernard L Cook III,2 Edmund P Farris3 1Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA; 2Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA; 3Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USACorrespondence: E...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Clinical Ophthalmology |
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| author_facet | Liu D Cook III BL Farris EP |
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| description | Derrick Liu,1 Bernard L Cook III,2 Edmund P Farris3 1Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA; 2Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA; 3Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USACorrespondence: Edmund P Farris, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, USA, Tel +1 860 679 3389, Email efarris@uchc.eduPurpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a short period of playing video games on a personal computer (PC) causes changes in measurements of dry eye disease (DED).Patients and Methods: We recruited 41 Quinnipiac University students (ages 18– 23 years, mean age 19.66± 1.09 years; 9 females, 32 males), with eligibility criteria being 18+ years old, identifying as “gamers” without previous history of eye surgery, steroid use, autoimmune disorders, or history of or previous treatment for dry eye. Each student was administered DED-related assessments before/after four hours of continuous PC gaming: 1) Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires, 2) Snellen visual acuity test, 3) tear osmolarity point-of-care assay, 4) matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) inflammation point-of-care assay, and 5) an unanesthetized Schirmer test of tear production. Students were limited to 500 cc of water during the four hour period.Results: Following gaming, the mean SPEED scores increased significantly (p< 0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), as did the frequency and severity of soreness/irritation and eye fatigue. Tear osmolarity decreased and tear production increased in the right eye. Other metrics (OSDI, Snellen, and MMP-9) did not change significantly.Conclusion: As little as four hours of continuous PC gaming with limited hydration results in an increase in self-reported measures of DED symptoms. These prospective findings corroborate the epidemiological link between gaming and DED symptoms and highlight the need for long-term studies.Keywords: dry eye disease, screen use, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tear osmolarity |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0d9c8c7be56424c8a899b3642029ec7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1177-5483 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0d9c8c7be56424c8a899b3642029ec72025-08-20T03:17:53ZengDove Medical PressClinical Ophthalmology1177-54832025-07-01Volume 19Issue 122292238104764The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College StudentsLiu D0Cook III BL1Farris EP2MedicineImmunologySurgeryDerrick Liu,1 Bernard L Cook III,2 Edmund P Farris3 1Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA; 2Department of Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA; 3Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USACorrespondence: Edmund P Farris, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT, USA, Tel +1 860 679 3389, Email efarris@uchc.eduPurpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a short period of playing video games on a personal computer (PC) causes changes in measurements of dry eye disease (DED).Patients and Methods: We recruited 41 Quinnipiac University students (ages 18– 23 years, mean age 19.66± 1.09 years; 9 females, 32 males), with eligibility criteria being 18+ years old, identifying as “gamers” without previous history of eye surgery, steroid use, autoimmune disorders, or history of or previous treatment for dry eye. Each student was administered DED-related assessments before/after four hours of continuous PC gaming: 1) Standardized Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaires, 2) Snellen visual acuity test, 3) tear osmolarity point-of-care assay, 4) matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) inflammation point-of-care assay, and 5) an unanesthetized Schirmer test of tear production. Students were limited to 500 cc of water during the four hour period.Results: Following gaming, the mean SPEED scores increased significantly (p< 0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test), as did the frequency and severity of soreness/irritation and eye fatigue. Tear osmolarity decreased and tear production increased in the right eye. Other metrics (OSDI, Snellen, and MMP-9) did not change significantly.Conclusion: As little as four hours of continuous PC gaming with limited hydration results in an increase in self-reported measures of DED symptoms. These prospective findings corroborate the epidemiological link between gaming and DED symptoms and highlight the need for long-term studies.Keywords: dry eye disease, screen use, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tear osmolarityhttps://www.dovepress.com/the-effect-of-four-hours-of-continuous-personal-computer-pc-gaming-on--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTHdry eye diseasescreen usematrix metalloproteinase-9tear osmolarity |
| spellingShingle | Liu D Cook III BL Farris EP The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students Clinical Ophthalmology dry eye disease screen use matrix metalloproteinase-9 tear osmolarity |
| title | The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students |
| title_full | The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students |
| title_short | The Effect of Four Hours of Continuous Personal Computer (PC) Gaming on the Development of Dry Eye Symptoms in College Students |
| title_sort | effect of four hours of continuous personal computer pc gaming on the development of dry eye symptoms in college students |
| topic | dry eye disease screen use matrix metalloproteinase-9 tear osmolarity |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/the-effect-of-four-hours-of-continuous-personal-computer-pc-gaming-on--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-OPTH |
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