OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors for dry eye syndrome in visual display terminal (VDT) workers and to provide a scientific basis for protecting the eye health of VDT workers.

METHODSQuestionnaire survey, Schirmer I test, tear break-up time test, and workshop microenvironment evaluation were performed in 185 VDT workers. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for dry eye syndrome in VDT workers after adjustment for confounding factors.

RESULTSIn the logistic regression model, the regression coefficients of daily mean time of exposure to screen, daily mean time of watching TV, parallel screen-eye angle, upward screen-eye angle, eye-screen distance of less than 20 cm, irregular breaks during screen-exposed work, age, and female gender on the results of Schirmer I test were 0.153, 0.548, 0.400, 0.796, 0.234, 0.516, 0.559, and -0.685, respectively; the regression coefficients of daily mean time of exposure to screen, parallel screen-eye angle, upward screen-eye angle, age, working years, and female gender on tear break-up time were 0.021, 0.625, 2.652, 0.749, 0.403, and 1.481, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDaily mean time of exposure to screen, daily mean time of watching TV, parallel screen-eye angle, upward screen-eye angle, eye-screen distance of less than 20 cm, irregular breaks during screen-exposed work, age, and working years are risk factors for dry eye syndrome in VDT workers.