Ocular Surface and Tear Film Changes in Older Women Working with Computers

Abstract

The aim of this work is to investigate changes in the ocular surface (OS) and tear film (TF) by means of questionnaire-based subjective symptoms, TF break-up time, Schirmer test, and TF analysis in women working with computers and to analyze the effects of the oral supplementation with antioxidants/omega 3 fatty acids (A/ω3) in the OS outcomes. Women aged 40-65 years (n = 148) were recruited at the Administrative Offices of Valencia (Spain) and distributed into two age groups, 40-52 years (AGE1; n = 87) and 53-65 years (AGE2; n = 61), and then subdivided according to being (or not) computer users (CUG; NCUG) during the workday. Homogeneous subgroups were randomly assigned (or not) to the daily intake of three pills of A/ω3 for three months. At baseline and at the end of follow-up, personalized interviews and ocular examination were done. Reflex tear samples were collected from the inferior meniscus and processed for a multiplexed particle-based flow cytometry assay to measure proinflammatory molecules. Statistics were performed using the SPSS 15.0 program. The OS pathology was clinically evident in the AGE1-CUG (33%) versus the AGE2-CUG (64%) of women. Significantly higher interleukins-1β and -6 tear levels were found in the AGE1 versus the AGE2 women employees (P = 0.006 and P = 0.001, resp.), as well as in the CUG versus the NCUG (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000, resp.). Supplementation with A/ω3 positively influenced the OS pathology as manifested by the amelioration of the clinical signs/symptoms related to computer uses. Strategies involving a safe environment and oral micronutrient supplements may be managed within eye-care standards in older women.

Figure 1

Classification of participants according to the main groups and subgroups.

Figure 2

Collecting method of reflex tears by a Pasteur micropipette.

Figure 3

The Schirmer test scores in the age groups of women employees and in relation to being exposed or nonexposed to computer screens during the workday. Data are mean ± SD for all participants in each group.

Figure 4

(a) Data comparison of the multiplex tear samples analyses for the two main age groups of women employees exposed and nonexposed to computer screens regarding the IL-1β tear expression levels. (b) Determination of IL6 expression in tears compared to the computer screen exposures in the age study groups of women participants. Bars, mean ± SD. Significance levels were taken at ^∗ P < 0.01; ^∗∗ P < 0.001.

Figure 5

Expression levels of main inflammatory biomarkers in tears from the supplemented and the nonsupplemented women employees, according to the main age groups. Comparative analysis between groups (significance level) ^∗ P < 0.01; ^∗∗ P < 0.001.