Effects of Smart Glasses on the Visual Acuity and Eye Strain of Employees in Logistics and Picking: A Six-Month Observational Study

Abstract

The usage of smart glasses in goods logistics and order picking has mainly been studied through cross-sectional experimental studies. Our longitudinal field study investigated the effects of smart glasses on the eyesight of 43 employees at two German companies. We combined ophthalmological examinations and questionnaire surveys at two points in time, six months apart. The vision of the employees was examined before and after each work shift. Mixed effects logistic regression was conducted to determine the associations between smart glasses use and effects on visual acuity. In the baseline examination, differences in eyesight before and after shifts were small and not statistically significant. However, some individuals experienced deteriorations, especially in visual acuity at near distances (n = 7 for the right eye, n = 6 for the left). Participants over 40 years of age had 16.1 times higher odds of deterioration compared to those under 40 years (95% CI: 2.7-95.9, p = 0.002). The most commonly reported eye strains were eye fatigue (n = 32), rubbing (n = 25), and burning (n = 24). If smart glasses are to be implemented in logistics companies, it is recommended to offer employees eye tests with an industrial physician in advance.

Keywords: eye strain; eyesight; field study; logistics; longitudinal study; picking; smart glasses; visual acuity.

Figure 1

Google Glass Enterprise Edition (source: https://mashable.com/article/google-glass-enterprise-edition, accessed on 8 October 2024).

Figure 2

Interval plot of the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for deterioration in visual acuity (green: short-term effects, blue: long-term effects; visual aid and sleep quality not included in the long-term model).

Figure 3

Interval plot of the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for reported eye strain after removing the data glasses on the day of the baseline examination.