The effects of induced oblique astigmatism on symptoms and reading performance while viewing a computer screen

Citation information: Rosenfield M, Hue JE, Huang RR & Bababekova Y. The effects of induced oblique astigmatism on symptoms and reading performance while viewing a computer screen. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 142–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2011.00887.x Introduction: Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a complex of eye and vision problems related to computer use which has been reported in up to 90% of computer users. Ocular symptoms may include asthenopia, accommodative and vergence difficulties and dry eye. Previous studies have reported that uncorrected astigmatism may have a significant impact on symptoms of CVS. However, its effect on task performance is unclear. Methods: This study recorded symptoms after a 10 min period of reading from a computer monitor either through the habitual distance refractive correction or with a supplementary −1.00 or −2.00D oblique cylinder added over these lenses in 12 young, visually‐normal subjects. Additionally, the distance correction condition was repeated to assess the repeatability of the symptom questionnaire. Subjects’ reading speed and accuracy were monitored during the course of the 10 min trial. Results: There was no significant difference in reading rate or the number of errors between the three astigmatic conditions. However, a significant change in symptoms was reported with the median total symptom scores for the 0, 1 and 2D astigmatic conditions being 2.0, 6.5 and 40.0, respectively (p