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

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:467039. doi: 10.1155/2015/467039. Epub 2015 Oct 18.

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.

Publication types

  • Clinical Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Computers
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / metabolism
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / physiopathology
  • Eye / drug effects
  • Eye / metabolism
  • Eye / physiopathology*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Middle Aged
  • Spain
  • Tears / drug effects
  • Tears / physiology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Interleukin-1beta