Protecting the Eyes of Gamers With Lubricating Eyedrops

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2024-08-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The excessive use of screens particularly amongst digital gamers can adversely impact the health of the surface of the eyes with symptoms and signs of surface damage. While strategies including limiting screen time exist, these may be ineffective given the widespread rise of digital device use and gaming culture in the modern era. There is limited evidence for the protective effect of lubricating eyedrops on the ocular surface for handheld console and computer gamers.

The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of a lubricating eyedrop (TheaLoz Duo) on the surface of the eyes in handheld console and computer gamers. The main question it aims to answer is whether TheaLoz Duo could protect the surface of the eyes from dessication and alleviate symptoms of dry eye disease in handheld console and computer gamers.

Participants will receive either the lubricating eyedrop first for 1 month, followed by control saline eyedrop solution for another month, or the other way round. Participants will attend 3 visits in total, each separated by 1 month apart. During each visit, routine clinical assessments of the front of the eye will be conducted. Subsequent findings from this timely study will help improve care of the surface of the eyes for a growing population of gamers worldwide.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Aston University
• Treatments: Ophthalmic Solutions

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

• Individuals with dryness symptoms as assessed with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI score ≥ 13).

• Individuals who play handheld console and computer-based games ≥ 2 hours everyday on average

• Individuals who are comfortable and competent at using smartphone applications

• Age ≥ 18 years, male or female

• Able to provide written consent in English

• Able to instil the treatment lubricating eyedrop on their own, and return any provided eyedrop bottle to the researcher used at the end of the treatment

• Able to attend multiple visits (3 visits over 2 months)

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnancy

• Use of any topical ocular medical eyedrops or lubricants in the 1 week prior to starting the study or during the study period. Those who are using existing lubricating eyedrops and are interested in participating will be required to stop their lubricating eyedrops for 1 week prior to commencing the study

• Contact lens wear in the 2 weeks prior to starting the study or during study period

• Systemic conditions that can cause dry eye disease including diabetes and Sjögren's syndrome

• History of ocular surgery, trauma or infections