Re: Computer Use >>> Glaucoma (???)

[Guest guest]

So don't neglect your eye exams!

Thanks, Rodney!

On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 13:22:35 -0000, Rodney <perspect1111@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi folks:

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> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4008185.stm

>

> Rodney.

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>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

" Possible association between heavy computer users and glaucomatous

visual field abnormalities: a cross sectional study in Japanese

workers

Masayuki Tatemichi, Tadashi Nakano, Katsutoshi Tanaka, Takeshi

Hayashi, Takeshi Nawa, Toshiaki Miyamoto, Hisanori Hiro, and Minoru

Sugita

J Epidemiol Community Health 2004; 58: 1021-1027.

Study objective:To study the association between computer use and

visual field abnormalities (VFA)and

to assess whether heavy computer users have an increased risk of

glaucoma.

Design:Cross sectional multicentre study.

Subjects and observation procedures:A total of 10 202 randomly

selected Japanese workers (mean (SD)

age 43.2 (9.8)years)were screened for VFA using the frequency

doubling technology perimetry (FDT-

VFA),in addition to undergoing a general medical check up,and then

ophthalmologically examined.

Information about their computer use and refractive errors was

obtained from a questionnaire and

interview,respectively.

Main results:As a result of FDT test,522 and 8602 subjects were

positive and negative for FDT-VFA,

respectively.A significant (p =0.004)interaction was found between

computer use and refractive errors

regarding the risk of FDT-VFA.In stratified analysis,heavy computer

users with refractive errors showed a

significant positive association with FDT-VFA (odds ratio (OR)

=1.74,95%confidence interval (CI)1.28 to

2.37),while those without refractive errors did not.Comparison of 165

subjects with an ophthalmological

diagnosis of glaucoma and 2918 controls showed that the OR for

glaucoma of heavy computer users with

refractive errors was 1.82 (95%CI 1.06 to 3.12).Of 165 subjects with

glaucoma,141 had refractive

errors,especially myopia (96.4%,136 of 141).

Conclusions:Although there are limitations to this study,such as its

cross sectional design,heavy computer

users with refractive errors seem to have an increased risk of FDT-

VFA.Glaucoma might be involved in an

underlying disease and myopia in a risk factor for FDT-VFA. "

suggests it is not too great a risk for a treatable condition.

Cheers, Al Pater.

--- In , " Rodney " <perspect1111@y...>

wrote:

>

> Hi folks:

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4008185.stm

>

> Rodney.

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

Just for the record, on the treatability of glaucoma, I have two

blood relatives who eventually became as-near-as-made-no-difference

blind from glaucoma, despite 'treatment'. I get my eyes checked for

it every couple of years. sfsg.

I am astonished to see how high a percentage that study seems to

imply get glaucoma. In addition to ways to help live as long as

possible it seems to me that it may be worth paying some attention

also to those afflictions that, while not terminal, if one suffered

from them, would greatly detract from one's enjoyment of those extra

years.

So unless people here think it off-topic it might be a good idea to

have a list of such illnesses - those that may not reduce lifespan

but which would significantly reduce enjoyment of it, and the

incidence of which perhaps could be reduced. Any suggestions? If we

want to make a list I suggest glaucoma as one of them. Osteoporosis

is probably another?

Rodney.

> >

> > Hi folks:

> >

> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4008185.stm

> >

> > Rodney.