[Changes in visual acuity observed in VDT workers in a printing company].
A yearly ophthalmological examination was carried out in 2 VDT worker groups (A-1 and B-1 groups) and 2 control groups (A-2 and B-2 groups). The 4 groups were as follows; workers routinely engaged in both VDT work and key-punch work at a printing company (A-1 group), researchers or office workers handling VDT irregularly at a chemical company (B-1 group), typesetters at a printing company (A-2 group), and office workers at a chemical company (B-2 group). The examination was commenced in the same year in which the workers of A-1 or B-1 group were introduced to VDT work and was carried out for 3 years. Comparison between the first and the last examination on subjective refractive power showed that all the groups had lower refractive powers in the last examination than the first one. The decrease in A-2 group showed the greatest decrease in refractive power among the 4 groups. The decrease in A-2 group was more severe than in the other 2 groups. Before VDT introduction, the workers of A-1 group had been engaged only in key-punch work. Information on naked visual acuities of A-1 group 3 years before VDT introduction was also obtained and compared with those in the first and the last examination. The ratio of workers with a severe reduction in visual acuity evidently increased after VDT introduction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Yoshikawa
H
H
Department of Public Health, Kansai Medical University.
Yoshida
M
M
Hara
I
I
D000328:Adult; D016288:Computer Terminals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D011327:Printing; D014792:Visual Acuity