title: Do specially designed visual display unit lenses create increased postural load compared with single-vision lenses during visual display unit work?
abstract: Three different types of spectacle lenses, specially designed for visual display unit (VDU) work, were compared with single-vision lenses regarding postural load. The different corrections effect on postural load was measured by using electromyography. Muscle loads were recorded from the trapezius muscle and the infraspinatus muscle. Continuous measurements of body posture were measured by using three dual axis inclinometers attached to the head, back, and upper arm. No significant differences were found between the single-vision lenses and the specially designed VDU lenses regarding muscle load. Small differences were found regarding the head angle. The study concludes that these new lens designs create interesting opportunities for the optometrist to optimize the visual conditions for VDU workers.
authors.affiliation: Buskerud College, Department of Optometry, Kongsberg, Norway. gunnar.horgen@hibu.no
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horgen
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aarås
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Magne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thoresen
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D003626:Data Display; D004576:Electromyography; D004867:Equipment Design; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder; D013997:Time Factors