title: Comparative study of the blinking time between young adult and adult video display terminal users in indoor environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the average blinking time in conversation and in Video Display Terminal use of young adults and adults in the presbyopic age group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transversal analytical study in a readily accessible sample consisting of Volkswagen do Brasil - Curitiba, Paraná employees was performed. The cohort group consisted of 108 subjects divided into two age groups: Group 1, the young adult group (age range 20-39): 77 employees, mean age of 30.09 +/- 5.09; Group 2, the presbyopic adult group, (age range 40-53): 31 employees, mean age of 44.17 +/- 3. Subjects under 18 years of age, with a history of ocular disorders, contact lens wearers and computer non-users were excluded. The subjects had their faces filmed for 10 minutes in conversation and VDT reading. Student's t-test was used and the statistical significance level was 95%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average time between blinks in Group 1 for conversation and VDT reading was 5.16 +/- 1.83 and 10.42 +/- 7.78 seconds, respectively; in Group 2. 4,9 +/- 1.49 and 10.46 +/- 5.54 seconds. In both age groups, the time between blinks in VDT reading situations was higher (p<0.0001). There was no statistically meaningful difference for conversation and VDT reading situations when the two studied age groups were compared (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an increase in the blinking time between young adults and the presbyopic group in VDT use situations when compared with reading situations. The difference in the blinking frequency between young adults and the presbyopic group in VDT use and reading situations was not statistically significant.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tânia Mara Cunha
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Arthur Rubens Cunha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Fernando Cesar
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Abib
authors.forename: Newton Kara
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: José
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D016288:Computer Terminals; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011305:Presbyopia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011932:Reading; D013997:Time Factors; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult