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There is some controversy about the utility of prescribing blue-blocking filters to mitigate digital eye strain. We found that using commercially available blue-blocking filters was ineffective in reducing orbicularis oculi muscle activity and visual symptomatology during a 30-min reading task from a computer screen. There are some claims that blue-blocking (B-B) filters may be effective in reducing symptoms and signs of digital eye strain. However, recent studies have suggested that there is no sufficient evidence to support their use. This study assessed the short-term effects of a commercially available, B-B filter on orbicularis oculi (OO) muscle activity and symptoms of digital eye strain during the execution of a 30-min reading tas. Twenty-three healthy young adults (22.9 ± 3.2 years of age) performed two reading tasks from a computer screen with or without a B-B filter on two different days. OO muscle activity was recorded by surface electromyography 4–5, 9–10, 14–15, 19–20, 24–25 and 29–30 min into the trial. Participants reported their perceived levels of visual discomfort and activation before and after completing the reading task. A Bayesian analysis favoured the null hypothesis that there was no change in OO muscle activity with or without using the B-B filter (Bayes Factor01 [BF01] = 7.08). Regarding symptomatology, the analysis favoured the time model that reading increased visual fatigue and discomfort but reduced activation levels (BF01 < 0.33 in all cases). However, our data did not support the alternative model that using B-B filter affected these visual symptoms. The B-B filter did not alter OO muscle activity or visual symptomatology significantly during the execution of a 30-min reading task in asymptomatic subjects. These findings support the idea that B-B filters do not attenuate signs and symptoms of digital eye strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical Relevance Background: Steady-state accommodation is frequently evaluated with open-field autorefractors; however there is no consensus regarding the optimal test duration. Our results allow us to standardise the procedure followed for the assessment of the steady-state accommodative response in clinical and laboratory settings and may be of great relevance in time-constrained situations. Background: The present study aims to determine the optimal recording time to assess the magnitude and variability of the accommodative response with a binocular open-field autorefractor. Methods: The steady-state accommodative response of 84 healthy undergraduate students was dynamically measured using the Grand Seiko WAM-5500 autorefractor at 500 cm, 40 cm and 20 cm for 90 s while participants maintained focus on a stationary target. We examined the reliability and level of agreement between four time intervals (the first 10-s, 30-s, 60-s and 90-s) at three accommodative demands (0.2D, 2.5D and 5D). Results: The magnitude of accommodation showed an excellent level of reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]> 0.90) for the comparisons between the 90-s, 60-s and 30-s time intervals at the three viewing distances tested. However, when including the 10-s interval, there was a moderate reduction of the reliability indices and an increase of the mean difference between two time intervals (intra-class correlation [ICC] ranging from 0.89 to 0.97; and ESs ranging from 0.16 to 0.42). For the variability of accommodation, we observed an excellent reliability for the comparisons of the 90-s and 60-s measures at the three accommodative demands (ICC: 0.95–0.96), whereas for the rest of comparisons we observed from moderate to good levels of reliability. Conclusion: Our data indicate that of 30-s and 60-s are enough to accurately assess the magnitude and variability of the accommodative response with the WAM-5500 autorefractor, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical Relevance: Caffeine intake has been demonstrated to influence several physiological measures, including some related to eye physiology. The ability to focus at different distances is of paramount importance in real-world situations, and thus, the possible impact of caffeine intake on accommodative facility may have important clinical implications.Background: This placebo-controlled, double-blind, balanced crossover study aimed to assess the acute effects of caffeine ingestion on the frequency and precision of the binocular accommodative facility.Methods: Twenty university students (21.9 ± 3.4 years) ingested a capsule of caffeine (4 mg/kg) or placebo (300 mg of corn-starch) on two different days and counterbalanced order. The binocular accommodative facility was objectively assessed, using the WAM-5500 binocular open-field autorefractometer, after 60 min of capsule ingestion (caffeine/placebo). Perceived levels of activation was also assessed in each experimental condition.Results: The ingestion of a single administration of caffeine (~ 4 mg/kg) causes an increase in the number of cycles performed per minute (p = 0.023, Cohen's d = 0.55), whereas no effects were observed for the mean magnitude of accommodative change between the far and near targets (p = 0.794), and the percentage of incorrect cycles of accommodation and dis-accommodation (p = 0.271 and 0.396, respectively). Participants reported a perceived level of activation of 6.8 ± 1.5 and 7.6 ± 1.8 in the placebo and caffeine conditions, respectively (p = 0.059).Conclusion: Caffeine intake improves quantitative, but not qualitative, measures of accommodative facility. These results corroborate the impact of caffeine on visual function and suggest that this ergogenic effect of caffeine may be used to enhance visual performance in applied situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advances have permitted to objectively record the accommodative response while shifting between two different levels of accommodation. This study is aimed at examining the concurrent validity of a new objective method for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of binocular accommodative facility, which is named 2Q-AF test, in comparison to the ±2.00 DS lens flippers. Fifty-six individuals took part in this study (36 healthy young adults [24.4 ± 3.2 years] and 20 children [12.2 ± 0.4 years]). Participants randomly performed the 2Q-AF and the ±2.00 DS lens flipper tests. For the 2Q-AF test, a binocular open-field autorefractor was used to record the magnitude of accommodative response during a 60-sec period, while participants repeatedly changed fixation from a 5 m to a 40 cm chart when clarity of vision was achieved at each level. Due to the advantages of the proposed method, we have determined the number of cycles and the 2Q-AF score, with the latter also considering the accuracy of changes in accommodation. A standard procedure was followed for the ±2.00 DS flipper test. Our data exhibited a moderate association between the number of cycles with the ±2.00 DS lens flippers and the number of cycles in the 2Q-AF test in the group of young adults (p =.005, r = 0.46 [0.15–0.68]) and children (p =.007, r = 0.58 [0.19–0.81]), whereas a stronger relationship was observed when considering the number of cycles with the ±2.00 DS lens flippers and the 2Q-AF score (young adults: p <.001, r = 0.83 [0.69–0.91]; and children: p <.001, r = 0.78 [0.52–0.91]). The current findings show that the 2Q-AF test is a valid method for accommodative facility assessment, as suggested by its good levels of reliability and validity. This method allows to examine the accommodative facility in qualitative terms and solve most of the limitations associated with the ±2.00 DS lens flipper test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the mediating role of the breathing pattern adopted during isometric exercise on the intraocular pressure (IOP) response in the back squat and biceps curl exercises. Twenty physically active young adults performed sets of 1-minute isometric effort against a load corresponding to 80% of the maximum load while adopting three different breathing patterns: (i) Constant breathing: 10 cycles consisting of 3 s of inhalation and 3 s of exhalation, (ii) 10-sec Valsalva: 3 cycles consisting of 10 s holding the breath and 10 s of normal breathing, and (iii) 25-sec Valsalva: 2 cycles consisting of 25 s of the Valsalva maneuver and 5 s of normal breathing. A rebound tonometer was used to semi-continuously assesses IOP during the six sets of 1-minute isometric effort (2 exercises × 3 breathing patterns). We found a progressive IOP rise during isometric effort (P < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.83), with these increases being greater when the breath was held longer (P < 0.001, η p 2 = 0.58; 25-sec Valsalva > 10-sec Valsalva = constant breathing). There was a trend towards higher IOP values for the back squat in comparison to the biceps curl, although these differences did not reach statistical significance for any breathing pattern (corrected P-value ≥ 0.146, d ≤ 0.69). These findings reveal that glaucoma patients or those at risk should avoid activities in which the breath is held, especially when combined with physical exercise modalities that also promote an increment in IOP values (e.g. isometric contractions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate visual function is paramount to ensuring adequate driving performance and road safety. Here, we examined the influence of sudden artificially-impaired binocular vision on driving performance using a car simulator. Twenty-four young drivers (mean age 22.42±3.19 years) drove under three different visual conditions (natural driving, monocular blur, and monocular occlusion) through three different traffic environments with low, medium, and high levels of complexity (highway, rural, and city, respectively). We assessed their driving performance, perceived level of task complexity, and subjectively-experienced road safety. Furthermore, as a manipulation check, we also evaluated the drivers' cardiac vagal responses, as a well-known index of task complexity. The sudden deterioration of binocular vision caused unsafe driving behaviours (distance out of the road and maximum breaking intensity) in the most complex traffic environments. Specific self-regulatory strategies (i.e. increased cardiac vagal responses) and subjective responses corroborated these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the mediating role of strength levels, hand dominance and participants´ sex on the intraocular pressure (IOP) behaviour during the execution of a maximal isometric handgrip test. One hundred and seventy-six sport science students (102 men and 74 women) performed a maximal isometric handgrip test with the dominant and non-dominant hands. A rebound tonometer was used to measure IOP before effort, during effort, and immediately after performing the handgrip test. Men and women were divided based on their handgrip strength in low- and high-strength groups using a median split analysis. There was an acute IOP rise during effort, returning to baseline levels immediately after exercise cessation (P <.001, ηp2 = 0.79). A greater increase in IOP during the execution of the handgrip test was observed for the dominant-hand compared to the non-dominant hand (P =.004, d = 0.30) and for men compared to women (P =.001, d = 0.90). The main effect of strength level did not reach statistical significance (P =.266). The IOP rise associated with a maximal isometric handgrip effort is affected by the participants´ sex (men > women) and hand dominance (dominant hand > non-dominant hand), but not on strength levels. These findings need to be corroborated in glaucoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Assessing binocular accommodative facility (BAF) enables the evaluation of the interaction between the accommodative and vergence systems, which is relevant for the diagnosis of accommodative and binocular disorders. However, the tests used to assess BAF present methodological caveats (e.g., lack of objective control, vergence demands, and image size alterations), limiting its external validity. This study aimed to (i) develop a new objective method to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the BAF in free-viewing conditions, and explore its validity by the comparison with the Hart Chart test, and (ii) assess the inter-session reliability of the proposed method. Methods: 33 healthy young adults took part in this study. We used a binocular open-field autorefractor to continuously assess the magnitude of accommodative response during a 60-sec period, while participants repeatedly changed fixation from a far to a near chart when clarity of vision was achieved at each level. Accommodative response data were used to characterize the BAF measurement in quantitative (number of cycles) and qualitative terms (percentage of times that correctly accommodating or dis-accommodating in each level of accommodation as well as the magnitude of the accommodative change). Results: Our data revealed that the new proposed method accurately counted the number of cycles per minute when compared with the Hart Chart test (p =.23, ES = 0.02; mean difference = 0.18 ± 0.85). The inter-session reliability of the proposed method was demonstrated to be excellent (Pearson r and intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.95 to 0.98) for the parameters obtained with the BAF test. Conclusions: The present outcomes evidence that the proposed objective method allows to accurately assess the frequency and precision of BAF by the combination of the classical Hart Chart test and a binocular open-field autorefractometer. Our findings may be of relevance for the diagnosis and treatment of accommodative and binocular disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deterioration of the integrity of binocular vision has a detrimental effect on fine visuomotor skills, however, its impact on sports performance remains unknown. We tested the influence of four viewing conditions (binocular viewing, monocular viewing, binocular viewing with monocular blur, and binocular viewing with binocular blur) on basketball free-throws performance. Methods: Twenty-three male basketball players (19.2 ± 3.4 years) performed 30 free-throws in each viewing condition following a randomised order. Image degradation was induced by the use of Bangerter filters. Complementarily, perceived levels of task load and complexity, as well as visual function were assessed. Results: We found a worse basketball free-throws performance (percentage of successful shots) in the monocular viewing (∼8%) and binocular viewing with monocular blur (∼9%) in comparison to the condition of binocular viewing (corrected p-values = 0.003 and 0.006; and ds = 0.838 and 0.771). The analyses of subjective ratings and visual function allowed us to confirm a successful experimental manipulation. Conclusions: Basketball free-throws performance is subject to the integrity of binocular vision, showing a worse accuracy when the sensory dominant eye was occluded or blurred in comparison to natural (binocular) viewing conditions. However, free-throws performance remains stable when the visual acuity is binocularly degraded. Our findings reveal that an appropriate functioning of the binocular vision is needed for optimal sports performance, and highlight the importance of a comprehensive clinical assessment or management of binocular vision in sport contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]