Effect of ambient light exposure on ocular fatigue during sleep

Young Woo Suh, Kun Hoo Na, Soh Eun Ahn, Jaeryung Oh

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    7 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: To investigate the influence of nocturnal ambient light on visual function and ocular fatigue. Methods: Sixty healthy subjects (30 men and 30 women) aged 19 through 29 years with no history of ocular disease were recruited. All subjects spent 3 consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory. During the first and second nights, the subjects were not exposed to light during sleep, but during the third night, they were exposed to ambient light, measuring 5 or 10 lux at the eye level, which was randomly allocated with 30 subjects each. The visual function and ocular fatigue were assessed at 7 a.m. on the 3rd and 4th mornings, using best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, conjunctival hyperemia, tear break-up time, maximal blinking interval, ocular surface temperature, and subjective symptoms reported on a questionnaire. Results: Three men and three women subjects failed to complete the study (4 in the 5 lux; 2 from the 10 lux). For the entire 54 subjects, tear break-up time and maximal blinking interval decreased (P = 0.015; 0.010, respectively), and nasal and temporal conjunctival hyperemia increased significantly after sleep under any ambient light (P < 0.001; 0.021, respectively). Eye tiredness and soreness also increased (P = 0.004; 0.024, respectively). After sleep under 5 lux light, only nasal conjunctival hyperemia increased significantly (P = 0.008). After sleep under 10 lux light, nasal and temporal conjunctival hyperemia, eye tiredness, soreness, difficulty in focusing, and ocular discomfort increased significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Nocturnal ambient light exposure increases ocular fatigue. Avoiding ambient light during sleep could be recommended to prevent ocular fatigue.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere248
    JournalJournal of Korean medical science
    Volume33
    Issue number38
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018 Sept 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2018 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

    Keywords

    • Asthenopia
    • Dry Eye Syndrome
    • Eye
    • Fatigue
    • Lighting
    • Sleep

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Medicine

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of ambient light exposure on ocular fatigue during sleep'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this