A research team led by professor of ophthalmology Hwang Jung-min at Seoul National University Hospital said on Wednesday that it had found a direct link between watching high-definition screens such and blinking patterns after conducting a study with a sample of 59 people aged between 23 and 64. (Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — High-definition televisions have been found to have a negative impact on tear film, raising the risk of dry eye syndrome, according to a study conducted by South Korean researchers.
A research team led by professor of ophthalmology Hwang Jung-min at Seoul National University Hospital said on Wednesday that it had found a direct link between watching high-definition screens such and blinking patterns after conducting a study with a sample of 59 people aged between 23 and 64.
Dry eye syndrome refers to a condition where a lack of moisture on the surface of the eye makes one more prone to eye infection.
During the study, tear films among 32 participants with no history of dry eye syndrome were found to deteriorate at a speed twice as fast as normal after being made to watch a TV screen from a distance of 1.2 meters.
The study also found that blinking among participants intensified after watching TV.
“As watching high-definition television can be a cause of dry eye syndrome, caution needs to be taken. However, further research needs to be done into the effect of watching UHD TV and changes in blinking patterns with longer videos in order to draw a more definitive conclusion,” Hwang said.
To prevent dry eye syndrome, Hwang suggests keeping humidity levels above a certain minimal level, and avoiding having fans or air conditioning blowing directly into one’s face.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
