For students at Moorpark College and for anyone who works at a computer all day, screen-related dry eye is one of the most common complaints I hear. Eyes feel tired, gritty, or burning by late afternoon. Artificial tears are the usual first step, and a new randomized study from China asked whether the lighting around your screen could add to the benefit.
What the researchers tested
Researchers at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, enrolled 66 people newly diagnosed with dry eye related to screen use (doctors call these screens visual display terminals, or VDTs). All had only limited damage to the corneal surface. Participants were randomly assigned to:
- A full-spectrum LED screen-bar lamp plus artificial tears (34 people), or
- Artificial tears alone, with no study lamp (32 people).
The team measured symptoms with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and checked tear film stability with non-invasive tear breakup time, comparing results after one month. The study was published in International Ophthalmology.
What they found
- Symptoms improved significantly in both groups, but more in the lamp group, by about 7 points on the OSDI scale after adjustment.
- Tear breakup time improved in both groups, with no meaningful difference between them.
- There were also no differences in tear volume, eye redness, the oily layer of the tear film, or partial blinking.
- No study-related side effects were reported.
How to interpret this
The lamp seemed to make people feel better, but it did not change the measurable signs of dry eye more than tears alone. The study was small, lasted only a month, and the authors say further studies are needed to confirm the findings. Because participants knew whether they had a lamp, expectations may have influenced how they rated their symptoms. Still, it is a reasonable reminder that your workspace matters.
Practical tips for screen-heavy days
- Light your workspace evenly so the screen is not the brightest thing in the room.
- Take regular breaks and look into the distance for a short while.
- Blink fully; people tend to blink less and less completely while staring at a screen.
- Position the screen slightly below eye level and keep vents and fans from blowing on your face.
- Use artificial tears as recommended, and see an eye doctor if symptoms persist.
Our role
Khanna Vision Institute diagnoses and treats dry eye for patients from Moorpark, Simi Valley, and the Conejo Valley at our Westlake Village office. Ongoing symptoms deserve an exam to find the cause and the right treatment.
Dry eye can also be linked to autoimmune conditions; Los Angeles Lasik explains one important connection.
Source: Full-spectrum LED screen-bar lighting as an adjunct to artificial tears in visual display terminal-related dry eye: a randomized study (International Ophthalmology, 10/18/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.