Visual Fatigue and Occupational Stress in VDT Operators

Abstract

In this study, 121 office workers whose jobs required the use of video display terminals for varying proportions of their workdays were interviewed. A semistructured interview technique was used to determine the attitudes of the workers toward their work and toward office automation. A smaller subset of this group was examined more intensively for workweek, during which time optometric measurements were taken and a mood/physical symptom checklist was administered. Results indicated a relatively high level of incidence of eye fatigue symptoms, as well as complaints regarding glare and lighting. However, the patterning of these complaints appeared to be relatively independent of job pressure and hostility toward office computerization. No consistent pattern of optometric measurements was found to be related to subjective complaints.