Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:890-893
( August )
Use of paper selectively absorbing long wavelengths to reduce the
impact of educational near work on human refractive development
Ronald H H Kröger, Stefanie Binder
Institute of
Anatomy, Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 3, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany
Correspondence to: Dr R H H Kröger, Department of Zoology, University of Lund,
Helgonavägen 3, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
Ronald.Kroger{at}zool.lu.se
Accepted for publication 26 April 2000
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Educational
near work has been identified as a major risk factor for the
development of juvenile progressive myopia. A study was undertaken to
determine whether differences in focal length resulting from
longitudinal chromatic aberration of the eye can be exploited to reduce
the impact of near work on refractive development.
METHODSInfrared
photorefraction was used to determine refractive states in young adult
volunteers performing a task similar to reading and writing under
various spectral environments. The potential benefits of the observed
differences in accommodation demand were studied with a computational
model of emmetropisation and myopia progression.
RESULTSThe refractive
state was largely independent of the colour temperature of the
illumination light (white paper) and the colour of commercially
available papers (white illumination). Selective elimination of long
wavelengths, however, significantly reduced the accommodation stimulus
by about 0.5 dioptres.
CONCLUSIONResults
from model calculations suggest that the use of paper which selectively
absorbs long wavelengths may significantly reduce the myopiagenic
effects of educational near work.
© 2000 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
