The Effect on Electrophysiology Pattern After Electronic Near Task

Abstract

When performing near tasks, the visual system is actively engaged, requiring varying degrees of effort from the ocular muscles depending on the individual. As the eye focuses on a nearby object, the ciliary muscles contract, causing the crystalline lens to thicken and become more rounded compared to when focusing at a distance. Increased exposure to digital screens places significant visual stress on the eyes, raising the risk of ocular abnormalities such as digital eye strain and myopia progression. This study aimed to compare electrophysiological changes after near work in subjects with different refractive errors, without refractive correction. Four young adults (aged 18–26) from UiTM Puncak Alam, Malaysia, participated. Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) recordings were taken before and after 10 minutes of electronic near work. Results showed no significant differences in amplitude or implicit time between pre-exposure data (with and without correction) for N1, P1, and N2 waveforms across refractive groups. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between pre- and post-exposure data in implicit time or amplitude for Eyes 3 and 4 when recorded with correction. Additionally, no significant mean differences were found in implicit time across all subjects (Eyes 1–4) for N1, P1, and N2. However, Eye 2 exhibited a significant mean difference in N1 amplitude (p=0.047), and Eye 4 showed a significant difference in N2 amplitude (p=0.033). In conclusion, this study found no significant electrophysiological changes in retinal response before and after digital near task exposure, as measured by mfERG, in both corrected and uncorrected eyes. The few observed amplitude differences suggest individual variability, but overall, near work did not substantially alter retinal electrophysiology in this sample.