The SEC-VDU Study Bulletin number 3. Comparision of refractive error and visual acuity of VDU users and on-VDU users

Historical Significance: One of four reports on the effects of Visual Display Units on the vision of users. The State Electricity Commission of Victoria initiated this study because of concerns of workers about the effects of long term use of the then new technology of VDUs. The study was a six year longitudinal one of 600 employees of the SECV who used VDUs and a similar sized control group. It was undertaken by the Victorian College of Optometry and led by Professor Barry Cole, then the Director of the College. Use of VDUs at work was a major public health and industrial relations issue throughout the world from the late 1970s. (See Cole, B L (1981) Technical note: VDUs - not a new disease, a new challenge Aust J Optom 64, 24-27). The contract for this study with the State Electricity Commisison of Victoria was a sign of the acceptance of optometry as a trustworthy and authoritative voice in public affairs. Up until the 1960s ophthalmology provided the authorative opinions on matters such as this. (See book by Barry L Cole. A history of Australian Optometry. 2015 Chapter 15). The final report was published in Cole, BL (1993) Do VDUs harm the eyes? A report of a six year study of VDU operators In: Luczak, H, Cakir, AE and Cakir, G Work with Display Units North Holland: Amsterdam 283 - 287 and Cole, B L, Maddocks, JD and Sharpe, K (1996) The effect of VDUs on the eyes: a report of a six year epidemiological study Optom Vis Sci 73, 512 - 528. This paper is filed with these Bulletins.