Screen Test

Discounting VDT hazards

Since it was introduced into the American workplace in the 1960s, the video display terminal (VDT) has become an indispensable tool for 10 million clerical workers, typesetters, writers, editors and computer programmers. But as the number of people who regularly use VDTs has increased, so have complaints that long-term exposure to the machines can cause a variety of afflictions, including muscle fatigue, eyestrain, cataracts and miscarriages. Two years ago, a panel of vision experts and psychologists assembled by the National Research Council began a scientific investigation of the effects of VDTs on eyesight.

Last week, in a 273-page report, the twelve-member study group concluded that there is no scientific evidence linking VDTs with eye disease or cataracts. Moreover, the report placed the blame for many ailments associated with VDTs on such environmental factors as poor lighting and stressful office conditions. Summed up Panel Chairman Edward Rinalducci, a professor of psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology: "Our general conclusion is that eye discomfort, blurred vision and other visual disturbances, muscular aches and stress reported among VDT workers are probably not due to anything inherent in VDT technology."

The panel did not address isolated reports of clusters of abortions, miscarriages and birth defects among women exposed to VDTs, but noted that other research judged VDTs to be an unlikely cause. Because of its findings, the panel opposed any move to set mandatory standards for VDTs and concluded, "It seems likely that with proper design of VDT display characteristics, workplace lighting, work stations and jobs, VDT work need not cause any unique visual problems."

The report's conclusions met with some dissent. Panelist Lawrence Stark, a neurologist at the University of California, while agreeing that VDTs do not cause permanent eye damage, contested the view that they are not responsible for eye fatigue. "The report is a whitewash for the status quo," said Stark. "All the complaints of burning, eyestrain, headache, stinging, watery eyes connected with VDT use are valid claims. Just because you cannot measure visual fatigue does not mean it does not exist."

VDT manufacturers have replied that they are indeed concerned about visual fatigue and have made suggestions on how to modify environmental conditions like glare. Until employers agree to institute those changes, however, some VDT users may just have to squint and bear it. This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so viewer discretion is required.