PURPOSE: Since the 1980s, it has been common for employers to provide eyesight testing for operators of @entity1297 ( @entity1297 ). This practice arose because many @entity1297 operators reported symptoms of visual discomfort at work and there was apprehension that radiation emitted by @entity1297 might be harmful to vision. Visual screening of @entity1297 operators has been encouraged by government guidelines and in some countries, is required by legislation. This paper questions whether this practice should continue. METHOD AND RESULTS: A review of the literature shows: 1. @entity1297 does not emit radiation in sufficient quantity to be harmful and there is no credible epidemiological evidence that work with @entity1297 will damage the eyes; 2. @entity1297 operators often report symptoms of visual discomfort but office workers who do not use @entity1297 also report @entity227 with the same or slightly lower frequency; 3. about 20 per cent of office workers have some @entity3641 that can contribute to the occurrence of visual discomfort at work and optometric intervention to correct these defects does reduce the occurrence of @entity227 . However, @entity3641 are not the only cause of @entity227 at work. Other contributing factors are poor workplace ergonomics and psychosocial stress arising from poor work systems or poor inter-personal relationships at work. CONCLUSIONS: There is no compelling public health justification for requiring vision screening of @entity1297 operators but it could be introduced as one element of a more comprehensive strategy to enhance visual comfort at work. If it is introduced, it should be for all employees engaged in visually demanding tasks, not just @entity1297 users. An alternative to eyesight testing of employees is to encourage but not require employees to obtain eye care privately on their own initiative. This option has the advantage of restoring autonomy to employees to arrange their own eye care. Eyesight testing of employees in @entity227 should be undertaken to ensure safety. In occupations in which there is a risk of @entity4858 , vision screening should be undertaken to provide a pre-injury record of vision.

Do video display units cause XXXX ? - a bedside story about the processes of public health decision-making.

@entity227 :: ('MESH:D014786', 'Disease') :: ['vision-critical occupations', 'visual symptoms'] @entity3641 :: ('MESH:D003117', 'Disease') :: ['uncorrected defect of vision', 'defects of vision'] @entity1297 :: ('MESH:D019292', 'Disease') :: ['screen-based equipment', 'SBE'] @entity4858 :: ('MESH:D005131', 'Disease') :: ['eye injury']
@entity227 :: (MESH:D014786,Disease) :: ['visual problems']
