{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,7]],"date-time":"2025-12-07T13:09:20Z","timestamp":1765112960096,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,13]],"date-time":"2021-12-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1639353600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aims of the study were to investigate the ability and effectiveness of an oral intake of a fixed combination of zinc, L-carnitine, elderberry extract, black currant and Eleutherococcus extract in controlling the symptoms of eyestrain in videoterminal (VDT) users and to record its effects on contrast sensitivity. A single-center, phase II, observational, case-control, 1-month study in VDT workers without dry eye disease was carried out. Demographics and number of actual hours at VDT\/day were taken into account. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, including assessment of contrast sensitivity, and completed the computer vision symptom scale questionnaire at baseline and one month later. A total of 30 Caucasian subjects adhered to the required inclusion criteria and completed the study; 15 subjects were treated (T) and 15 were controls (C). All clinical data at baseline were similar in both groups (p &gt; 0.05): after one month, all subjects had stable visual acuity, refractive defect and intraocular pressure (IOP); screen exposure time was unchanged. Regarding symptoms, at randomization, the groups had a similar score: 33.1 \u00b1 3.3 in T and 32.8 \u00b1 5.6 in C. One month later, the computer vision symptom scale (CVSS) questionnaire score decreased by \u221214.1 \u00b1 3, 1 (p = 0.000) and \u22122.3 \u00b1 1.8 (p = 0.568), respectively. Regarding contrast sensitivity, in group C the values of spatial frequencies remained unchanged, while they improved in almost all the cycles per degree stimuli in the treated group. Oral intake of a fixed combination of zinc, L-carnitine, elderberry extract, black currant and eleutherococcus extract can significantly improve contrast sensitivity and symptoms in VDT workers with no signs of dry eye disease.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13124449","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,14]],"date-time":"2021-12-14T01:22:05Z","timestamp":1639444925000},"page":"4449","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["A Pilot, Phase II, Observational, Case-Control, 1-Month Study on Asthenopia in Video Terminal Operators without Dry Eye: Contrast Sensitivity and Quality of Life before and after the Oral Consumption of a Fixed Combination of Zinc, L-Carnitine, Extract of Elderberry, Currant and Extract of Eleutherococcus."],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3519-2420","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gemma Caterina Maria","family":"Rossi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Luigia","family":"Scudeller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit, Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P. le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Federica","family":"Bettio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Milano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Surgical Sciences Department, University Eye Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, P.le Golgi 19, 27100 Pavia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,12,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1901","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_3500_20","article-title":"Impact of the use of digital devices on eyes during the lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"69","author":"Usgaonkar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J. 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