Effect of Blue Light Glasses on Screen Usage After a Concussion in College Students

Summary

Premature cessation of screen usage is a common behavior post-concussion, given the taxing nature of a screen-time task. In the academic setting, screen-time is a near unavoidable component, however, complete avoidance of class and screen use may in fact provoke psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression in students, for fear of falling behind in their studies. Thus, compensatory measures should be investigated to assist students as they attempt to maintain academic involvement throughout their concussion recovery. Blue light blocking glasses have been shown to significantly increase screen-time usage in individuals with post-concussion syndrome, yet these results are only representative of a small portion of the concussion population. Thus, we propose investigating whether blue light blocking glasses can prolong screen usage prior to symptom exacerbation, specifically in concussed students that are still within the normal recovery timeframe. This cross-sectional randomized clinical trial will provide further evidence of the utility blue light blocking glasses can offer as a therapeutic tool for students recovering from concussion. We would like to test volunteers from the Rochester Institute of Technology who have been treated by a medical provider within the university's health center. Blue light glasses will be worn during a one-time computer reading task while the subject is participating in the study. The total time for the complete the reading task is dependent upon the participant's symptom fluctuations; however, we suspect completion criteria will be met within 20 minutes from beginning. The risks in this study are minimal and results may increase our understanding of therapeutic tools for patients with ocular-driven concussion symptoms.

Conditions

• Brain Concussion

Interventions

DEVICE

Blue Light Glasses

Participants will be randomized into an experimental group (blue light glasses) or a control group (no glasses). Participants will perform a computer reading task while either wearing, or not wearing the glasses.

OTHER

Computer Reading Task

Participants will read on a computer until concussion symptoms increase by a score of 3 or more (reading task termination criteria). One or more points will be assigned for each increase in symptom severity, and one point will be assigned for each new symptom that appears.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Rochester Institute of Technology

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

26 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-03-01

Primary Completion

2022-12-31

Completion

2022-12-31

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations