The Effects of Computers on Vision

The American Optometric Association reports that 70 percent of people who work daily on a computer are going to suffer some level of eye strain. At the time the survey was conducted, 100.1 million people in the United States were suffering from computer vision syndrome, or CVS. That number does not include the millions of children who use a computer regularly, either at school or at home.

• Computer Vision Syndrome affects many computer users

Symptoms

• According to All About Vision, most people who spend more than 2 hours per day looking at a computer screen are going to display symptoms of some sort. The symptoms of CVS include: headache, inability to focus the eyes, a twitch in one or both eyes, burning or irritated eyes, double or blurred vision, tired eyes and pain in the neck and shoulder. MD Support reports that some people may also experience sensitivity to light.

Causes

• Eyes respond differently to solid objects and printed characters than they do to composite objects such as images or text on a computer screen. Rather than a solid form, images on a computer screen are made up of many individual pixels. According to MD Support, the eyes focus on the screen itself, but naturally relax to a point just behind the screen because they are unable to maintain that focus. The constant shifting between the screen and the resting point stresses the eyes and wears them out.

Can Anti-Glare Screens Help?

• Some say that the use of anti-glare screens to reduce screen glare can help relieve CVS, but while they can help somewhat, they do not solve the underlying problem of the constant refocusing of the eyes. Glare can also be reduced by decreasing the intensity of the ambient light. MD Support recommends reducing the level of light common to most office environments by half to reduce the glare to an optimal level.

Take a Break

• When you are exercising and a particular muscle becomes tired and achy due to the constant activity, taking a short break helps relieve the pain. The same is true when it comes to the pain brought on by CVS. Every 10 minutes or so, take a few seconds to look away from the monitor and focus on some of the objects around you. Take the time to blink to replenish the moisture lost when you spend too long staring at the screen. Finally, take a short break every hour or so; get up from your desk and walk around for a moment or two.

Computer Glasses

• Many computer users will see significant improvement through the use of specialized computer glasses. Normal prescriptions and standard reading glasses will not work in this case due to how differently the eyes respond to a computer screen. MD Support suggests that 70 to 75 percent of computer users need computer glasses. It is also recommended that people who wear contact lenses wear computer glasses over them to help ease the strain on their eyes.