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Can Staring at a Computer Cause Blurred Vision?

You've probably been warned at least once in your life that spending too much time in front of a computer monitor can damage your vision. You may have even experienced blurred vision and wondered if you caused damage to your eyes. The bad news is that blurred vision can be a sign of a real condition, Computer Vision Syndrome. The good news is that it's completely treatable.

  1. Facts

    • In the August 2010 "Vision Facts and Myths" section of the KidsHealth Nemours Foundation for Children's Health website, the American Academy of Ophthalmology states that people blink less when they spend a lot of time working on the computer. According to the AAO, this leads to "a feeling of eyestrain or fatigue." Blurred vision is one symptom of eyestrain and eye fatigue. It's also a symptom of a larger complex of computer-related vision problems.

    Symptoms

    • Computer Vision Syndrome is a collection of vision-related symptoms caused by frequent computer use. If you work at a computer for more than two continuous hours a day, you may have CVS symptoms. Common symptoms are blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes and frequent eyestrain. You should get checked by an eye doctor if you have these symptoms because you may also have nearsightedness, astigmatism or other undiagnosed vision problems.

    Rest Breaks

    • To help prevent or minimize CVS, the American Optometric Association suggests you give your eyes a 15-minute break every two hours. Go outside, walk around, or just look away from your monitor for the entire 15 minutes. In addition to that break, look at an object in the distance for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. A good way to remember this is to think of the numbers 20/20 and 2/15.

    Other Treatments

    • Use ergonomic techniques to position your monitor at a comfortable 10 to 20 degree angle below your eye level. You should look down at your monitor, with it tilted up toward you. Keep your eyes 20 to 26 inches from the screen and use an anti-glare filter if you need one. If you find yourself leaning in frequently, get checked to see if you need eyeglasses. You may be nearsighted.

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