Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

According to the 2003 U.S. Census data (the most recent statistics available as of November, 2007), 64% of adults and 86% of children use computers at school, at work, or at home. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) affects the majority of computer users. About 88% of people who use computers everyday suffer from eyestrain, and children are no exception.

Signs That the Computer May be Affecting Your Eyes

Eye strain
Difficulty focusing
Blurred vision
Double vision
Fatigue
Headaches
Neck and shoulder pain

Eye strain and sitting in one position for too long cause the muscles in the face, neck and shoulders to tense and become stiff. Blood flow is reduced to the head and eyes, causing fatigue and making difficult to see clearly and think clearly.

Even if you feel that you are able to see the computer screen clearly, your eyes may become taxed to the point that your productivity is lower, stress and fatigue are higher, and your vision begins to gradually decline.

Exercising your eyes, by shifting focus from near to far and back again, keeps the eye muscles limber and flexible. However, computer use overworks the eye muscles in a way that is not beneficial.

Printed words are easier to focus on than the words on a computer screen. Letters on the screen may have the illusion of being crisp and clear, but they are not. They are made of tiny pixels which cause your eyes to make constant micro-movements, shifting to the “resting point of accommodation” and then back to trying to focus on the words.

Adding to the problem, stiff neck and shoulder muscles can reduce blood flow to your head and eyes. Good blood flow is necessary for healthy eyes. Because of the brightness of the screen we blink five times less often than normal when using the computer, leading to dry eye.

Prolonged computer use and the eyestrain that comes with it can cause vision to deteriorate in adults and children. But CVS can be prevented without giving up your computer time.

Computer Eyeglasses

An inaccurate corrective lens prescription significantly contributes to CVS. Most prescriptions are not accurate for computer use, because they are not optimized for focusing at an intermediate distance.

An inappropriate prescription can cause eyestrain without  you noticing. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, even if you feel that you can see the screen clearly, your performance may be decreased by as much as 20 percent. A prescription for computer eyeglasses will help relieve eyestrain. It is estimated that 70 to 75 percent of computer users could benefit from the use of computer glasses.

Ergonomics, eye exercises, and good habits can also help prevent CVS. Just a short break every fifteen to twenty minutes can prevent eyestrain and increase your computer productiveness.

You can read more at Computers and Children’s Vision.

A yearly eye exam will let you know if your vision is deteriorating with computer use. If you are experiencing symptoms of CVS, however, don't wait until your annual exam to get checked out. Contact your ophthalmologist today and find out what you can do to get immediate relief and prevent vision loss.