If you have ever gotten home after a full day’s work and felt completely exhausted, even though your day was not particularly stressful or difficult, you may be among the thousands of Americans who can blame their computer.
Computer vision syndrome is the result of spending prolonged periods of time looking at a computer screen and can result in several health problems, including dry eye, eyestrain, neck and backache, light sensitivity and even general fatigue.
“The number one reason for developing computer vision syndrome is focusing on a single target and not leaving it,” said Steve Hitzeman, Indiana University School of Optometry clinic director and president of the Indiana Optometric Association. “It’s like holding a heavy object in one fixed spot – eventually your arms get tired, and similarly, eventually your eye muscles get tired.”
Hitzeman recommends looking away from the computer screen for a minute or two several times per hour. Additionally, he says there are many other risks associated with using a computer monitor for long periods of time, but each one can be helped with these tips:
Blink
It may sound strange, but remembering to blink is important. According to Hitzeman, when someone stares at one object for a long time, they don’t blink. This can lead to dry eyes, which can in turn lead to corneal irritation and diseases.
People who have dry eyes naturally are especially at risk of chronic dry eye, which weakens the corneal structure.
Position your monitor correctly
Besides making sure your monitor is about two feet away and four inches below eye level to minimize neck strain, Hitzeman recommends making sure your monitor is glare-free. Any glare on the screen makes it harder to focus, which causes additional stress on the eye.
Get computer glasses
Just like reading glasses, those extremists who look at a monitor eight hours a day should consider getting computer glasses. These are specially designed to make it as easy as possible for your eyes to focus on the computer screen. According to Hitzeman, the optometrists will test your eyes while you look at a monitor, giving the ideal computer screen prescription.
Get regular eye exams
According to the American Optometric Association, adults should get their vision checked once at least every two years. This is especially important to computer vision syndrome, because improperly corrected vision can lead to the syndrome more easily, and even can cause permanent ocular damage. “Other than the dry eye issues, the only other damage that can occur from working excessive hours with a computer monitor comes from improperly corrected vision,” said Hitzeman. “Everything else is just fatigue and can be fixed with rest.”
