It’s the 21stcentury and basically nothing can be done without the use of a computer. The world is in a near completely digital age. Computers have made accomplishing a lot of tasks easier and faster, thereby making it of popular demand, thereby leading to the possession of a computer in basically every home and office.
Have you ever been using your phone or your computer for a period of time and after a while, you start feeling strained or start developing a headache or your eyes feel very dry? If yes, you should shut down your computer, lay your phone away for some time. Take a break. The condition is referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the number one occupational hazard of the 21stcentury.
What is Computer Vision Syndrome?
The American Optometry Association defines Computer Vision Syndrome, which could also be referred to as Digital Eye Strain, as a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use.
Who is affected by Computer Vision Syndrome?
Computer Vision Syndrome affects those who constantly spend time in front of computer screens. It is a temporary but very painful and uncomfortable condition which can affect workplace performance or even enjoyment of home/ leisurely activities, consisting of symptoms like eye irritation, headaches, blurred vision, muscle fatigue, backaches and neck pain.
What are the signs and symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome?
The symptoms of computer vision syndrome are: Headache, tiredness, irritation of eyes, dryness of eyes, redness, heaviness, watering etc. Most of these symptoms are due to dryness of eyes which is created by the monitor light, and reduced blinking. The computer part with major effect on eyes is the "monitor". The monitor emits light which causes of evaporation of tear film and thus causes dryness. Tear film is a thin film of liquid which covers the surface of eye. This wets the eye and nourishes it. If it is depleted, eyes become dry and irritable. The light from the monitor also irritates the surface of eye. Normally we blink about 15 times per minute. Blink is very essential in that, it reforms the tear film which breaks up before the blink. Blinking occurs involuntarily without our knowledge. During computer usage, the blink rate falls down as we are focusing on the monitor. This reduced blinking exposes the eye surface to environment for more than normal time. Thus the tear film gets evaporated, leading to dryness.
The Display of letters in the monitor should be with high contrast and low brightness. The letters font should not be too small. Less contrast and small fonts make the eyes to stress more to see. This stress causes headache, tiredness etc. The ambient light also plays a role. The room lights should not be too bright and they should not directly shine light on either the eyes or the monitor.
What are the effects of Computer Vision Syndrome?
Computer work has not yet proven to cause permanent damage to eyes, but temporary discomfort that may occur can reduce productivity. It can cause lost work time and reduce job satisfaction. The performance on a specific task can be significantly decreased due to Computer Vision Syndrome, as much as 40 percent. This includes a reduction in work accuracy and a decrease in task volume.
How can Computer Vision Syndrome be prevented?
Preventive measures includes modification of the reading station, maintaining good sitting posture to avoid neck pain and back pain, adjusting the computer monitor to a viewing angle of 150 (lower than horizontal level), taking regular small breaks, Correction of visual problems by wearing spectacles or contact lenses. The screen lighting, contrast and brightness should be adjusted to the optimum before starting the work on the computer.
Computer Vision Syndrome is a very real and serious problem and there are solutions to the problems you may be experiencing. Don't try to fight through this alone. Talk to your optometrist (eye doctor). Make your fatigue, eye strain, blurred vision and neck/shoulder/back pain, a thing of your past by applying the preventive measures mentioned above.
If you enjoyed reading this and want more health articles like this, comment on the post.
Have a lovely week xoxo
....The Sandra Uche
