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Computer Vision Syndrome

Computers have become an integral part of our lives, both for business and entertainment. The result is that we spend many hours gazing at a computer screen without break. A number of symptoms have been associated with this activity:

Dry Eye: As one looks at the screen, concentrating on the material, the blink rate goes down, tears evaporate and the eyes get dry. Artificial tears such as Genteel, Natural Tears II, Simulasian, Hypotears and others can be used to provide relief.

Increasing nearsightedness or astigmatism: As one stares at a constant point of focus for long periods of time the focusing mechanism can go into spasm.  The eyes are most comfortable when in motion, looking near, far and around.  Compare the difference between standing in line and walking, standing in line is far more fatiguing. You will know if you are developing focusing spasm if, after some period of time you look across the room at a distant object about 20 feet away and it takes a few seconds to get clear, or does not get clear at all. This can be prevented in two ways:

1. Computer glasses may be worn to reduce the focusing on the screen, thereby preventing spasm. This is a highly effective technique that prevents fatigue.

2. Practice the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This breaks any developing acccommodative spasm.

Binocular vision problems may become more pronounced. The demands placed upon the visual system by sustained focusing and converging of the eyes at near range may cause the normal compensation system to fatigue. The symptoms can include eye fatigue, blurriness, eye strain, double vision, headaches. A careful evaluation of the visual system will reveal that the functional visual abilities which normally compensate for eye alignment or focusing problems are struggling to maintain. This can be remedied by either eye exercises or glasses, sometimes incorporating prism if needed.

TRY THIS: A wonderful eye break exercise called PALMING was developed by Dr. William Bates, an ophthalmologist who practiced in the early 1900s,. Rub your hands together until they feel a little warm and tingly. Place your elbows on your desk, then place your palms over your eyes sealing out the light. There is no pressure directly on the eyes, just around the boney eye orbit, and the eyes are gently closed. Allow the weight of your head to be supported by your hands. Take a slow, deep breath. As you exhale feel the muscles of your neck and face relax. Continue slow breaths, releasing tension in your back, shoulders, torso, stomach, and legs. When you are ready take your hands away and open your eyes, feeling refreshed!