|
|
 |
In
the Spotlight
 |
| December
15, 1999 |
Computer
Vision Syndrome: If You Are Having Trouble Reading This, You May
Be At Risk
By
Michael Woo-Ming M.D., MPH
Personal MD.com Medical
Contributor
|
| |
 Are
your eyes feeling sluggish? Does this article look blurry? If
you are having trouble reading this article, it may not be your
monitor. A problem known as computer vision syndrome (CVS) is
becoming more common and problematic.
According
to the American Optometric Association eyestrain from looking
at computer screens is a growing problem. This is due to the
increasing amount of computer use at home as well as at work.
Using
a computer can be quite demanding on the eyes. Constant eye
movements, including continuous focusing and aligning, can produce
quite a stress on them. There is also the problem of the computer
screen that flickers and can cause glare, which also leads to
eyestrain.
Computer
users also tend to blink less when looking at a video screen,
leading to dry eyes and a sandy discharge.
What
Are The Symptoms?
Symptoms
of computer vision syndrome include:
-
-
Eye
fatigue and irritation
-
-
You
may also have double vision, which may be accompanied by tension
or migraine headaches. Seeing color spots after looking at the
computer screen for a long period of time may also be a sign.
Problems
are not only visual. You may also have a sore neck, muscle spasms,
or backaches. These are attributed to improper ergonomic work
environments and repetitive activities and could lead to an
overall feeling of fatigue by the end of the day. Although not
known to cause serious side effects, computer vision syndrome
can be disruptive, and can lead to a decrease in work production.
What
Can I Do?
 There
are various things you can do to prevent or minimize the effects
of computer vision syndrome:
-
See
an eye doctor. Check your vision if it hasnt been done
in the last year. If you do considerable amount of work in
front of a computer terminal, specially fit contact lenses
or glasses suited for computer use may be needed.
-
Change
your work environment. Move your computer monitor to prevent
glare or awkward straining. Authorities suggest the monitor
be placed at least an arms length away from the worker. Adjust
the brightness and contrast on your screen. Make sure there
is adequate lighting or in some cases, avoid too much light.
Ambient lighting around the computer is also important.
-
Use
eye lubricants. As mentioned, we dont blink enough in
front of the computer, especially when reading something.
The use of eye lubricants such as artificial tears can prevent
excessive dryness.
-
Take
a break. Rest your eyes, or occasionally focus on objects
at a different distance from your monitor, such as out the
window. Blinking or rolling your eyes with your eyelids closed
may also help. Dont hesitate to take an occasional walk or
even stand after long periods of computer use.
| Putting
Drops in Your Eyes |
| Have
you ever tried to put eye drops in your eyes, but the drops
ran down your nose or face instead? Try following these
steps: |
- Wash
your hands.
- Gather
tissues.
- Remove
the top of the eye drop container.
- Tilt
your head backwards and look at the ceiling. You can
do this while standing, sitting, or lying down, whatever
position is comfortable for you.
- Gently
pull your lower lid down with your index finger. (Or,
you can gently pull the skin of your lower eyelid between
your thumb and index finger. This creates a pocket
for the medication.)
- While
looking up at the ceiling, move your eyes to the side
so that you are not looking directly at the eye drop
bottle. Squeeze the bottle and release a drop into your
eye (or pocket). Repeat as instructed. Be sure to keep
the top of the bottle clean by not touching it to any
part of your eye or face.
- Close
your eyes. If needed, use a tissue to gently wipe away
any excess drops.
|
If
you experience any side effects from the eye drops, such as
burning, stinging, or itching of the eyes, call your eye doctor
or seek medical attention immediately.
[Top]
Copyright
© 1999 PersonalMD.com. All rights reserved.
|
|
Feature Archives