Posts Tagged ‘computer screen’

The Early Show on CBS recommends VSP’s tips on easing eye strain in a digital world

Posted on August 5th, 2010 by Lisa P.

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton was recently on “The Early Show” to discuss Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) in a segment titled “How to Ease Your Computer Eye Strain.”

“It’s a new and growing condition that’s a byproduct of modern technology,” she said. “The most common symptoms are: eye strain, dry or irritated eyes, fatigue, and headaches.” Dr. Ashton not only provides the latest on a health problem that affects 70 percent of computer users, her recommendations on easing this strain are tips from VSP Vision Care:

  1. Blink Often: When looking at a computer or hand-held digital device, it’s common for you to blink two to three times less than you normally would. This can lead to “dry eye.” Blinking bathes your eyes in tears, and tears are naturally therapeutic for the eyes.
  2. The 20/20/20 Rule: When spending long periods in front of a digital device, every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away to allow your eyes to rest.
  3. Ensure Proper Lighting: Poor lighting often causes eye strain. To help ease the strain on your eyes, keep bright lighting overhead to a minimum and position your desk lamp to shine on your desk, and not at you. Position your computer screen in a way that reduces reflections and glare from windows or overhead lights.
  4. Location of computer screen: Most people find it more comfortable to view a computer when the eyes are looking downward. Optimally, the computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye level (about 4 or 5 inches) as measured from the center of the screen and 20 to 28 inches from the eyes.

For more information about computer-related vision problems visit the “My Eyes” tab on VSP’s Facebook page.

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Eye Health for the Workplace

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by Lisa P.
DrNate
Dr. Nathan Bonilla-Warford is a VSP provider practicing in Tampa, FL.

Guest Blogger: Nathan Bonilla-Warford, O.D. specializes in children’s vision, computer vision and orthokeratology. Dr. Warford practices in Tampa, FL at Bright Eyes Family Vision Care and is especially interested in the use of social media in eyecare.

Do you ever experience red or watery eyes, blurry vision or have difficulty focusing after an eight-hour day at work? Together these symptoms may result in computer-related eye problems, but someone can have them without working on a computer. The patients that come to my office often have physical and visual symptoms resulting from an office work environment. Here are some common symptoms and possible solutions to help your eye health during work.

Dry Eyes – Due to ventilation systems, dry air, dust or printer toner in the air, tears may not adequately coat and moisten the eye, leading to red, burning, or irritated eyes. When reading or using the computer, people tend to not blink as often, compounding the problem.   

Solution: Blink more when reading or working at the computer. Your optometrist can evaluate and treat dry eyes if it’s a chronic problem.

Workstation Design Problems – If a person’s desk, chair, keyboard and computer monitor are not oriented properly, it can lead to rapid visual fatigue.

Solution: Place the screen 24 inches or more away from your face, and make sure it’s directly in front of and slightly lower than your eyes.

Visual Focusing Problems – The strain on your eyes when focusing on paper or a computer screen can become fatiguing over time. Some people have visual focusing and coordination problems that make reading or using a computer uncomfortable or cause headaches.

Solution: Take frequent breaks (20-20-20 rule: after 20 minutes of computer use, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds).  You may also benefit from specific glasses prescribed for office work that help you focus at the correct distance.  

If you experience symptoms such as red, irritated, burning eyes, headache or visual fatigue while at work, make an appointment with your VSP Vision Care provider. Effective treatment can include modifying your work area, using the proper prescription glasses, eye medications, or a program of therapeutic visual activities, referred to as vision therapy. One or all of these may be needed to keep your eyes and vision healthy and productive at work.

Download the complete Eye Health for the Workplace Guide written by Dr. Bonilla-Warford.

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Digital Eyes

Posted on July 27th, 2010 by Melissa W.

Computers have changed the way we see the world, but are they changing the way we see? In this video you’ll learn how eye strain, fatigue and headaches are common indicators that your digital devices — including computer monitors, smart phones and video games -  might be causing you discomfort.

For more information about computer-related vision problems visit the Digital Devices section of VSP Blog.

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Dr. Phelps talks with Forbes about Computer Vision Syndrome

Posted on July 2nd, 2010 by Lisa P.
VSP Provider Dr. Roger Phelps, OjaiEyes Optometry

VSP Provider Dr. Roger Phelps, OjaiEyes Optometry

VSP Provider Dr. Roger Phelps served as the subject matter expert on Computer Vision Syndrome with Forbes.com in a recent article titled: Do Computers Really Fry Your Brain? Here is a snippet of the interview with Dr. Phelps and Forbes writer Jenna Goudreau. 

In 2005, a medical term was coined to diagnose some of these problems, now known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). A review of the syndrome in the Survey of Ophthalmology, a peer-reviewed journal, calls it “a repetitive strain disorder that appears to be growing rapidly, with some studies estimating that 90% of the 70 million U.S. workers using computers for more than three hours per day experience it in some form.”

If you spend several days a week gaping for hours at a computer screen, you’re likely familiar with the symptoms. Eyestrain and eye fatigue, irritation, blurred vision, head and neck aches and nausea can all be associated with prolonged computer use.

“People are sitting in front of a computer all day,” says Ojai, Calif.-based optometrist Roger Phelps, who has been practicing for decades. “You are looking at a light source, not focused at the proper distance, and staring. It causes strain.”

Phelps believes that the damage caused by CVS is temporary and can be reversed. The main issue, he says, is that people tend to stare at electronic screens, not blinking or looking away as often as they might while reading a book or magazine.

Why do we stare? Phelps thinks that the technology, from gaming to surfing, is inherently more interesting–colorful and fast-paced–so we don’t want to miss a second. Staring at screens commonly leads to dry eyes, which he sees in more than one-third of his patients and says worsens with age.

Phelps suggests using eye drops and adhering to the 20-20-20 rule, which stipulates that after 20 minutes of computer use, you should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The break will allow your eyes a rest and a chance to refocus.

To read the entire article, visit the Forbes website.

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