Eye On Technology...Complications-Blog 4a

What is Computer Vision Syndrome?
It is defined by the American Optometric Association as a "complex of eye and vision problems related to near work which are experienced during or related to computer use."
( "Working On the Computer For Hours Can Damage Your Eye Sight?" )

What are the symptoms and effects?
Symptoms are widely varied and children are more susceptible to them than adults. Short term effects include:

• eye discomfort
• fatigue
• blurred vision
• headaches
• accomodative eye focusing problems
• "eyes may be unable to smoothly and easily focus on a particular object, even long after computer work is done"
• "poor tear flow over the eye due to reduced blinking"

("Impact of Computer Use On Children's Vision")

• excessive tearing
• complementary colored lines
• neck/shoulder pain
• double vision
• after images
• waterfall illusion
• motion after effects

(“Working On the Computer…”)

Long term effects:

• reflex photo sensitive
• visual epilepsy
• photo-phobia
• slowness in changing "near-focus"
• accommodation intolerance
• blood-shot eye
• dim-vision
• reduction in comprehension-reaction speed
• increase in error-factor

( “Working On the Computer…”)

Why does it happen?

CVS is caused by many behaviors associated with computer use. For example, Belachew says that when working on the computer, your eye blink rate reduces by 70%! Moreover, our eyes were not designed to be focused at something 2-3 feet away for such long periods of time. ("Working on the Computer"). Aside from that, computers are obviously higher in the field of vision than paperwork would be. As a result, tears evaporate more constantly, thus causing dryness and irritation ("Impact of Computer Use").

It occurs in children because:

• "Children often have a limited degree of self-awareness." ("Impact of Computer Use")
• "Children are very adaptable." Children ignore the physical discomforts that would bother adults enough for them to take action. ("Impact of Computer Use")
• "Children are not the same size as adults." The "most effective viewing angle is slightly downward about 15 degrees." Can most children view a computer at this angle? ("Impact of Computer Use")
• "Children often use computers in a home or classroom with less than optimum lighting." The light in a classroom can be as much as twice as bright as is appropriate for computer use! ("Impact of Computer Use")

Several Factors That Lead to CVS are:

• dirty monitor screen
• improper lighting in the room
• reflections on the monitor screen
• inappropriate (either too much or too little) contrast
• sitting in poorly positioned chair

("Working On the Computer...")

What can be done to prevent it?
Adults ("Working on the Computer"):
Positioning Your Computer:

• You should be able to just see over the top of your computer when in a normal sitting position.
• The screen should be 21-26 inches from your eyes.
• The light coming from behind your monitor and the light coming from behind you should be as equal as possible.
• Make sure light is not reflecting in your eyes, directly or from a reflective surface (besides the screen, obviously).

Computer Settings:

• When possible, use black font on a white background (No matter how boring it is...) because it is most like standard text on a page, to which your eyes are more used to adjusting.
• Get the best monitor you can afford: the dot pitch should be no larger than 0.28 millimeters.
• Make sure the contrast is appropriate. Your eyes should be able to "track" easily. If you are squinting because it is too bright or too dim, then it's time to adjust your contrast.

I was amazed at all these tips, particularly regarding the position of your computer. I was pleased to see that I am in a "appropriate position" for many of them. But if I follow every tip, it's really difficult to find a good spot for my computer.

Kids ("Impact of Computer Use"):

• "Have the child's vision checked." Make sure that your child's vision is good before they use the computer so that any vision problems can be corrected or treated before exposing the child to the types of eye strain associated with computer use.
• "Strictly enforce the amount of time that a child can continuously use the computer." AOA says children should take a ten-minute break every hour to minimize eye focusing problems.
• "Carefully check the height and arrangement of the computer." Adjust the chair so it is of an appropriate height (the same as adult's). Since this usually involves heightening the chair, this may mean using a foot stool for the child's feet (to ensure good body mechanics) and or padding for the seat of the chair itself (mom or dad's lap would be great because then you get together time, too!).
• "Carefully check the lighting for glare on the computer screen." No direct light should come from behind the monitor. In other words, don't put a lamp on the table on the opposite side of your monitor, or put your monitor directly in front of a window. Also, don't allow direct light to hit the screen. How can you tell? This article suggests putting a flat mirror on the screen and see if any light sources hit the mirror, because sometimes glare can be so subtle that you don't notice it on the screen itself but it can still be impacting your vision. If you want to go the extra mile, you can add a "glare screen" to your computer monitor, but it is less necessary these days as more and more computers are flat screens. If you are going to purchase a glare screen, then make sure it has an American Optometric Association Seal of Acceptance.
• "Reduce the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer screen." Use dimmer switches, three-way bulbs, and avoid overhead lamps.

What are the big three?
There are three rules to follow in order to avoid CVS. While these rules may not align with the information above, but they are easy to remember and are generally accepted as good rules of thumb.

1. "When working at a computer, blink often because this rests and re-wets the eyes."
2. "Take breaks from the computer. Use the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds, and look 20 feet away."
3. "Breathe fully, since taking complete breaths is important in relaxing the muscles."

("Working on the Computer...")

What's the issue here? Our ever evolving world not only requires constant change but also constant care. With new innovation comes new concerns. Physical symptoms related to computer use are popping up everywhere because computer use is becoming more and more extensive. But like any tool, if you take necessary precautions, then you can navigate the technological world free of physical harm. A hammer can be dangerous, too, if you hold it by the spikes on the back of it.

What're we gonna do? Avoiding, or at the least minimizing, the health risks and symptoms of constant computer use is relatively simple if you take the necessary measures to ensure that you are optimizing your work area. You wouldn't use a chainsaw without protective goggles, so don't use a computer without making sure lighting and positioning are appropriate. either.