Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Additionally, heavy computer use has been associated with glaucoma Electronics
screens emit blue light that can damage the retina, leading to macular degeneration.
A whooping 90% of people who use computers more than 3 hours per days
experience at least one symptom of Computer Vision Syndrome. Many jobs in the
United States require prolonged computer use each day, often seated at a computer
children used a handheld device for a minimum of 3 hours a day. A third stared at
the screen for an hour without glancing away. Their parents grossly
A Gallup poll in 2015 revealed that 52% of smartphone users check their phones at
Un sondaj Gallup din 2015 a arătat că 52% dintre utilizatorii de smartphone-uri isi
verifica telefoanele cel puțin o data pe ora , iar in unele cazuri de mai multe ori pe
ora.
The younger the adult, the
All this screen time adds up to nearly everyone experiencing some level of Computer Vision
Syndrome. An estimated 10 million visits to eye doctors each year are for treating problems
The best ways to deal with Computer Vision Syndrome are to learn how to prevent it, to
Causes
The discomfort and damage caused by screen use have several key causes. These causes are
related to the technology, the environment in which these devices are used and how they are
used.
We evolved as hunters and gatherers, depending primarily on distance vision for survival.
The average American worker spends 6 hours per day doing close-up computer work.
Focusing is controlled by muscles in the eyes. Focusing too long on a near object causes
these muscles to become fatigued. This leads to eye strain, headaches, blurred vision and
difficulty focusing.
Constant Re-Focusing
A special feature of screens is their composition: they are made up of tiny pixels. We aren’t
aware of it, but our eyes must constantly re-focus to see the images on the screen clearly.
Blue Light
The screens of electronics emit blue light, which has been implicated in serious eye disease.
Blue light gets through the lens and cornea, hitting the retina. A body of research has found a
link between blue light exposure and age-related macular degeneration. 9 The link appears to
be related to oxidative damage to the retina. Damage from exposure to blue light could be
As a general health concern, blue light at night disrupts sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
Avoiding screens 3 hours before bedtime, installing blue light filtering software, and wearing
amber glasses that filter blue light 10 in the evening could help.
Note: The original black-and-white Kindle screen does not emit blue light. Neither does a
paper book.
Poor Posture
Tipping the head forward and slouching puts strain on the muscles and affect the angle of
vision. Lounging on soft furniture while “texting” on phones promotes poor posture, adding to
The more recent prevalence of touch-screen smartphones and tablets means screens are
closer to the face. This requires even more effort to focus the eyes.
In the workplace, many companies are careful to provide proper lighting at computer
workstations. Poor lighting conditions can results from screens and ambient lighting that is
too bright, too dim, or incorrectly placed. Screen glare causes eye strain and discomfort.
Tablets and especially smartphones tend to be used in dim lighting such as before bedtime,
The number of times per minute that people blink goes down when staring at screens. The
typical at-rest blink rate is 17 blinks per minute. 11 The blink rate on a computer can slow to
6-9 blinks per minute. The blink rate decrease might be because we are concentrating, or
because the range of eye movement is limited. Other research has demonstrated that when
we are doing anything that is focused our blink rate does slow or pause.
One recent study12 found that encouraging computer users to double their blink rate by cuing
them with a chime did not help their Computer Vision Syndrome symptoms much. A stronger
link was found between incomplete blinks and symptoms – the more incomplete blinks, the
more symptoms.
While many still swear by reading a paper book, ebook readers have gone mainstream. A
small research study comparing the Kindle, the iPod and hardcopy found significant
differences between the three.13 Hardcopy and Kindle had the same reading rate, but the
average score for tired eyes and eye discomfort was higher on the Kindle. The iPod
symptoms were the same as hardcopy, but reading speed was significantly slower.
Prevention
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes that you are using a screen, look 20 feet away
for 20 seconds. If you are in an enclosed place, install a mirror so you can look at least 20
Blink more often. Try to blink fully, so the edges of both lids touch (without squinting).
Exercise your eyes. We offer free eye exercises you can download.
Set up your computer work station properly. See our computer habits page.
Beware of bad lighting. A desk lamp may be better than an overhead lamp at a computer.
Sit up when using a computer or tablet. Sit in a chair, tuck in the chin, slightly curve your
neck, keep your upper back mostly straight and make a hollow in your lower back, without
Install a glare filter on your screen. Also get glare and UV coatings on any prescription
glasses you buy from the optometrist.
Teach children the symptoms of computer vision syndrome. Encourage them to take breaks
from the screen and sit up properly. When they are young, strictly limit their screen time.
Take away their electronics at night so they aren’t tempted to stare at a bright screen in the
If the prevention steps are not yet working, you may need support for the symptoms.
If you are experiencing pain from eye strain, mild pain medication is a temporary fix.
Over-the-counter preservative free lubricating eye drops or homeopathic dry eye drops can
Supplements that may help include lutein14, omega-3 fatty acids15, and astaxanthin.16
Your eye doctor may prescribe stronger glasses. Also, computer glasses if you are over age
Have regular eye exams to screen for eye concerns including myopia, glaucom