Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

[aKho]

Who Is Affected by Computer Vision Syndrome?

More than 143 million Americans work on a computer each day, with 88% of them suffering from computer eyestrain, according to estimates. In addition, nearly 54 million children work at a computer each day either at home or in school.* Prolonged computer use can stress a child's eyes and impact his or her vision development.

What Are the Symptoms of CVS?

If you or your child spend more than two hours each day in front of a computer screen, you likely experience some degree of computer vision syndrome. CVS includes:

* Headaches
* Loss of focus
* Burning/tired eyes
* Double/blurred vision
* Neck and shoulder pains

What Causes Computer Vision Syndrome?

CVS is caused by our eyes and brain reacting differently to characters on the screen than they do to printed characters. Our eyes have little problem focusing on most printed material, which is characterized by dense black characters with well-defined edges. Healthy eyes can easily maintain focus on the printed page. Characters on a computer screen, however, don't have this contrast or well-defined edges. These characters (pixels) are brightest at the center and diminish in intensity toward their edges. This makes it very difficult for our eyes to maintain focus and remain fixed onto these images. Instead our eyes drift out to a point called the "resting point of accommodation" or RPA.

Our eyes involuntarily move to the RPA, and then strain to regain focus on the screen. This continuous flexing of the eyes' focusing muscles creates fatigue and the burning, tired-eyes feeling that is so common after long hours at the computer.

What Can I Do About It?

The solution is simple: see an eyecare professional that specializes in computer vision care. In most cases, standard reading glasses or over-the-counter readers are not accurate enough, because viewing a computer is usually at a different distance (18"-28") than reading distance (16"-21"). Once an eye doctor accurately diagnoses your computer vision problem and determines your correct computer working distances, it's a simple matter to prescribe computer eyeglasses that will allow you to work comfortably and productively. To find an eye doctor who specializes in computer vision care, use Vision Council of America's online locator.

Also, please read about studies that show computer eyewear can increase computer worker productivity significantly, with cost savings for employers who provide the eyewear.

Will Glare Screens Prevent CVS?

Glare screen filters may help somewhat, but they will not solve your computer vision problems because they only affect glare from the computer screen — not the visual problems related to the constant refocusing of your eyes when working at a computer.

Only when your eyes can focus clearly at the plane of proper distance on the computer screen can they experience relief from the fatiguing effects of CVS. An anti-reflective coating (AR) is also highly recommended on all computer eyeglasses. An AR coating prevents glare and reflections on the front and the back of the lenses that would interfere with focusing on the screen. Read more about minimizing glare.

source : http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/faqs.htm

[PsYkHoTiK]

I have NEVER had these problems... I spend all of my day infront of my PC. I have poor lighting in my room... I have perfect eye sight, I can see very well in the dark. I don't get headaches coz of it. No blurred vision or tired eyes what so ever.

[Papercut]

Same here, although my room has decent lighting. No symptoms of RSI or any other problem related to long-term PC usage either.

[Falcone]

Been suffering this for a long time now.......

[Jet]

My neck and shoulder pains a lot..

[zy]

i strained my eyes looking at CRT monitors

[wilfred]

die die... anyone know any optician that heard/specializes in this in the klang valley?

[jasperchc]

One may be able to mitigate the risk of CVS by adhering to the "20-20-20 rule": every 20 minutes, focus the eyes on an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. (wikipedia)

[Adrian Wong]

Yeah, I think it's best to just take regular short breaks, than rely on glasses, etc.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Weaklings!!!!!

I focus on who's head I awp all the time...

Joking....