UNDERSTANDING COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME:
CAUSES AND PREVENTION

You might think that “Computer Vision Syndrome” is just something that a person made up. However,
it’s real and it affects millions of people. It’s the name used to describe various symptoms of the eyes,
such as itching, redness, and dryness. In addition, it’s common for people to experience headaches,
blurred vision, and even back pain.

WHAT IS COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME?

Now that you know about the symptoms, it’s time to understand the syndrome. Also known as digital eye
strain, it consists of different vision and eye-related problems caused by using digital devices for long
periods. That includes computers, smartphones, tablets, and televisions.
Whether you use these devices at home for pleasure or at work for your job, there’s a good chance
you could develop Computer Vision Syndrome. That’s especially true if you spend hours at a time
staring at a screen.

WHAT CAUSES THIS CONDITION?

More specifically than looking at a digital device screen for a long time, here’s a breakdown.
Regardless if you read or watch videos on a digital device, your eyes follow the same path repeatedly.
The longer this happens, the worse the symptoms can become. It’s similar to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
except it affects the eyes as opposed to the hands.
In addition to moving your eyes back and forth while reading or watching videos, they need to focus.
For instance, when you receive an email, the subject is probably in a larger font than the body.
Depending on the subject, it might also include bolded, italicized, or underlined letters.
Although these are subtle differences, they require your eyes to focus and refocus continuously. Then
when you add in the glare, contrasting colors, and even flickers on the screens, the eyes strain even
more. As they try to focus, you’ll blink less often without realizing it.

WAYS TO TREAT COMPUTER VISION
SYNDROME

Most importantly, you want to protect the health of your eyes and vision. While it’s hard to avoid this if
you work on a computer all day, there are ways to prevent and treat it, such as:

· Reduce Glare – You can use a cover designed specifically to reduce screen glare. Also, you can
adjust the lighting on the device or use your devices in a darker area if possible.
· Reposition the Monitor – For a computer, be sure the monitor is about 26 inches away from your
face and just a little lower than eye level. That way, you won’t strain your eyes or stretch your neck to
see what’s on the screen.
· Take Breaks – Adopt the 20-20-20 break rule. That means every 20 minutes that you’re on a digital
device, you should look at something located 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
· Have Your Eyes Checked – If you haven’t seen an eye doctor for a while, make an appointment. In
addition to checking the health of your eyes and the quality of your vision, they can determine if you’re
suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome. Depending on their findings, they may recommend glasses
or contact lenses.

For this condition or any other concerns, make an appointment with Eye Health Consultants in Spring,
Texas, at 281-419-3355 today.