Eyeglasses & Eye Care Info

CVS is a term that describes eye-related problems and the other symptoms caused by prolonged computer use.

As our dependence on computers continues to grow, an increasing number of people are seeking medical attention for eye strain and irritation, along with back, neck, shoulder, and wrist soreness.

These problems are more noticeable with computer tasks than other near work because letters on the screen are formed by tiny dots called pixels, rather than a solid image. This causes the eye to work a bit harder to keep the images in focus.

There is no scientific evidence that computer screens are harmful to the eyes. A common myth is that eye strain caused by reading and close work is damaging to the eyes. This is not true; however, those who work at computers often experience many frustrating symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms

Blurred near vision
Difficulty focusing from close to far and back again
Sore, irritated eyes Dry eyes
Red eyes
Eye fatigue
Headaches that disappear after a period of rest
Irritation and discomfort while wearing contact lenses
Soreness and pain in the neck, shoulder, and back.
Detection and Diagnosis

Your eye care practitioner will perform a complete eye examination that includes: near and distance visual acuity, refraction, tonometry, and an examination of the eye structures with a slit lamp microscope and ophthalmoscopy.

It is important to provide the eye care practitioner with detail about your work environment, work habits, and detail about the symptoms and their patterns. Bring your prescription glasses with you so the eye care practitioner can determine if they are appropriate for computer work.

Treatment

The three main areas that should be addressed when treating CVS patients are: eye-related problems, work environment, and posture.

Eye-related problems

Make sure the glasses are the correct prescription and designed for working at a computer. Patients who wear bifocals may find themselves keeping their head in an uncomfortable position in order to see the screen. Your optometrist will determine the glasses best suited for the task, and if necessary, prescribe glasses with an adjusted bifocal height and width.
Blink frequently and instill artificial tears as needed. One of the biggest complaints of patients with CVS is dry, irritated, red eyes. This is common because we tend to blink less when reading.
Stop periodically and look away from the computer screen. Looking up relaxes the eye’s focusing mechanism and reduces the problem of eye strain.
The time taken for the rods of the retina to become active.
Work environment

Sit approximately 24″ from the monitor. Sitting at the appropriate working distance from the computer screen maximizes the clarity of the text and images.
Adjust the monitor so the centre is slightly below eye level. This keeps the neck in the most natural position and reduces soreness and fatigue.
Minimize glare on the screen. Arrange the lighting and desk to eliminate glare on the monitor. An anti-reflective screen placed over the monitor is sometimes helpful.
Posture and work habits

Maintain good posture. Sitting up straight with your feet on the floor can reduce back stress. Use a cushion for the lower back if necessary.
Keep your wrists straight when typing. Avoid resting your wrists on the keyboard.
Place the mouse and keyboard at the same level, keeping them close to the body. The keyboard level should at a slightly lower level than the desk.