Computer vision syndrome is also known as digital eye strain that can develop due to prolonged use of the computer, laptop, tablet, and mobile phone. Today, with the increasing number of new technologies when it comes to gadgets, people are more exposed to longer screen time that can affect the health of the eyes. As you increase your time in front of your computer, it can also augment the level of discomfort in the eyes.
On average, employees spend at least seven hours a day in front of the computer either at home or in the office working. This article will tell you everything that you need to know about digital eye strain syndrome and how you can reduce the risk of developing one.
1. Causes
Several factors can increase your risk of having this eye condition. First is poor lighting in the room or area where you are working. Dim light or not enough light can tire the eyes because the radial muscles in the eye will contract and the pupil will dilate to allow more light to pass through the eye. Most of the time people who are working with a dim light in front of a computer will experience sudden blurry vision.
Another cause is the distance of the eye from the screen and brightness. It is important to observe proper distance which is 20 to 40 inches away. Also, you can adjust the brightness of the screen to avoid eye strain. Poor sitting posture and angle is also a factor to consider. A person may also develop computer vision syndrome if he/she already has an underlying eye condition like lazy eye syndrome.
2. Symptoms
There are common symptoms that one may experience such as headaches, dry eye, eye strain, blurry vision, and neck and shoulder pain. The severity of the symptoms depends on the eye condition of a person and the time he/she spend in front of the digital screen. There are also contributing factors to the extent of symptoms such as other eye problems like astigmatism and farsightedness, poor eye coordination, and aging.
Most of these symptoms are temporary and will disappear once a person stops using a digital device for hours. However, there are instances when the overuse of these technological devices can lead to continuous visual problems like sudden blurry vision even right after stopping work using a computer.
3. Diagnosis
Computer vision syndrome is diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination by a licensed Ophthalmologist. Testing is done inside an eye clinic using a digital device. These examinations include:
- The history of the patient is being recorded to find out all symptoms that a patient is experiencing. Also, it is done to find out if the patient is suffering from any eye-related condition like the lazy eye syndrome, other health conditions, medications, and environmental factors that can contribute to the severity of the symptoms.
- The patient will undergo visual acuity measurements to check the actual condition of the eye.
- Refraction is done to find out the appropriate lens for the patient to solve refractive errors of the eye such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness.
- There are several tests to know eye coordination or how your eye focuses. This test will find out if there is an inability of using both eyes at the same time.
The testing is administered without the use of eye drops to know how the eye will work under normal conditions. Information obtained right after the examination will determine the proper treatment for the eyes.
4. Possible Treatments
There are eye-healthy practices that one can observe to prevent the risk of having eye strain conditions caused by using a digital screen.
- As much as possible, proper lightning is vital inside a room where you are working to avoid the eye from staring extensively on the computer screen to avoid sudden blurry vision.
- Arrange the position of your computer so your body is in a very comfortable position.
- It is essential to take enough breaks to give the eye some time to rest. You need a few minutes away from the screen.
- Have a comfortable seat that allows your back to relax and offer support to the back and neck. This can avoid additional strain to the shoulder and neck.
