Computers Linked to Eye Strain

Archives Admin · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 10:15 AM

As finals approach, many BYU students stare at books and computer screens for more hours than usual, creating an environment not only for possible eyestrain but also for eye damage.

A strong link between eye problems and computer use may exist according to a new report from the National Women's Health Resource Center, which examines ways to improve vision health and minimize risks for developing eye problems.

Staring at a computer for lengthy periods of time can lead to dry, itchy eyes, headaches and blurred vision, said optometrist, Jeffrey Anshel in the report, who trains other optometrists on computer-related eyestrain.

"Computer Vision Syndrome is a definite problem, and I don't think any optometrist will tell you it's not a problem," said Kristine Dunn, optometrist for the Provo ShopKo Optical. "We see it so often."

Dunn said she sees many students come in with eye conditions they developed while at college. Most students don't realize their eye problem is related to how much time they spend not only on a computer but also reading, she said.

"People are affected by the syndrome on an individual basis," she said. "Some people are affected by spending a lot of time on computers and some are not."

Computer users tend to fix their eyes on the screen without averting them for more than a few seconds. Blinking infrequently is the main cause of computer-related eyestrain, the report stated.

Students who spend hours in front of a computer monitor may experience more eyestrain than from the time they pour over books. Anshel said according to current studies people blink about one-third as much as they usually do when they work on a computer than when they are reading a book.

"We'll often put our eyes through a marathon every day and then wonder why they're sore," said Bill Codner, an optometrist for the Orem Eye Clinic. "If someone has an eye problem it will add even more strain to their eyes. It would be like running the marathon with a backpack."

Codner said he sees more college students during crunch times, such as finals, because they are adding additional stress to their eyes.

In the report, Ilene Gipson, a scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, said 75 percent of visual impairment problems can be prevented, primarily through lifestyle changes.

Students who spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen can take certain steps to prevent possible eye conditions from popping up in the future.

In the report, Anshel said computer users should take 20 seconds to close their eyes or look 20 feet away, for every 20 minutes they spend on the computer, which breaks up the intensive viewing habits that can cause eyestrain.

He also suggested people position the computer monitor not at eye level, but at the ideal height where a viewer can look straight ahead and see over the top of the screen.

Screens should be about an arms length away from a person's face, Codner said.

"As you half a distance, you double the amount of focusing required of your eyes," he said. "Computer users need to back off and make sure they keep the font at a decent size."

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Computers Linked to Eye Strain

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