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Solutions to Computer Eye Problems"

In the new millennium, advanced technology is everywhere. I am sure that most of your time at work (or even at home) is spent in front of a computer monitor. While computer use has made our lives much easier in certain ways, it is not without its own set of problems. Human beings were simply not designed to be seated in front of a computer screen for 8 to 10+ hours a day. Nonetheless, we must earn a living and as such, need to learn how to form healthier relationships with the machines that we use everyday.

The recent widespread use of computers has caused a myriad of health problems that can affect almost every system in the body. From carpal tunnel syndrome in the hands to bulging discs in the lower back to increased rates of obesity due to inactivity and circulation difficulties, computer related health problems have kept the offices of various health professionals quite busy. Sound familiar? It should. Almost 90% of frequent computer users have experienced physical symptoms to various degrees that can be directly attributable to computer overuse.

One of the most frequently overlooked of the documented computer related complications is Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). The reason it is so often overlooked is because it is so hard to define. This is due to the fact that the symptoms that manifest are very often vague and could be linked to any number of eye conditions. This frequently leads to misdiagnosis and frustration on the patients' part, as well as that of the doctors'.

So how do you tell if you suffer from CVS? If so, what can you do about it? Fortunately, there are many solutions available to alleviate the symptoms of CVS. Before this could be done however, we must understand the underpinnings of CVS so that each facet of the affliction can be targeted and treated specifically.

Related Eye Conditions and Treatments

CVS can show itself differently in different people. This is because different people can have pre-existing conditions that will make some symptoms more pronounced than others. An example would be if a person was slightly far-sighted (can't see near as well) they would primarily manifest near vision symptoms while someone with a past neck injury would more readily exhibit symptoms of neck or back pain.

The first obvious step toward the resolution of CVS is a thorough, professional eye examination. It is usually better to consult an eye doctor that specializes in treating CVS, as they have the most experience and are more sensitive to subtle clues regarding your case. It is often the subtle clues that provide an explanation (and subsequent treatment) of your particular CVS symptoms. If missed however, these not so obvious signs can lead to the wrong diagnosis, no treatment and no resolution to your problem.

The first aspect of your vision that is checked is the presence of a refractive error. A refractive error is a fancy term that groups together three of the most common visual conditions:

1. Nearsightedness (eye too long)- Distance vision bad; Near vision good.
2. Farsightedness (eye too short)- Distance vision good; Near vision bad.
3. Astigmatism (front surface of eye is irregularly curved)- Distance and near vision bad.

All of these conditions can adversely affect your visual abilitites during computer use, especially #2 and #3. This is because unless you are significantly nearsighted, you should have little difficulty with near tasks, such as viewing a computer monitor. Conversely, farsighted people have little difficulty seeing distance (ie- driving, TV, etc.), but can easily develop symptoms of eyestrain due to near point stress when required to focus on a computer, especially for prolonged periods. As stated above, astigmatism can affect distance and near vision abilities and is usually superimposed on either near or farsightedness. This can be easily treated with the appropriate eyeglasses.

The next step should be the analysis of eye to eye coordination. This is called a binocular vision analysis. This panel of testing shows how well the eyes work together as a unit. Most people fall into one of the three following catagories:

1. Isophoria - the eyes move in complete unison and are perfectly coordinated.
2. Esophoria - the eyes have a tendency to drift in toward each other.
3. Exophoria - the eyes show a tendency drift out away from each other.

The eyes need to work much harder to keep themselves straight ahead and coordinated in either #2 or #3. These conditions manifest as eyestrain, headache and changes in focus that worsens as the duration of the computer work lengthens. Treatments can include special eyeglasses, eye exercises (to build coordination) and frequent breaks from computer work (about 15 minutes for every hour of computer work).

Another condition that affects everyone to some degree after age 45 is presbyopia. Presbyopia is fancy name for the near vision difficulties that often accompany age. This occurs because the lens inside the eye stiffens over time which limits the eyes' ability to focus on near objects. Many people in my practice say to me, "Doc, my arms are getting too short!" This is the reason that most people over age 45 wear reading glasses or bifocals. Obviously, the results while using a computer without appropriate correction (glasses) would be disasterous. This is probably the most common cause of computer related eye problems in people between the ages of 35 and 45. If this sounds familiar, a pair of computer vision glasses would be nothing short of miraculous.

Although this is primarily a problem of middle aged and older patients, a similar condition can be present in younger computer using patients as well. All of that instant messaging with friends and time spent in chatrooms can cause eye fatigue, headaches and a condition known as accomodative spasm (a cramp-like state of the muscles that control near focusing that results in a short term loss in distance vision ability). It can also occur when doing research for book reports or long homework assignments. This can be caused by small amounts of uncorrected hyperopia (farsightedness) or a situation called accomodative insufficiency, where levels of achievable near focusing power of the eyes are not enough to handle the demands place upon them. Commonly, prescribed treatments for accomodative insufficiency include near vision magnifiers and near/far focusing exercises.

Dry eye syndrome (DES) is another common (but subtle) contributor to CVS. The long hours staring at the monitor can cause the blink rate/per minute to be reduced by as much as half. Blinking spreads an even layer of tears over the eyes' surface much like a windshield wiper blade. If blinking is reduced, like it is during prolonged computer work, the rate of evaporation of the tears is accelerated. This can result in a dry eye condition. If there is smoke, artificial heat, air conditioning or dust (computers are notoriously dusty) present the symptoms are made even worse. Contact lens wear can also worsen the process. Treatments can include artificial tear eyedrops, conscious blinking therapy, air filters and humidifiers. Keeping the monitor and workstation area clean and dust free also helps. Computer monitors (because they are electrically charged) tend to attract an inordinate amount of dust. If you wipe your screen right now with a damp cloth, I think you would be surprised at how much dust is removed.

Ergonomic Solutions to CVS

The word "ergonomic" is often heard but is many times poorly understood. It essentially means optimizing the work environment to make human tasks as comfortable as possible. The computer workstation environment presents a unique challenge to ergonomics experts the world over. Although all of the exact causes of CVS are still being unraveled, the consensus among those in the know is quite unanimous. The list below describes some simple ways that you can manipulate the workstation environment to make your time spent at the computer as stress free as possible.

Some Simple Solutions to Treat CVS

1.      Lower the monitor. -- Most people tend to set the monitor too high which can cause the eyes to look upward resulting in eyestrain. An ideal setup of the workstations' monitor should cause the eyes to look down about 5" below straight ahead and the screen should be no more than 2 feet away from you.

2.      Reduce Glare as much as possible. -- This applies to room based (or so-called ambient glare) glare, as well as that originating from the screen itself. Try to equalize the brightness of the computer screen with that of the room. This can be done many ways:

• Purchase anti-reflective coating (AR) or a light tint (no more than 10%) on your computer glasses.
• Use an anti-glare filter over your monitors' screen.
• Angle the monitor such that it is at a 90 degree angle to the ceiling (or lights overhead).
• Dark colored clothes can actually reduce reflection off the screen and the subsequent amplification of glare.
• Adjust the shades over the windows in the room as needed to better control the ambient light present.

And last but not least .....

Properly align any paperwork that you are viewing. If possible you should place the material that you are looking at below the monitor; preferably between the monitor and the keyboard. Placing this material any where else mandates excessive head and neck movements that can cause headaches and neck pain.

Well that's about it. These explanations, tips and tricks coupled with a professional consultation should provide a strong beginning in your quest to alleviate the often debilitating symptoms of CVS.