Are You Suffering From Computer Vision Syndrome (cvs)?

IN AN age where computers have become an inseperable part of life, nearly 60 million users suffer from vision problems. The condition is called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and there are a million new cases reported each year.

It is characterised by dryness, redness, itching and watering of eyes, including heaviness of the eyelids or forehead and difficulty in focusing. These symptoms can cause headaches, backaches, neck aches and muscle spasms. And often people suffering from CVS are not even aware of the condition.

Some tips to prevent Computer Vision Syndrome:

1) Get your eyes examined annually. Let your eye care professional know your working hours on a computer.

2) Take frequent breaks while working on the computer and make, an effort to blink repeatedly throughout the day.

3) Make sure you are not doing any other work requiring vision during these breaks as that is no relief for the eyes.

4) If you can see your reflection in the monitor, you probably have a glare problem. Glare, reflection and overhead lighting will force your eyes to work harder than is typically comfortable. Even monitors with anti-glare treatments may not be enough to reduce reflections below the threshold on human sensitivity. Add an anti-glare computer filter to your monitors. Use drapes, shades, or blinds.

5) Adjust monitor height such that the top of the monitor is at the eye level. Placing a monitor too high causes drying of eyes and placing it too low may cause neck aches.

6) Positio

the monitor at least 20 inches away from your eyes.

7) Adjust room lighting to a comfortable level.

8) Clean the screen as staring through dust, dirt and fingerprints on your computer reduces the image clarity making it more difficult to see.

9) The use of PC Magni-Viewer - a lens that is placed in front of the computer screen to create larger images that demand less focusing power reduces the eye strain associated with computer use.



By: Michael Douglas