Computer Vision Syndrome

The Computer Vision Syndrome is a condition with complex number of symptoms relating to eye and posture with prolonged use of computers. CVS is of importance because of growing number of computer users and not knowing the correct way to sit infront of a computer and right way to care for the eye. The other problems associated with these are the low back pain, neck pain, headache, wrist pain etc. The computer screen forms images with pixels rather than the solid images which the eye used to see. The pixel needs extra focus to form an image and thus the effort.

Causes

1) It is caused by the differences in reactions of the eyes and brain while seeing thecharacters on the computer monitor screen. The printed pictures and letters on a newspaper or a magazine are fixed with high contrasts and well defined edges. But the picturesor written pages on the computer screen do not have sharp and well defined edges. Thesepictures are not fixed; they also have brightness at the center and low intensity at theedges.
2) Your eyes do not maintain a focus on the screen and maintain with these images. Instead,they drift out to a point called resting point of accommodation. The eyes strain too muchto regain focus on the screen. This continuous flexing of the eyes and focusing of the eyemuscles create fatigue and the burning, tiresome feeling on the eyes.
3) People who wear the bifocal lenses will have problem in viewing the lower and the higherhalf of the screen. This will make them to view up and down by adjusting their head andneck. This is a painful exercise.
4) When you have the CVS, you will not blink enough. You will tend to open your eyes wide. The lighting of the office and the natural diffused sunlight falling on the screen maycause a glare and reflection on the monitor.

An exercise to guard your eyes

• For every 20 minutes on the computer make a shift to see the objects at a 20 feet distance
  See the objects for 20 seconds
• Just blink 20 times for every 20 minutes of working on the computer.
  
• Take a break once you have stay over an hour in front of your computer for work.

Reference: Healthcare MAgic. (2010). computer vision syndrome. Retrieved from health care magic: http://www.healthcaremagic.com/articles/Computer-Vision-Syndrome/354