Do you ever find yourself blinkingly reading along to the words on your computer screen? Your eyes are burning, but you ignore the stinging and read on. As you finish up your work, you’re rubbing your eyes, feeling a sensation close to sleepiness, but much more irksome. Sound familiar?
Nowadays, being glued to a computer screen is an everyday reality for many working people. Believe it or not, this relationship with technology, while productive, can really take a toll on your eyes. In fact, a recent TIME article dived into the effects of long term computer use, explaining that staring at the screen for too long can result in computer vision syndrome (CVS). According to TIME, “CVS affects some 64% to 90% of office workers.”
Don’t stress. Computer vision syndrome is not likely to lead to any long term eye issues. However, the irritation may be enough to encourage you to get help. Those suffering from computer vision syndrome will experience the following symptoms:
- Dry eyes
- Eyestrain
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Shoulder and neck pain
You may wonder why this happens. Well, as described by the American Optometric Association, “Viewing a computer screen often makes the eyes work harder. As a result, the unique characteristics and high visual demands of computer viewing make many individuals susceptible to the development of vision-related symptoms.”
Does this describe how you feel after a long day on the computer? Don’t fret! There are solutions to soothe those tired eyes.
The American Optometric Association provides various tips to help reduce the effects of CVS. Some suggestions include getting a routine eye exam, taking breaks, reducing room lighting, and using a glare reduction filter to minimize the glare of your screen.
In addition to these tips, we suggest wearing glasses that have an anti-glare coating while using the computer for long periods of time. This coating will reduce the irritating computer glare that’s likely making your eyes ache. Another tip we suggest is adding a very light yellow or brown tint to your lenses. This light tint is enough to dull the brightness of your screen and can reduce the glare of florescent office lighting, therefore giving your eyes a break.
Though CVS is quite common, by being kind to your eyes and following these tips you will be able to lessen the effects of computer vision syndrome.
