Computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain is caused when one gets exposed to digital screens for a prolonged span. If you deal with computer vision syndrome, you might suffer from unwanted headaches, eye fatigue and dry eyes.
When we look at our digital screen, our eyes need to focus and refocus on a continuous basis. Since the texts on your devices are not as sharp as the book, your eyes need to shift focus and that paves the way toward causing digital eye strain.
Also, glare from these devices can often result in computer vision syndrome. If you use your system for more than 2 hours, chances are high that digital eye strain will take place.
In this digital era, most of us need to spend time near our laptops or computers- we can’t get rid of these devices. However, we can always combat computer vision syndrome by limiting our screen time.
In this blog, we will gain knowledge about the causes, symptoms and treatment of computer vision syndrome. Let’s get started without any further ado.
What Are the Causes of Computer Vision Syndrome?
Let’s take a moment to learn the causes of vision syndrome at a quick glance. Check out the pointers below for more information:
- Contrast Levels on Your Screen
- Refocusing Continuously
- Inadequate Blinking
Sometimes, the contrast level between the texts and their background is low. This is one of the reasons that can accelerate the chances of computer vision syndrome.
As mentioned earlier, you need to focus and refocus while looking at the papers and computer digital screen. Since this process includes constant movement of eyes, individuals often get exposed to computer vision syndrome.
Every minute, we blink 18 to 22 times. Blinking is important since it keeps our eyes moist and lubricated. However, when we use our laptop or computer, we hardly blink (three to seven times per minute maybe). Not blinking your eyes leads to dry eyes- it can be troublesome after a certain point in time.
What Are the Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome?
Now, we will mention the symptoms of computer vision syndrome for you to check out:
- Eye fatigue
- Eye strain
- Blurry vision
- Headache
- Dry eyes
- Double vision
- Neck pain
- Red, itchy or tearing eyes
- Shoulder pain
Do you know what are some of the risk factors of computer vision? Well, we are here to point that out:
- Poor lighting
- Working on your computer for quite a long time span
- A reflection or glare on your digital screen
- Incorrect prescription sunglasses and glasses
- Uncorrected vision problems such as astigmatism or farsightedness
- Poor posture while using your computer
- Incorrect angle of viewing distance
How Can You Diagnose Computer Vision Syndrome?
In order to diagnose computer screen eye strain, professional eye specialists perform a comprehensive eye test. They might ask you about the symptoms along with their severity level. Also, you can share this information with your eye care specialist:
- The total amount of time you spend using your digital gadgets
- If you have any medical conditions, make sure to let them know
- Your posture and work environment
- Discuss your medications (if any)
- If your family members have any vision problems or eye diseases, you need to address the concerns
Experts will evaluate your current situation and suggest treatment options accordingly.
How Can You Treat Computer Vision Syndrome?
Some of the computer vision syndrome treatments typically include:
Even if you have minor refractive errors, it can worsen your computer vision syndrome. Under such conditions, all you need to do is use contact lenses or glasses. These eyewear pieces will help you grab a clear vision in no time.
- Contact Lenses or Glasses
You can rely on computer glasses since they are a great accessory to fix your impaired vision. Place an order today and don them while working on your computer. Apart from that, you can opt for eyeglasses with anti-glare technology that reduces glare from the devices. We also deal with blue light glasses that are responsible for filtering out blue light released from laptops and computers. Make sure to have a word with your eye care specialist before investing in any of these things. They will examine the exact situation and suggest ways to combat CVS.
- Manage Your Dry Eyes
- You can use artificial tears, thus adding some moisture to the eyes.
- Your care provider will ask you to blink more than usual while using your computer and laptop. Blinking generates natural tears that are potent enough to soothe your vision.
- They can recommend some prescription eye drops along with various other treatment options.
Since the use of digital devices tends to result in dry eyes, you need to take a step toward resolving the given issue. Some of the way outs might include:
These effortless yet easy steps are enough to take care of your dry eyes.
- Change Your Environment and Routine
- Consider taking breaks in the first place. Also, don’t stare at your screen while you are enjoying your 10-15-minute break time. You can also follow the 20-20-20 method where you need to look at an object that is 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Try to reduce your overall screen time in a day.
- Limit glare and reflections that get released from bright lamps and windows. You can lower the blinds and use lamps with lower-wattage bulbs.
- An ergonomic workstation can serve the purpose of making you feel comfortable while working. By sitting comfortably, you can reduce eye strain with ease.
- Adjust your screen contrast and brightness.
- Increase the text sizes so that they can appear bigger, thus making them easier to see.
By changing your surrounding environment and routine, you will be able to keep computer vision syndrome at bay. All you need to do is focus on some small tweaks and that’s it. Check out these general tips at a glance:
Well, this is all about computer vision syndrome, its causes, symptoms and treatment methods. We at Specscart offer a free comprehensive eye test to everyone. You can book an appointment and hop into our store at the scheduled time.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/computer-vision-syndrome#solutionshttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24802-computer-vision-syndrome