Did you know that on average Americans spend 8.5 hours a day in front of a computer screen? Follow these tips to protect your eyes in our digital world:

In today’s digital world, our eyes are increasingly strained by computer screens, smart phones, e-readers, and digital TV. Our eyes are our most valuable resource to keep up with the digital world, yet we tend to forget to pay close attention to their health. I’ve compiled 11 easy steps to help you navigate the digital world and see it all in clear detail. By making these small adjustments, you can be one step closer to digital eye health.

Here are 11 tips for digital iHealth:

• Get an annual eye exam: The only way to monitor your vision health is through annual exams by an eye care professional.  Let your doctor know if you are a “heavy user” of technology.

• Abide by the 20/20 Rule:Take a 20 second break after every 20 minutes of use. Make sure you shift your vision to something in the distance (at least 20 feet away) during this break. If your work area is small, even looking out the window will allow your eyes to relax.^[1]
• Screen Placement: Keep your monitor at least 25” away from your eyes, preferably more.^[2]
• Monitor Tilt: Tilt your computer screen so that the top is slightly farther away from you than the bottom.^[3]
• Lighting: Reduce eye strain by using ceiling-mounted, indirect lighting and control outside light with blinds or shades.^[4]
• Font size: Reduce eye strain by enlarging the font. ^[5] Most hand-held devices and phones have a feature to increase font size when reading emails and text messages.
• Adjust Display settings: Set your screen settings so the background blends easily into your surrounding environment.  Adjust the brightness and contrast so that on-screen images and letters are easy to read.^[6]
• Minimize Glare: Consider using an anti-glare film on your monitor or hand held devices.^[7]
• Upgrade to an LCD: Older CRT monitors are more likely to cause strain on your eyes than a liquid crystal display (LCD). ^[8]
• Remember to Blink: We tend to blink less often when using a computer, so remember to blink frequently during continuous digital usage. Blinking will keep your eyes moist and prevent you from developing dry eye. ^{[9] [10]}
• Find the right vision correction solution: Choosing multifocal contact lenses may help you see near, far, and everything in between. Whether you’re starring at a computer monitor or using your handheld device, multifocal contact lenses provide exceptional vision at any distance.

When wearing progressive spectacles, the area used for near vision is very small. With multifocal contact lenses, you can see clearly in all areas of gaze. For computer users, wearing multifocal contact lenses eliminates the need to raise your head to look through the bottom of your glasses to view the screen. By looking straight ahead, you can also reduce neck strain. For more information on digital iHealth, check out www.coopervision.com/clearchoice. 

CooperVision – On Eye | iHealth in a Digital World.

If you use a computer at work, you probably already know that a long day of staring at your screen can lead to eyestrain, tired eyes, headache, muscle aches and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS).

But did you know that CVS can also cause more mistakes and lost productivity, too?

CVS increases vision problems in the workplace

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the most frequent health complaints among computer workers are vision-related. Studies suggest 50% to 90% of computer users suffer from visual symptoms of computer vision syndrome. These symptoms include eyestrain, dry eyes or eye irritation, blurred vision and double vision.

With increasing numbers of employees using a computer at work, CVS is becoming a major public health issue. The AOA reports that approximately 10 million eye exams are performed annually in the U.S. due to vision problems related to computer use.

Worker productivity and CVS

A recent study conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry examined the relationship between the vision of computer workers and their productivity in the workplace. The study found:

• There is a direct correlation between proper vision correction and productivity. This relationship particularly is evident with complex and/or repetitive computer tasks such as data entry.

“Our data strongly suggest that improving the visual status of workers using computers results in greater productivity in the workplace, as well as improved visual comfort,” said Kent Daum, OD, PhD, the study’s chief investigator.

Computer eyewear and the bottom line

According to the UAB study, employers who invest in computer eyewear for their employees can experience a positive impact on their bottom line from such a program.

The authors of the study concluded:

• Providing computer vision care to all employees who use computers, even those who are not experiencing CVS symptoms, results in significant productivity gains and cost savings for employers.
• Musculoskeletal problems, which may be caused by computer-related vision problems, can potentially be minimized or eliminated by including computer vision care in a comprehensive ergonomics program.
• Employees performing tasks with particularly demanding visual requirements, such as accounting, document editing, CAD (computer-assisted design) work, electronic design and engineering, could benefit even more from computer eyewear than the average computer worker.
• A computer vision benefits program likely will also lower incidence of workers’ compensation claims among computer workers.

“Our study confirms that investing in optimal computer eyewear for employees results in a significant cost-benefit ratio,” Dr. Daum said.

For more information on computer vision, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited

Who is affected by Computer Vision Syndrome?

What causes Computer Vision Syndrome?

CVS is caused by the increased demands of computer-generated images on our eyes and visual systems and by the prolonged and/or repetitive nature of computer work.

Our eyes have little problem focusing on most printed material, which is characterized by dense black characters with well-defined edges. Characters on a computer screen, however, don’t have the same high contrast or well-defined borders. The luminous elements (pixels) that create images on a computer screen are brightest at the center and diminish in intensity toward their edges. This makes it more difficult for our eyes to accurately focus on computer-generated images compared to images printed with ink in a book or magazine.

As our eyes struggle to gain and maintain focus on images on a computer screen, this continuous flexing of the eyes’ focusing muscles creates fatigue and the burning, tired-eyes feeling that is so common after long hours at the computer.

In addition, it’s common for computer users to fall into bad postural habits and remain in these positions for extended periods of time, causing muscle strain, fatigue and headaches.

What can I do about CVS?

A pair of computer eyeglasses can help relieve many of the symptoms of CVS. Unlike regular eyeglasses, computer glasses are prescribed specifically for the distance from your eyes to your computer screen. This reduces the focusing demands on your eyes during computer use to lessen eye fatigue and reduce the risk for eyestrain and other computer-related vision problems.

Will glare screens prevent CVS?

A glare filter for your computer screen may help somewhat, but it will not solve all your computer vision problems. Filters can reduce glare from overhead lights or outdoor sunlight reflecting off the surface of your computer screen. But they do nothing to prevent the vision problems related to the constant refocusing of your eyes when working at a computer.

Only when your eyes can focus clearly at the plane of proper distance on the computer screen can they experience relief from the fatiguing effects of CVS. An anti-reflective coating (AR) is also highly recommended on all computer eyeglasses.

Will anti-reflective coating on my eyeglasses eliminate glare?

Anti-reflective (AR) coatings reduce glare from light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of your eyeglass lenses. So. like filters for your computer screen, AR coatings for eyeglass lenses are helpful, but they do not address the primary cause of most CVS symptoms.

Will computer eyeglasses make the screen clearer?

Yes, because they will eliminate the constant refocusing effort that your eyes go through when viewing the screen. Research has also shown that wearing computer eyeglasses increases productivity and accuracy.

Do computer glasses look like safety glasses?

No. Almost any style of frame can be used for computer glasses. Also, the lenses of computer glasses don’t have to pass the stringent impact-resistance standards required of lenses in safety glasses.

Should computer lenses be tinted?

If you work in a very bright office, you may benefit from a light tint applied to your computer lenses. This can cut the amount of light that reaches your eyes and provide relief in some cases. But tints and filters don’t address the underlying cause of computer eyestrain.

If I don’t have symptoms of CVS, do I still need computer eyewear?

Maybe. Research has shown that even computer users who are not experiencing symptoms of CVS may benefit from wearing computer eyewear. An eye exam with a computer vision specialist is the best way to determine if computer glasses might be helpful for you.

Will insurance pay for these glasses?

In some cases, yes. If you have medical coverage, but not vision insurance, the exam portion of the cost may be covered by your medical carrier. If you have vision insurance, you may be entitled to an annual exam, which could be used to cover the computer exam and a portion of the cost of the computer eyewear.

Will my reading glasses work at the computer?

Not necessarily. As with anything else you do in life, it’s important to have the right tool for the job. You would not use a hammer when you need a screwdriver. The same goes for your vision. You would not use distance glasses for doing close work. So, in most cases, your reading glasses are probably not going to do the job at the computer. Reading g

lasses are usually prescribed to optimize vision at a distance of approximately 14 to 16 inches from your eyes. Computer glasses are designed to provide optimum vision at a normal computer distance — usually 20 to 28 inches from your eyes.

Isn’t ergonomics the solution to computer eyestrain?

Ergonomics can be defined as the science of designing and arranging things people use to enable interaction in the most efficient and safe manner possible. Taking these steps can be an important component of preventing and treating CVS. But ergonomics alone–placing a computer screen at a comfortable height and distance from the user, for example–cannot fix a vision problem. This can only be achieved with prescription eyewear.

Will wearing computer eyeglasses make my eyes worse?

No. There is no evidence that wearing computer glasses harms your eyes or causes changes such as myopia (nearsightedness), farsightedness or astigmatism. In fact, some research suggests that reducing focusing stress with special lenses for reading or computer use may slow the progression of myopia in some school-aged children.

For more information on relief of eye strain, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited

What can I do when my eyes tire out from too much reading and computer use?

This is a common problem. See your eye doctor about computer eyeglasses that will help you focus more accurately and with less effort. When prescribed properly, these glasses can also help you read printed material. Lenses also can have tints and coatings to make your eyes feel a lot better.

Also, take frequent breaks (every 15-20 minutes) from reading or computer use. Look at something far away, like an object outside a window, to relax your focusing muscles. And make sure the lighting is correct for the activity you are doing — bright for reading and a bit dimmer for computer work.

Is it necessary to wear special eye protection when working on the computer? Is such protection necessary if I already wear prescription eyeglasses?

Computer screens don’t emit enough radiation to cause eye damage, so protective eyewear isn’t necessary. Eyestrain is another issue, however. Having an accurate, up-to-date prescription and an ergonomically appropriate workstation can make a huge difference in managing your visual comfort while using your computer. Also, consider adding an anti-reflective coating on your lenses to minimize glare.

My eyes become sensitive to light when I do a lot of reading on a computer screen. Sometimes, the words will appear to change size. Also, my distance vision sometimes is blurred after I do computer work. Is this computer vision syndrome, and what should I do about it?

Yes, all these symptoms suggest you have computer vision syndrome (CVS). Focusing problems are common among people who spend a lot of time at a computer. An eyecare professional who understands this phenomenon can prescribe eyeglasses that will help you be more comfortable and should relieve your symptoms. You can also help yourself by making sure your work station is efficient and comfortable. Check out the lighting, height of your screen, angle of your screen, hand position, etc.

Can your eyes and face get burned by computer monitors?

No. If they could, you’d see a lot of red-faced and red-eyed people.

My eyes often become red when I read a book or use a computer. Will eye drops help?

Your eyes becoming red could be a sign that you are having trouble focusing. Have your eyes examined to see if you should wear glasses to alleviate near vision stress. See an eye doctor before using over-the-counter eye drops on a regular basis. Your doctor will be able to determine if you need drops and, if so, which type of eye drops will be best for you.

How can I relieve eye stress from working at a computer all day?

To relieve eyestrain from prolonged computer use, take frequent breaks during your work day. About every 15 minutes, look up and far away, preferably out a window or across the room. Also, make sure your work station is correctly structured and lighted. Your screen or monitor should be positioned about 20 to 26 inches from your eyes, slightly below eye level. Tilt the screen slightly away from you at the top, the way you would hold a book, to reduce glare from reflected light. Adjust the screen contrast to be comfortable, and the room lighting shouldn’t be too bright.

Also, see your eye doctor for regular exams to monitor your vision. Even a slight vision change can cause eyestrain during computer work. Special computer glasses can help you see your screen with less focusing effort, and your eye doctor can advise you about lens coatings and tints that can also help relieve eyestrain.

Please note: This information is designed to provide helpful information about vision, vision care and vision correction. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you suspect that you have a vision problem or a condition that requires medical attention, see an eye care professional immediately.

For more information on computer vision, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited