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Computer and Health
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Vision / Eye Strain
Visual problems, such as eyestrain and irritation, are among the most frequently reported complaints by computer operators. These visual symptoms can result from improper lighting, glare from the screen, poor positioning of the screen itself, or copy material that is difficult to read. These problems usually can be corrected by adjusting the physical and environmental setting where the computer users work. For example, work stations and lighting can and should be arranged to avoid direct and reflected glare anywhere in the field of sight, from the display screen, or surrounding surfaces.
You also can reduce eyestrain by taking vision breaks, which may include exercises to relax eye muscles after each hour or so of operating a computer. Changing focus is another way to give eye muscles a chance to relax. You only need to glance across the room, or out the window, from time to time and look at an object at least 20 feet away. Other eye exercises may include rolling or blinking the eyes, or closing them tightly for a few seconds.
Inadequate vision can strain your posture as well as eyes -- have your eyes checked annually, you may need special glasses
This section provides links to information and resources regarding vision and eye strain issues while working at Video Display Terminals (VDTs).
Articles
Improving Visual Comfort at a Computer Workstation by Dr. Jeffrey R. Anshel, BS, OD
Visual discomfort occurs at a computer workstation when the visual demands of your task exceed your visual abilities. The problem can be resolved by treating your visual condition, if any, or by making your visual task less demanding.
Vision Health Management: Visual Ergonomics in the Workplace, Dr. Jeffrey R. Anshel, BS, OD
Vision is our most precious sense. Our eyes are in constant use every waking minute of every day. The way we use our eyes can determine how well we work throughout our lifetime. Over 80% of our learning is mediated through our eyes, indicating the important role our vision plays in our daily activities. Vision disturbance is a silent enemy that only appears after a long period of continued stress.
Kids and Computers: Eyes and Visual Systems, Dr. Jeffrey R. Anshel, BS, OD
Today, millions of children are using computers every day, at school and at home, for education and recreation. Visual demands in school require the integration of a number of different vision skills: visual acuity (sharpness of vision); visual fixation (eye aiming); accommodation (focusing); binocular fusion (forming a single image); convergence (turning of the eyes); field of vision (side vision); and form perception (recognizing shapes). These systems can be stressed and overworked if not used efficiently. Computer viewing is complicating how children use their eyes in school because these visual skills are not yet fully developed in children?making any near-point activities that much more difficult.
Vision, Reading and Computer Users
An Interview with Distinguished Optometrist, Dr. Gary J. Williams
http://webword.com/interviews/williams.html
Websites
The Relationship of Computer Vision Syndrome to Musculoskeletal Disorders
American Optometric Association
http://www.aoanet.org/ia-musculo.html
Eyestrain Basics
http://www.ur-net.com/office-ergo/12things1.htm
http://www.office-ergo.com/12things1.htm
IBM's Healthy Computing - Vision
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/healthycomputing/ergoviso.html
Computers and Eyestrain by E. Lawrence Bickford, O.D.
http://www.west.net/~eyecare/computers_and_eyestrain.html
Causes, symptoms and treatments for computer-related eye strain.
Reducing Eyestrain from Video and Computer Monitors by Charles A. Poynton
http://www.inforamp.net/~poynton/notes/reducing_eyestrain/
Preventative Measures Ease Computer Eye Strain and Other Health Problems
http://www.aoanet.org/nr-preventive.html
Computers and Eye Strain
American Academy of Ophthalmology - eyeNET
http://www.eyenet.org/public/faqs/computers_faq.html
Computer Vision Syndrome
http://www.cvconsulting.com/articles.htm
Articles by Dr. Jeffrey Anshel
PC Magazine Online: Your Eyes Come First
http://www8.zdnet.com/pcmag/issues/1418/pcm00049.htm
Jim Seymour's article about eyestrain and the PRIO eye test.
Computerized Home Vision Therapy Systems
http://www.homevisiontherapy.com/
Treatment for eye strain, computer vision syndrome, and children's learning problems
Eye2Eye: The Computer Eyestrain Journal
http://www.eye2eye.com/
Eye2Eye's mission is to help control vision difficulties associated with prolonged exposure to computer screens. Collectively, these symptoms have been termed Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) by the American Optometric Association.
Computer eye strain
Very few jobs today do not require long periods of time in front of a computer. The great irony of course is that the human body is not designed to accommodate all the hours spent in front of a computer, and so we often end up with backaches, headaches, sore eyes and wrists, and a few extra kilograms. It is therefore important to manage your health through workstation planning and good work habits.
Your eyes and the computer
Staring at a screen for long hours places immense stress on your eyes because they were not designed to work at such a close range for long periods of time. Furthermore, the constant shift in focus (between the screen, documents and the keyboard) only makes matters worse and eventually you end up with a condition called eye strain.
Eye strain is an umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms including:
* Headaches
* Tired, sore eyes
* Eye irritation
* Blurred vision
When these problems are computer related, the condition is called computer terminal eye strain. Other symptoms include:
* Slow refocusing when looking from the screen to distant objects
* An inability to keep your place when moving your eyes between the screen and a document
* Having difficulty to focus on distant objects after using a computer for a period of long time
* Changes in colour perception
* An overall lowered visual efficiency, making more errors
Manage your workstation
Since it is impossible not to work on a computer, you have to manage your work environment to minimise stress on your eyes. The South African Optometric Association advises the following:
* Place your computer where you can look well beyond the screen every few minutes (i.e. not in front of a wall)
* Computer screens should be slightly below eye level (about 20 degrees). Documents being read should be at the same level as the screen
* Your screen should not be closer than 500 mm from your eyes
* Use indirect lightening at your workstation to minimise a glare from your screen. If it is possible, lighting should be beamed upwards to diffuse against the ceiling. If not, fit fluorescent ceiling lights with diffusers. Anti-glare screens are also available
* Use shaded desk lamps if necessary, and move your lamp if it reflects on the screen
* Don't place your computer too close to a window to avoid glare. Match as closely as possible the brightness of your surroundings with that of the computer screen. However, the contrast between the characters on the screen and the screen background should be high
* Adjust the computer contrast and brightness to achieve the most comfortable viewing level. These adjustments must be made at different times during the day if the work environment is influenced by altering levels of daylight
* Maintain your computer to avoid a reduction in brightness, contrast, flickering and legibility
* Clean the screen regularly as it attracts dust that reflects
Good work habits are also important. Look up and away from your computer screen every few minutes and take frequent short breaks (every 10v15 minutes). Most importantly, have a comprehensive optometric examination annually and make sure that your optometrist knows about your current computer use.
H. Perold
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