What is Computer Vision Syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is believed to affect more than 70% of people who use computers. Becoming a real occupational hazard for those who use computers daily.

So many people use computers on a daily basis and have to stare at a screen for hours at a time. Resulting in a syndrome that can have an impact on your vision and eye health.

You may be wondering what is computer vision syndrome and how you treat it. Keep reading to find out what causes computer vision and what you can do to fix it.

Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer vision syndrome occurs when you are looking at digital screens for a long period of time. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a computer; it could be a tablet or phone screen also.

Many people do not blink as often when looking at screens, further enflaming computer vision. The more people look at screens, the worse their symptoms will become.

Computer vision often occurs because you are not blinking enough or spend too much time looking at screens. These screens make your eyes work harder, making them fatigued.

If you wear glasses or contacts, this could be even worse as your eyes are working very hard. If your prescription isn’t right, this will also make the problem worse.

Most people refer to computer vision as being a strain on the eyes. As your eyes become overworked from having to focus so hard for long periods of time.

This is why many people who work with computers develop this syndrome. They may have to look at screens all day, making it hard for their eyes to get the rest that they need.

Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome

There are many computer vision syndrome symptoms that you may experience. Most people have similar symptoms, but certain ones may be worse for you.

This usually includes a blurry vision and dry eyes specifically. Many experiences these symptoms even when they aren’t looking at a screen.

Your eyes may water often or feel itchy as well if they are tired and irritated. Many experience headaches as well as red eyes that look inflamed.

These symptoms can lead to other issues like eyes that feel like you have grit in them. Dryness can be very irritating and make it harder for your eyes to focus on objects.

These symptoms may even imitate the symptoms of you needing an updated eye prescription. Though it often just has to do with your eyes being fatigued and irritated.

No research has shown these symptoms to produce any permanent damage to your eyes. Though it can make day-to-day life more difficult and can lower your vision quality.

Computer Vision Syndrome Treatment Options 

If you are wondering what is computer vision syndrome, you may be looking into treatments. Though this is a frustrating issue to have, there are things that can help.

For glasses wearers, they should get specialty lenses to help counteract the strain on their eyes. You can do this by getting lenses made for those who often use digital screens.

You can also have your lenses tinted or coated to make them better for viewing screens. Different lens powers can also help by allowing your eyes to not strain themselves.

Some people also find blue light glasses useful. Even those who don’t require eyewear could benefit from getting glasses to help their eyes focus on screens.

It is also recommended that you take regular breaks to close and rest your eyes. You could even apply hot or cold compresses if your eyes are dry and irritated.

For very dry eyes, you could get eye drops for immediate relief. Some omega oil supplements may also help with chronically dry eyes due to computer vision.

How to Avoid Computer Vision Syndrome

If you work with screens a lot, you may worry about computer vision. The good thing is that there are preventative measures that you can take.

One of the most important options is the lighting you have around you. You should avoid overly bright lights that can cause a glare on the screen.

You can also adjust the lighting from the screen if you find it to be too bright. The screen should also be directly in front of you and at a comfortable distance.

Ideally, you should sit somewhere where you can have good posture, reducing tension. If you work for long hours, try taking a 20 to 30-second break to close your eyes.

Doing this every hour gives your eyes some rest from having to focus on a screen. Applying eye drops regularly can also help if your eyes are dry and feel irritated.

You can also turn off nearby fans as they can irritate your eyes. Any kind of dryness will further inflame computer vision, making your eyes feel worse.

Any computer vision syndrome treatment you choose should be done regularly. You need to take good care of your eyes if you have to focus on any kind of screen often.

What Is Computer Vision Syndrome and Treatment Options

Computer vision is something that affects many people. With so many jobs centering around screens, more and more people are having issues with blurry vision and dry eyes.

Though there are several ways that you can try to counteract these issues and prevent them from worsening.

Are you wondering what is computer vision syndrome and what you can do about it? Contact us today at EZ Optical for treatment options for computer vision.