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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Be aware of signs of computer eye strain

Dave Parks Newhouse News Service

Unheeded and taken to its extreme, computer eyestrain can evolve into a condition called “spasm of the near reflex.” Relatively rare, this condition leaves eyes focused at the depth of a computer screen, locked in the work mode.

“It’s sort of the end stage of the fatigue phenomenon,” says Dr. Kent M. Daum, vice president and dean of academic affairs at the Illinois College of Optometry. “Although it’s not permanent, it can last months and years. And it’s just a devil of a thing to treat.”

Far more common is a condition called computer eye syndrome. Symptoms should provide strong signals to change work and vision habits long before spasm of the near reflex occurs, Daum said.

Daum spent 20 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, much of it researching the effect of computer use on the eyes. It was a highly relevant field of study, since 80 percent of Americans use a computer and more than 40 percent spend three or more hours a day in front of a computer screen or handheld device, according to surveys.

“It applies to almost everybody,” said Daum. “Sometimes people have the idea that ‘every time I use one of these devices I expect to be uncomfortable.’ No, you should be comfortable when you use these things.”

Red eyes, blurry vision and headaches are just a few symptoms of computer vision syndrome. It is a condition that affects not only how people feel, but also how they work, he said.

There are ways to protect eyes from computer strain, Daum said. They include:

“Get your eyes checked. “It seems kind of obvious, but a lot of people have no clue how they’re really seeing,” Daum said. So if you need glasses or contact lenses, get them.

“Older people in particular should consider a special pair of glasses when using their computers. Bifocals and computers don’t mix well. “If you use your bifocals, you sort of end up hunching forward, then you tip your head back,” Daum said.

“Be sensitive to lighting. “Computers are just set up to give you problems with reflections,” Daum said. “You shouldn’t have any windows in your field of view. You shouldn’t have any light bulbs at all. Your screen should be perfectly clear without glare.” Lighting in a room should match the computer screen. “A lot of offices are too bright,” he said.

“Follow the 20/20 rule. “Every 20 minutes look away from your computer for 20 seconds,” Daum said. “That just helps keep that focusing system pliable.”

“Remember to blink. “When you concentrate, your blink rate goes down,” Daum said. “A lot of times we’re boring in there trying to see what’s going on. Keep blinking.”

“Use good ergonomics. “People’s computers sometimes just get plopped on the desk,” Daum said. “The monitor should be straight in front of you. You should be sitting in a comfortable chair. You should have rests for your wrists and your forearms. These new ergonomic keyboards can be helpful.”

And there’s one thing that Daum didn’t find in all his research. Generally speaking, overusing your vision on a computer doesn’t cause permanent damage.

“Almost all this is reversible,” he said.