Computer vision syndrome
Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition, often temporary, resulting from focusing the eyes on a computer or other display device for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time. Some symptoms of CVS include headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, redness in the eyes, fatigue, eye strain, dry eyes, irritated eyes, double vision, vertigo/dizziness, polyopia, and difficulty refocusing the eyes. These symptoms can be further aggravated by improper lighting conditions (i.e. glare  or bright overhead lighting) or air moving past the eyes (e.g. overhead vents, direct air from a fan).
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, computer vision syndrome affects about 90% of the people who spend three hours or more a day at a computer. Another study in Malaysia was conducted on 795 college students aged between 18 and 25. The students experienced headaches along with eyestrain, with 89.9% of the students surveyed feeling any type of symptom of CVS.
Dry eye is a major symptom that is targeted in the therapy of CVS. The use of over-the-counter artificial-tear solutions can reduce the effects of dry eye in CVS.
Asthenopic symptoms in the eye are responsible for much of the morbidity in CVS. Proper rest to the eye and its muscles is recommended to relieve the associated eye strain. Various catch-phrases have been used to spread awareness about giving rest to the eyes while working on computers. A routinely recommended approach is to consciously blink the eyes every now and then (this helps replenish the tear film) and to look out the window to a distant object or to the sky—doing so provides rest to the ciliary muscles. One of the catch phrases is the "20 20 20 rule": every 20 mins, focus the eyes on an object 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds. This basically gives a convenient distance and timeframe for a person to follow the advice from the optometrist and ophthalmologist. Otherwise, the patient is advised to close his/her eyes (which has a similar effect) for 20 seconds, at least every half hour.
Decreased focusing capability is mitigated by wearing a small plus-powered (+1.00 to +1.50) over-the-counter pair of eyeglasses. Wearing these eyeglasses helps such patients regain their ability to focus on near objects. People who are engaged in other occupations—such as tailors engaged in embroidery—can experience similar symptoms and can be helped by these glasses. A Pacific University research study of 36 participants found significant differences in irritation or burning of the eyes, tearing, or watery eyes, dry eyes, and tired eyes, that were each improved by filtering lenses versus placebo lenses.
- List of repetitive strain injury software (break reminders)
- Repetitive strain injury
- Visual looming syndrome
- Izquierdo, Natalio J.; Townsend, William. "Computer Vision Syndrome". Medscape Reference: Drugs, Diseases & Procedures. WebMD LLC. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- Becoming a Squinter Nation, Wall St. Journal, August 17, 2010[unreliable medical source?]
- Reddy, Chandrasekhara; Low (2013). "Computer vision syndrome: a study of knowledge and practices in university students". Neoalese Journal of Ophthalmology 5 (2). Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- Kundart, James; John R. Hayes; Yu-Chi Tai; Jim Sheedy (2007). "Gunnar Optiks Study: Accommodation and Symptoms (2007)". Pacific University Oregon: Common Knowledge. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
- "Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)". American Optometric Association. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-04-25.
- AllAboutVision.com page on CVS
- Zheng Yan, Liang Hu, Hao Chen and Fan Lu (September 2008). "Computer Vision Syndrome: A widely spreading but largely unknown epidemic among computer users" (PDF). Computers in Human Behavior 24 (5): 2026–2042. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2007.09.004.