| Before print was invented there were no | | | | problems mentioned earlier there are also vision |
| spectacles, no eye glasses - they were invented | | | | problems including blurred vision (both near and |
| in response to the visual problems caused by the | | | | far), difficulty changing focus, double vision, glare, |
| printed word. The digital world is placing new and | | | | flickering sensations, and temporary changes in |
| different demands on our eyes. Pixels demand a | | | | color perception. And there is general discomfort |
| different focus from the eye than print. | | | | including headaches, neck tension or pain, shoulder |
| Computer monitors cause eye strain (and this | | | | tension or pain, back pain, excessive fatigue, |
| includes those on PDAs, cell phones and other | | | | irritability, and drowsiness. |
| handheld electronic devices) for a number of | | | | These symptoms can be further aggravated by |
| reasons. For instance, computer monitors | | | | improper lighting conditions such as computer |
| continuously refresh, or redraw, the image a user | | | | glare, dry, hot air generated by computer |
| sees. Paper, on the other hand, is a static display | | | | monitors hitting the eyes, and dust particles |
| medium; once drawn, the image does not change. | | | | emitted by the electrostatic field surrounding |
| As the computer monitor refreshes, the eye | | | | most computer monitors. |
| compensates for the quickly changing imaging. | | | | How to Deal With CVS (which includes computer |
| The net result is that the eye strains to maintain | | | | monitors eye strain) |
| constant focus on the screen. | | | | There is one simple way to reduce all these |
| Pixels don't have contrast or well-defined edges. | | | | symptoms. And there are many alternative |
| They are bright at the center and diminish in | | | | routes. You can easily find lists of 5, 6, 7, 10 |
| intensity toward their edges, which makes it very | | | | ways to reduce computer eye strain from using |
| difficult for the eyes to maintain focus and remain | | | | eye drops to the 20/20/20 rule (look at |
| fixed onto these images. Printed materials are | | | | something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every |
| typically dense black characters with well-defined | | | | 20 minutes). They all work to some degree...if you |
| edges against a white background and our eyes | | | | can remember to apply them consistently. |
| can easily maintain focus on these. | | | | I can imagine similar advice for dealing with sun |
| Our eyes tend to stay open for long periods of | | | | damage to eyes before we started using |
| time when focusing on a computer monitor, they | | | | sunglasses - go into shaded areas regularly; hold |
| can dry out quickly, causing damage. Our eyes | | | | hand up to block sunlight directly hitting the eyes; |
| also strain to regain focus. This continuous flexing | | | | remember to wear a hat with a brim half the |
| of the eyes' focusing muscles creates fatigue and | | | | length of your face when out in the sun. But being |
| the burning, tired-eyes feeling that is so common | | | | the problem solvers we are we came up with the |
| after spending time in front of the computer. | | | | solution of sunglasses. |
| We tend to blink less often than normal while | | | | Similarly, in the digital world, the simple solution is |
| viewing a computer monitor or concentrating on | | | | to wear digital eyewear when working at a |
| near objects. Staring and decreased frequency of | | | | computer monitor or using an electronic handheld |
| blinking can cause the eyes to dry out leading to | | | | device. Digital eyewear will eliminate the constant |
| redness, burning sensation, soreness, stinging, | | | | refocusing effort that the eyes go through when |
| itchiness, and dryness. Focusing the eyes on a | | | | viewing the screen. 75% of computer users need |
| computer monitor for uninterrupted periods of | | | | computer eyeglasses because our eyes react |
| time causes CVS (Computer Vision Syndrome). | | | | differently to the stimulus of a computer |
| CVS refers to the visual problems experienced by | | | | according to the Macular Degeneration Support |
| computer use. CVS encompasses different | | | | organization. |
| symptoms, and treatments. In addition to the eye | | | | |