COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME (CVS)

Computer vision syndrome is a type of eye strain that happens when you spend a lot of time using computers, smartphones or other digital devices. Computer vision syndrome isn’t serious, but it’s uncomfortable. Treatment can help manage your symptoms. Over the long term, though, recurrent symptoms can affect work productivity That’s why it’s important to learn what puts you at risk and how you can prevent or manage this common problem.

• Eyestrain

• Blurred or double vision

• Dry, gritty, or burning eyes

• Eye redness

• Difficulty refocusing your eyes

• Increased sensitivity to light 

• Neck and shoulder pain, Back pain, and Stiffness and discomfort. 

• Headaches, eye fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. 

• Medical History: The doctor will ask about your symptoms, daily screen time, lighting conditions, and computer setup to identify potential contributing factors. 

• Comprehensive Eye Examination: This is the main diagnostic tool, which includes several specific tests: 

• Visual Acuity Test: Measures how well you can see letters or numbers on a chart at a specific distance. 

• Refraction Test: Determines if you need corrective lenses (like glasses) for distance or near vision, including farsightedness, near-sightedness, or astigmatism. 

• Eye Movement and Focusing Tests: Evaluates how well your eye muscles work together and how your eyes focus, move, and adapt to different light conditions. 

• Tear Film Evaluation: Assesses the quality of your tears, as reduced blinking can lead to dry eyes, a common symptom of CVS. 

• Excessive screen time: Using digital devices for more than a few hours daily increases risk. 

• Lack of breaks: Not following the 20-20-20 rule (looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes). 

• Infrequent blinking: Staring at screens can cause you to blink less, leading to dry, irritated eyes. 

• Poor posture: Sitting in a bent-back position or at an improper height can lead to neck, shoulder, and eye strain. 

• Incorrect viewing distance: Sitting too close or too far from the screen can strain the eyes. 

• Poor lighting: Working in dimly lit rooms or with a bright light source behind you.

• Screen glare: Reflections from windows or overhead lights on the screen can cause strain. 

• Pre-existing vision problems: Uncorrected near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) make it harder for eyes to focus. 

• Existing conditions like dry eye or convergence insufficiency increase susceptibility to CVS. 

• Age: Older individuals may experience more discomfort as eye flexibility decreases with age. 

• Contact lens use: Can increase risk and discomfort for some individuals

• 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to relax your eye muscles. 

• Proper workstation setup: Position your screen correctly, adjust screen brightness, and minimize glare from windows or lights. 

• Frequent blinking: Make a conscious effort to blink more often to keep your eyes moist. 

• Eye care: Get regular eye check-ups to ensure your prescription is up-to-date and to discuss options for computer-specific glasses if needed. 

• Ergonomics: Maintain good posture, and ensure your computer is at an appropriate distance and angle from your eyes. 

• Use artificial tears: Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops can help relieve dry eye symptoms. 

• Reduce your screen time. Try to use digital devices for fewer than four hours per day.

• Take breaks often. If you rely on digital devices for work or other reasons, aim to take a 2-5-minutes break every two hours. During that break, don’t look at any screens. Plus, to give your eyes a break from close-up vision, try the 20-20-20 method. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for about 20 seconds.

• Find a comfortable position. Set up an ergonomic workstation. This can help you avoid straining your eyes from bending forward or stretching your neck to see your screen.

• Limit reflections and glare. Light from windows or bright lamps can reflect on your computer screen and cause eye strain. Lower your blinds if there’s bright sunlight coming in. 

• Adjust screen brightness and contrast. The brightness of your screen should be about the same as the level of brightness in the room around you. This might mean you need to adjust your screen’s brightness depending on the time of day. A screen contrast of around 60% to 70% should feel comfortable on your eyes.

• Make text bigger. Don’t try to read super small fonts. If a font isn’t at least size 12, zoom in. Also, when possible, adjust your settings so you’re reading dark print on a light background.