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Eyestrain
is the most common weariness that most computer users all over the
world experience. A number of symptoms associated with eyestrain have
been experienced and proved worldwide. Lets have a look at some of the
symptoms related to vision here:
Visual fatigue
Blurred or double vision
Burning and watering eyes
Headaches and frequent changes in prescription glasses
This is now called under the nickname, computer vision syndrome.
American
Optometric Association defines, Computer Vision Syndrome as A complex
of eye and vision problems which are experienced during and related to
computer use.
There
is a basic problem with the prolonged viewing of computer screens. The
nature of screen characters and images necessitates subtle but
continual refocusing. If one has to regularly switch the attention
between a close screen and more distant workspace objects things become
more complicated. Computer Vision Syndrome results from this change in
dynamics.
Another cause is that the average person blinks approximately 4 times
per minute, far less than the natural rate of 22 blinks per minute.
This lower blink rate causes eye moisture to evaporate, resulting in a
"dry eye" condition. The symptoms of dry eye are sensations such as
itching, burning, blurring, heavy eyelids, fatigue and double vision.
There is no evidence yet that computer work causes permanent eye
damage. But the temporary discomfort that may occur can reduce
productivity, cause lost work time, and reduce job satisfaction and
self-confidence of the user.
In most cases eyestrain results from visual fatigue or glare from
bright windows or strong light sources, light reflecting off the
display screen, or poor display screen contrast.
Methods to Avoid Eyestrain
Give ample exercise to the eyes by periodically focusing on objects at varying distances
Blink the eyes regularly
Try to keep the air around you moist. For instance, you can use plants,
open pans of water or a humidifier (spider plants are said to be
particularly good for this and removing chemical vapors from the air)
Adjust the screen height/seating so that while you are comfortably
seated, your eyes are in line with the top of the monitor screen
Adjust the brightness control on your monitor for comfort. Focusing on
the monitor for a long time with full brightness can cause eyestrain.
Adjust the contrast on your monitor to make the characters distinct from the background
Adjust the refresh rate of your monitor to stop it flickering
You need to position monitors in order to avoid glare (e.g. not directly in front of windows)
Keep your monitor screen clean
Keep the screen and document holder (if you use one) at the same distance from your eyes
Try to place the reference materials as close to the screen as possible
You need to service, repair, or replace monitors that flicker or have insufficient clarity
Do regular eye testing at least once every 2 years and more frequently
if necessary - especially if you are experiencing eye problems related
to using display equipment. Specify the distance from your eyes to the
monitor to your optician and get information regarding special lenses
or the use of bifocals.
Wear rigid rather than soft contact lens
Learn more about Healthy Computing habits.
Summary
In most organizations, computers are an essential tool to get the work
done. Though it creates quite a lot of problems, with the proper
equipment, ergonomic workstation design, proper techniques and working
practices, the risk of problems can be greatly reduced. The law places
certain responsibilities firmly with the employer; however, as
individuals there are practical measures we all can and should take to
avoid harming our health.
Do you have a condition such as computer vision syndrome, amblyopia
(lazy eye), strabismus (turned eye), or a brain injury? Vision plays a
critical role in our learning, working, and recreation. Vision is more
than just having 20/20 eyesight. Vision can be defined as the ability
to take in information through our eyes and process the information so
that it has meaning.
It
is very important that our visual system is efficient because
two-thirds of all information we receive is visual. About, 75%-90% of
classroom learning comes through our visual system. The visual system
is composed of 20 visual abilities. Lets have a look at these visual
abilities:
- Distance
and near acuity: The ability to see clearly at a far distance such as
20 feet, and the ability to see clearly at a near distance such as 16
inches.
- Accommodation: The ability to adjust focus on objects with various distances.
3.
Binocularity: The ability to use both eyes as a team. Proper eye
alignment and coordination is necessary so that the eyes
can unite two images into one (fusion), which allows an individual to
perceive a single three-dimensional image (depth perception,
stereopsis).
- Oculomotor
skills: The ability to quickly and accurately move our eyes. These
skills allow us to move our eyes so we can direct and maintain a steady
visual attention on an object (fixation), move our eyes smoothly from
point to point as in reading (saccades), and efficiently track a moving
object (pursuits).
- Peripheral vision: The ability to see or be aware of what is surrounding us (our side vision).
- Visual-sensory
integration: Once the visual data is gathered, it is processed and
combined in the brain with information from hearing (auditory-visual
integration), balance (bilateral integration/gross-motor), posture, and
movement (eye hand coordination, visual-motor integration).
- Visual
perceptual skills: The ability to organize and interpret information
that is seen and give it meaning is called visual perceptual skills.
These information-processing skills include figure-ground, form
constancy, spatial relations, visual closure, visual discrimination,
visual memory, and visualization.
- Figure-ground:
The ability to recognize distinct shapes from their background, such as
objects in a picture, or letters on a chalkboard is called
figure-ground.
- Form
constancy: The ability to recognize two objects that have the same
shape but different size or position is called form constancy. This
ability is needed to tell the difference between "b" and "d", "p" and
"q", "m" and "w" are some of these.
- Spatial
relations: The ability to judge the relative position of one object to
another (directionality) and the internal awareness of the two sides of
the body (laterality) is called spatial relations. These skills allow
the individual to develop the concepts of right, left, front, back, up,
and down. This is needed in reading and mathematics.
- Visual
closure: The ability to identify or recognize a symbol or object when
the entire object is not visible is called visual closure.
- Visual
discrimination: The ability to discriminate between visible likeness
and differences in size, shape, pattern, form, position, and color is
known as visual discrimination. Such as the ability to distinguish
between similar words like "ran" and "run".
- Visual memory: The ability to recall and use visual information from the past is called visual memory.
- Visualization:
The ability to create or alter new images in the mind is visualization.
It is needed in reading and playing sports.
The
basic skills used to perform tasks such as reading and using a computer
are these visual abilities. According to the American Optometric
Association, "Among school-age children, vision disorders affect one in
every four. While many of these patients have refractive errors (myopia
(nearsightedness), hyperemia (farsightedness), and/or astigmatism)
commonly treated by compensatory lenses, some have additional problems
in the functioning of the vision system that are most appropriately
treated with optometric vision therapy". It has been found that about
40% of all Americans have functional vision deficits. Such kinds of
vision problems not only affect an individuals ability to perform
tasks, but it can also affect his/her self-esteem as well.
Different visual abilities such as distance and near acuity,
accommodation (eye focusing), binocularity (eye coordination/eye
teaming), oculomotor (eye movement), peripheral vision, and visual
perceptual skills such as figure-ground, form constancy, spatial
relations, visual closure, visual discrimination, visual memory, and
visualization are required when a person does the reading task. People,
who suffer from Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, or Attention Deficit
Disorder, face yet another obstacle when poor visual abilities are
present. Sometimes children who are having visual problems may be
mislabeled as Learning Disabled (LD), Dyslexic, Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD), or Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
(ADHD).
Visual abilities such as visual acuity, accommodation (eye focusing),
binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming), oculomotor skills (eye
movement), eye hand coordination, depth perception, peripheral vision,
and visualization are all very important skills that are used in sports
such as archery, baseball, basketball, football, golf, gymnastics,
hockey, racquetball, shooting, skiing, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.
Computer vision syndrome is
a condition that affects many computer users. Studies show that
approximately 70% of computer workers have vision problems. The
symptoms of COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME include eyestrain, dry or burning
eyes, blurred vision, headaches, double vision, distorted color vision,
and neck and backaches. This condition can be due to various factors.
One factor is poor visual skills such as accommodative (eye focusing)
skills or binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming) skills. Another
factor is the tendency of computer users to stare at monitors for long
periods without changing eye focus from time to time. The distance
between a computer user and a monitor is another factor. Room lighting,
monitor glare, screen color, print color, and print size can also be
contributing factors to this condition.
Medical conditions such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (turned
eye), and brain injuries can have a major affect on your vision.
Amblyopia causes reduced acuity in the affected eye, poor eye hand
coordination, and poor depth perception. Strabismus can cause double
vision and poor depth perception. Brain Injuries, such as Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI), Mild Acquired Brain Injury, Mild Closed Head
injury, Post-Concussive Syndrome, Cervical Trauma Syndrome, Post
Traumatic Vision Syndrome, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, and Cerebral
Vascular Accident, can cause a reduced visual field (reduced peripheral
vision), double vision, and other vision problems.
Symptoms of a Vision Problem
Reading and/or using a computer causes eyes to tear, itch, or hurt.
Jerky eye movements.
Eyes that cross or turn in or out.
Squinting, eye rubbing, or excessive blinking.
Blurred vision.
Light sensitivity after reading.
Double vision.
Headaches, dizziness, nausea, or fatigues easily after reading.
Head tilting, closing or blocking one eye when reading.
Skips lines or loses place when reading.
Difficulty tracking moving objects.
Misaligning letters or numbers.
Unusual posture or moving head closely to see book or paper.
Avoidance of near work such as reading.
While reading, you feel that words, letters, or lines run together or jump around.
Difficulty concentrating or comprehending reading material.
Persistent reversals of numbers, letters, or words after second grade.
Writes crooked or poorly spaced.
Poor eye hand coordination.
Inconsistent or poor sports performance.
Optometric Vision Therapy
Vision
therapy, an optometric specialty treatment, has been clinically shown
to be an effective treatment for accommodative disorders
(non-presbyopic eye focusing problems), binocular dysfunction
(inefficient eye teaming), ocular motility dysfunctions (eye movement
disorders), strabismus (turned eye), amblyopia (lazy eye), and
perceptual-motor dysfunction. Many vision disorders can be treated with
corrective lenses such as glasses or contacts, while other disorders
may be most effectively treated with optometric vision therapy or with
a combination of the two.
Visual skills such as accommodation (eye focusing), binocularity (eye
coordination/eye teaming), oculomotor (eye movement skills), and eye
hand coordination are neuro-muscular abilities. These visual skills are
controlled by the muscles inside and outside the eye and are networked
with the brain. Neuro-muscular abilities are learned and are
developmental in nature. There is a general misconception that weak
visual skills will go away with time. But, studies show that it has to
be treated properly. Binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming),
oculomotor (eye movement skills), and eye hand coordination can be
retrained to perform more efficiently at almost any age. Accommodation
(eye focusing) can be improved until the persons age is 40.
Optometric vision therapy is a set of procedures that are
individualized and prescribed by an optometrist to teach a patient how
to improve a weak or nonexistent visual skill or processing skill
through the use of lenses, prisms, special computer programs, and other
treatment techniques. This is a treatment to improve a specific vision
disorder; it is not a treatment for dyslexia, learning disabilities, or
attention deficit disorder.
Weak visual and processing skills reduce the individuals ability to
quickly and accurately comprehend the reading material.
Reading and learning become easier after the skills are improved through the treatment of vision therapy.
The visual abilities, which are needed in sports, can be trained
through vision therapy to reach their maximum potential. Computer
vision syndrome may be improved by vision therapy, prescription
glasses, or modifications to the workstation. Users can seek the help
of an optometrist to determine if their accommodative (eye focusing) or
binocularity (eye coordination/eye teaming) skills are adequate.
Research studies have shown that children and adults with amblyopia
(lazy eye) and strabismus (turned eye) may be able to improve their
visual performance and function through vision therapy. For many years,
it was thought that amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (turned eye)
was only amenable to treatment during the "critical period". This is
the period up to age seven or eight years. However, recent research has
demonstrated that effective treatment can occur at any age, but the
length of the treatment period increases dramatically, if this
condition has existed for a prolonged time prior to treatment.
The prognosis for strabismus can vary from very poor to excellent
depending on the type of deviation, type and number of visual
adaptations (suppression, abnormal retinal correspondence, or
amblyopia), duration of condition, and prior interventions. A study by
Dr. Gary Etting, O.D., F.C.O.V.D. in 1978
showed that 57% of patients with constant exotropia and 82% with
constant exotropia had a functional and cosmetic cure with vision
therapy. The cure rate was 100% for patients with intermittent
esotropia and 85% for patients with intermittent exotropia. Individuals
with mild or no amblyopia, normal retinal correspondence, some depth
perception, and a deviation that remains essentially the same in all
positions of gaze will have a better prognosis than someone who does
not. If you want to find out whether this would be an effective
treatment for you, do consult an optometrist who specializes in vision
therapy.
People suffering from brain injuries and certain types of vision
problems can benefit a lot from vision therapy. The Neuro-Optometric
Rehabilitation Association International, Inc. (NORA) provides more
information about various treatment options available for those with
vision problems and brain injuries.
Vision therapy is a very old technique. Physicians in the mid-1800s
originally introduced many of the techniques that are used today.
Modern Optometric Vision Therapy was pioneered in the
United States
in 1928 by optometrist A. M. Skeffington. Throughout the years, vision
therapy has been called various names such as visual training,
orthoptics, or eye exercises.
A few insurance
companies cover optometric vision therapy, if it is addressing a
condition that is classified as a disease such as convergence
insufficiency. Vision therapy falls under the area of Major Medical.
Insurance companies classify vision therapy as .Orthoptics. with
a CPT (procedure) code of 92065. If this treatment procedure is
covered, the percentage of coverage and the number of sessions covered
can vary greatly. Vision therapy is not generally covered by vision
care plans that simply cover eye examinations, eyeglasses, or contact
lenses.
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Next: Other Computer Hazards
Other pages on healthy computing: Awkward Postures
chairs Desk Exercises
Keyboard Lighting Monitors Mouse Msd
Telephones Ventilation Work Station Setup
Note: While every care is taken
to provide medically accurate and up to date information in this web
site, it is to be noted that this advice is not intended to replace the
advice of your physician. Before undertaking the advice contained in
this web site, you should consult a medical professional.
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