Do you get frequent headaches or eyestrain from staring at your computer monitor? Do you find it difficult to focus on distant objects afterwards? If your answer is yes, then you might have Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It is a serious problem which affects millions worldwide who spend endless hours in front of a computer everyday.
Symptoms Of CVS
- Neck pain
- Blurred vision
- Dry, irritated eyes
- Fatigue
- Difficulty in refocusing the eye
These symptoms are aggravated by conditions like
- Air moving past the eyes (direct air form the fan, Overhead vents)
- Improper lighting (Glare or bright overhead lighting)
Causes of CVS
The main cause is decrease in blinking reflex while working endlessly focusing on your computer screens without any short breaks. in human eyes. For human beings, the normal blink rate is 16-20 per minute. For persons working on the computer screen, it is observed that the blink rate decreases to 6-8 blinks per minute. This finally leads to dry eyes.
Also constant focusing on computer screens puts strain on the ciliary muscles of your eye. This leads to asthenopia. You feel tiredness in your eyes after long hours of work. People who are in the age group of 30-40 years, start to develop early presbyopia. They find it difficult to properly focus on nearby objects after working on the computer for long hours.
Therapy Of CVS
One of the major symptom is dry eye that is targeted in the therapy of CVS. To minimise the effects of dry eye, over-the-counter artificial tear solutions are quite useful. Proper rest to the eye is advised for eye strain. Consciously blinking every now and then is recommended for replenishing the tear film. It prevents dehydration which causes dry eyes.
Loss in vision is rectified by wearing a plus-powered (+1.00 to +1.50) over-the-counter pair of eyeglasses. It helps the patient in regaining their ability to focus on near objects.
