As technology continues to grow and be a big part of our daily lives, you may find yourself spending a lot of time in front of a computer screen. Whether you are needing to stare at the computer for work or personal use, prolonged staring has several effects on your eyes. This is called Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVC. CVC describes the host of eye problems that occur from extended screen use. Although there is no real proof that computer screens can cause permanent eye damage, CVC can cause an array of undesirable symptoms.
The Most Common Symptoms
After spending several hours hunched over your computer, it is likely that you’ll notice your eyes start to feel different. Prolonged use causes dry eye, eye strain, eye fatigue, and blurred vision. All these symptoms can hinder you from being able to see properly and can cause severe discomfort. These symptoms will most likely not go away unless your eyes are given an extended rest. These symptoms are intensified when your eyes have poor lighting, are from an improper viewing distance, poor posture, uncorrected vision problems, and from the screen glare.
Other Potential Effects
CVC can also cause neck and shoulder pain along with headaches. The headaches can derive from the eye strain created by the computer screen. Therefore, overall work performance can even be affected due to further symptoms.
The TakeAway
The extent to which the visual symptoms affect someone suffering from CVC depends on two factors. The first being your visual abilities, as those who have uncorrected vision may increase effects. CVC’s symptoms also vary depending on the amount of time spent staring at a screen.
Although staring at a computer screen can give your eyes undesirable symptoms and possibly general discomfort, that doesn’t mean you have to stop looking at screens altogether. Most of these symptoms are completely preventable and easily treated. Remember to take occasional breaks from the screen, while making sure to blink a few times. This will give your eyes a quick rest and prevent them from drying up. Also, position the screen so you are at least 20 inches away from it. Lastly, use eye drops when your eyes start to become irritated while you are using the computer.