Computers and Vision Problems
Computers have made life easier for man but they have also bred a lot of unfounded fears.
One popular belief is that computer work can damage the eyes. It's easy to understand why some people think so. Millions of people sit for hours in front of computer monitors or video display terminals (VDTs), prompting the prophets of doom to point out the risk of eye injury and other health problems.
At first glance, the pessimists appear to be right as a study made by Dr. Arthur Frank of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine shows. Frank's two-and-a-half-year study of computer users covered more than a thousand employees of the United Press International, the Associated Press, and newspapers in St. Louis, Memphis, Toronto, Vancouver, Honolulu and New York City.
Compared to non-users, Frank said computer users suffered more from blurred vision, eyestrain and other problems. Those who worked more often with VDTs were also more irritable, had trouble sleeping and felt overworked than other employees.
But the pessimists among us are in for a big surprise. Most of the above problems are not caused by the computer itself but by the way it is used in relation to the working environment. What's more, none of these pose any serious or long-term health effects.
"There is no scientific evidence that has linked VDT use with permanent eye damage. The problem is that VDT users tend to have uncorrected visual defects like farsightedness which they are unaware of. Under the strain of intensive VDT work, these defects can be aggravated. But many of these vision problems can be corrected by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses," according to Martin Wong, a technical consultant for Distributed Processing Systems Inc.
Eyestrain can develop if the light in your room is too bright for the computer screen which is common in many offices. The glare that comes from bright light can strain the eye muscles, causing a host of symptoms that include blurred or double vision, eye irritation, fatigue or headaches.
To remedy this problem, first take a close look at your workplace. The American Optometric Association said the light should be roughly "equivalent to a level of 30 and 50-foot candles. Lighting should be directly over the computer and fluorescent light is preferred. To further reduce glare, work in a neutral or gray-colored room or use curtains or blinds to block excess light.
Next, examine your computer monitor. Make sure it isn't placed near a window or fluorescent fixtures where light can bounce off them. If your computer is old, change it. You're less likely to suffer from eyestrain with newer models. (Next: Do computers cause cancer?)
If you're bothered by eye bags, dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes, restore your youthful looks with Eyederma. For details, visit http://www.eyederma.com/.
One popular belief is that computer work can damage the eyes. It's easy to understand why some people think so. Millions of people sit for hours in front of computer monitors or video display terminals (VDTs), prompting the prophets of doom to point out the risk of eye injury and other health problems.
At first glance, the pessimists appear to be right as a study made by Dr. Arthur Frank of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine shows. Frank's two-and-a-half-year study of computer users covered more than a thousand employees of the United Press International, the Associated Press, and newspapers in St. Louis, Memphis, Toronto, Vancouver, Honolulu and New York City.
Compared to non-users, Frank said computer users suffered more from blurred vision, eyestrain and other problems. Those who worked more often with VDTs were also more irritable, had trouble sleeping and felt overworked than other employees.
But the pessimists among us are in for a big surprise. Most of the above problems are not caused by the computer itself but by the way it is used in relation to the working environment. What's more, none of these pose any serious or long-term health effects.
"There is no scientific evidence that has linked VDT use with permanent eye damage. The problem is that VDT users tend to have uncorrected visual defects like farsightedness which they are unaware of. Under the strain of intensive VDT work, these defects can be aggravated. But many of these vision problems can be corrected by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses," according to Martin Wong, a technical consultant for Distributed Processing Systems Inc.
Eyestrain can develop if the light in your room is too bright for the computer screen which is common in many offices. The glare that comes from bright light can strain the eye muscles, causing a host of symptoms that include blurred or double vision, eye irritation, fatigue or headaches.
To remedy this problem, first take a close look at your workplace. The American Optometric Association said the light should be roughly "equivalent to a level of 30 and 50-foot candles. Lighting should be directly over the computer and fluorescent light is preferred. To further reduce glare, work in a neutral or gray-colored room or use curtains or blinds to block excess light.
Next, examine your computer monitor. Make sure it isn't placed near a window or fluorescent fixtures where light can bounce off them. If your computer is old, change it. You're less likely to suffer from eyestrain with newer models. (Next: Do computers cause cancer?)
If you're bothered by eye bags, dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes, restore your youthful looks with Eyederma. For details, visit http://www.eyederma.com/.
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