Save Your Vision Month: Healthy Vision at the Computer

Categories: Blindness, Computer Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, Eye Exams, Eye Health, Eye Problems, Eyeglasses, LASIK, Low Vision, The Human Eye, Visually Impaired - Tags: Appointments, blurred vision, Cataracts, Contact Lenses, Contacts, electronic eyeglasses, Eye Exam, Facebook, intense eye pain, macular degeneration

People who sit in front of a computer for long periods of time often encounter a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Headaches, neck strain, backaches and wrist pain are common, but, sadly, the most prevalent symptoms of prolonged computer use-eye strain, blurred vision and dry eye-are often overlooked. In fact, eye and vision problems are the most frequently reported health care problems among computer users.

Computer Vision Syndrome

These symptoms contribute to computer vision syndrome, which the American Optometric Association defines as “the complex of eye and vision problems related to near work that are experienced during or related to computer use.”

Sitting at a computer generally causes a person to look straight ahead for long stretches, work in a dry office or home environment, and to blink less often. These factors can lead to vision problems. Additionally, computer use requires specific vision skills, which add further demands to the visual system and contribute to eye and vision discomfort. These skills include:

Ocular motility — the ability of the eyes to move in various positions.

Accommodation — the ability of the eyes to focus clearly at various distances.

Vergence — The ability to move the eyes in (convergence) or out (divergence).

Computer work places various demands on the visual system. Each of these factors can play a part in computer vision syndrome.

Screen resolution — Better resolution offers greater clarity and usually leads to improved comfort. Adjust the resolution to the highest resolution your monitor will support. If the increased screen resolution makes items too small, try increasing the font size (DPI) to compensate.

Screen contrast — Adjust the contrast between the characters on the monitor and the background so the letters are easily read. Adjust the brightness of the monitor to an intensity that is comfortable to your eyes–not too bright and not too dim. Adjust both brightness and contrast for the best clarity.

Screen glare and reflections — Minimize reflected glare on your monitor by using window treatments, dimmer switches on lights and glare reduction filters. Look for glare reduction filters that have received the American Optometric Association Seal of Acceptance. Proper adjustment should eliminate any reflected images from the monitor screen. To reduce glare, eliminate bright light sources from your peripheral vision and position your monitor perpendicular to windows or other bright light sources.

Image refresh rates and flicker — A higher refresh rate for your monitor is best. The image on the screen should not flicker at all. (This is not a concern with LCDs.)

Working distances and angles — It is important to work at a distance that is comfortable for you and where the image on the screen is clear. Having to move your head to an awkward angle to see the screen clearly suggests that your prescription may need adjustment.

General eyeglass prescription may not be adequate — Computers are usually further and higher than a typical reading task. Glasses for most people wearing bifocals are not adjusted for this new distance or angle and therefore often are not adequate for using the computer.

Repetitive and stressful tasks — Difficult tasks are challenging. Don’t forget to take occasional breaks and let the eyes look far away while resting.

While decreasing time spent at a computer may not be an option, there are ways to maximize healthy vision for comfortable use of the computer.

Have a regular comprehensive eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy and that you have the correct eyeglass or contact lens prescription (if necessary). Be certain to tell your optometrist about the computer work you do.

Wear glasses that are specifically designed to function comfortably at the computer. The lenses you wear for day-to-day activities may not be the best for working at the computer.

• Rest the eyes
• Blink forcefully
• Use a humidifier
• Instill artificial tears

After you have had a comprehensive eye examination, there are a number of things that you can do to arrange and use the elements of your workstation to eliminate or minimize discomfort.

Is Your Work Station Properly Arranged?

       Feet should be flat on the floor (or on a slightly angled foot rest) with knees bent close to or greater than 90 degrees.

Chair seat should support the legs without excessive pressure on the back of the thighs.

The back should be snug against the seat to fit your spinal contour. Thigh-to-trunk angle should be 90 degrees or greater.

Wrists and hands should extend nearly straight from the elbow to the home row of the keyboard.

A commonly preferred work surface height for keyboard use is about 26″ as opposed to the conventional 29″ of most tables or desks.

Place the monitor 20″-26″ from your eyes, depending on the size of the monitor and individual vision conditions.

The monitor and keyboard should be straight ahead.

The top of the monitor should be slightly below horizontal eye level. Tilt the top of the monitor away from you at a 10 degree to 20 degree angle. The center of the monitor should be 10 degrees to 20 degrees below your eyes. This is 4?-9? below your eyes at a distance of 24″

Keep the monitor free of fingerprints and dust. Both can reduce clarity.

Place document holders close to the screen within the same viewing distance. Keep the keyboard and monitor in line.

Adjust the keyboard tilt angle so that wrists are straight.

Although the visual system faces considerable challenges when using a computer, most issues can be solved. Remember that problems with the use of the computer cause needless discomfort and may rob productivity. Heeding the suggestions made here along with those made by your doctor of optometry, will enable you to use your computer comfortably and productively.

This article is from the website of the American Optometric Association, Save Your Vision Month: Healthy Vision at the Computer, http://www.aoa.org/x4670.xml.

Corneal Abrasions, or Scratches, of the Eye

Categories: Corneal Abrasions, Eye Emergency - Tags: abrasion, blurred vision, cornea, corneal abrasions, debilitating eye pain, eye emergency, intense eye pain, light sensitivity, scratched eye, watery eyes

So, this is my very first blog ever and what I have on my mind is corneal abrasions, commonly called a scratched eye.  Scratches on the eye cause intense pain, blurred vision, watery eyes, and light sensitivity. I see an average of one patient a week with this, and this week it was my turn to be the patient. While I always feel like I empathize with patients, this week I really understand how painful and debilitating eye pain is. When you are in this kind of pain, it is hard to think of anything else. This is NOT the time to head to the emergency room! Instead, call your Optometrist even if it is after hours. Common treatments are:

• Drops to prevent infection
• Drops to keep the eye moist
• Drops or a bandage contact lens for pain.

Expect to see your eye doctor once a day until healing is established.

Once the pain has been managed you may start wondering how did this happen, and when will it heal.  Generally speaking, the eye heals very fast.  The cornea (the part of the eye a contact lens rests on) has many layers.  When the layers are disrupted or abruptly removed an abrasion is formed.  Causes can be mechanical (ex: tree branch in eye), chemical (ex: soap in eye), or from dehydration (ex: extremely dry eyes).  Most abrasions are completely healed in seven days; many times the intense pain is only for the first 24 to 48 hours.  Good clear vision takes the longest to heal.  One key point to remember is it is very important to keep the eyes wet so that the abrasion does not re-occur.

Most people, when this happens or any other minor eye condition, immediately think to go the their family physician to be seen. You should absolutely come to see your eye doctor first. Sometimes there may be additional problems that the or she is just not equipped to handle and will refer you to us anyways. Skip the extra medical bill and just come see us first.

Remember us next time you have any eye problems. Call us anytime – during working AND non-working hours for this or ANY eye emergency: 850.479.7379.

Dr. Jill Anderson has been practicing optometry since 1995. She had her own practice from 1997 – 2010 and has recently joined us here at Sight & Sun Eyeworks. She received her degree as a Doctor of Optometry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. She is a highly skilled Contact Lens Specialist.