If your eyes feel irritated from prolonged screen use, you may need computer vision syndrome treatment. Symptoms like burning, dryness, and blurred vision are common. Our NYC eye care specialists can diagnose the cause and provide solutions to make your eyes feel better.
In the health section of the New York Times, Jane Brody, illustrates the growing predicament around the world as people become more reliant on computers. Among the conditions she describes, ocular symptoms such as blurred or double vision as well as burning, itching, dryness, and redness seem to be the prominent complaints with extended computer use. If your eyes feel irritated from computer / prolonged near-vision concentration, make an appointment with an eye care professional at Associate Ophthalmologists to evaluate what possibilities are available to make your eyes feel better.
What is Computer Vision Syndrome?
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) affects millions who spend three or more hours daily in front of screens. As illustrated in a New York Times report by Jane Brody, this modern condition causes significant eye strain, dryness, and discomfort that can interfere with work and daily life.
Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions
Written by: JANE E. BRODY
MAY 30, 2016
Joanne Reitano is a professor of history at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens. She writes wonderful books about the history of the city and state, and has recently been spending many hours — sometimes all day — at her computer to revise her first book, “The Restless City.” But while sitting in front of the screen, she told me, “I developed burning in my eyes that made it very difficult to work.”
After resting her eyes for a while, the discomfort abates, but it quickly returns when she goes back to the computer. “If I was playing computer games, I’d turn off the computer, but I need it to work,” the frustrated professor said.
Dr. Reitano has a condition called computer vision syndrome. She is hardly alone. It can affect anyone who spends three or more hours a day in front of computer monitors, and the population at risk is potentially huge.
Worldwide, up to 70 million workers are at risk for computer vision syndrome, and those numbers are only likely to grow. In a report about the condition written by eye care specialists in Nigeria and Botswana and published in Medical Practice and Reviews, the authors detail an expanding list of professionals at risk — accountants, architects, bankers, engineers, flight controllers, graphic artists, journalists, academicians, secretaries and students — all of whom “cannot work without the help of computer.”
And that’s not counting the millions of children and adolescents who spend many hours a day playing computer games.
Common Symptoms of CVS
Patients with CVS often experience:
- Eye irritation (burning, itching, redness)
- Dry eyes
- Blurred or double vision
- Headaches
- Neck and shoulder pain
Effective Computer Vision Syndrome Treatment
Effective treatment for computer vision syndrome starts with a comprehensive eye exam. Our specialists assess your visual system and screen habits to create a personalized plan, which may include:
- Prescription Computer Glasses: Lenses designed for your screen distance to reduce focusing strain.
- Dry Eye Management: Lubricating eye drops, lifestyle adjustments, and procedures to improve tear quality.
- Ergonomic & Behavioral Coaching: Guidance on optimal screen setup, lighting, and the “20-20-20 rule.”
The 20-20-20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Why Professional Diagnosis Matters
Blurred edges on digital pixels force your eyes to work harder, and reduced blinking dries them out. A professional evaluation can identify underlying issues like uncorrected refractive errors or meibomian gland dysfunction that worsen CVS.
Prevention and Long-Term Eye Comfort
Preventing computer-related eye strain involves both your environment and habits:
- Position your screen 20-26 inches away, with the center 4-8 inches below eye level.
- Reduce glare with proper lighting and an anti-glare screen filter.
- Remember to blink consciously and use preservative-free lubricating drops.
- Schedule regular eye exams to keep your prescription current.
Ready for relief? We combine expert diagnosis with practical solutions.
📅 Schedule a Computer Vision Syndrome Evaluation and Explore our Dry Eye Treatment Options.
Trusted Insights from Medical Research
As reported in Medical Practice and Reviews, 70-90% of extensive computer users experience CVS symptoms. The University of Pennsylvania’s ophthalmology department emphasizes proper monitor placement to minimize dryness and neck strain.
For the full article referenced on this page: Read “Computer Vision Syndrome Affects Millions” by Jane E. Brody (The New York Times). A version of this article appears in print on 05/31/2016, on page D5 of the New York edition with the headline: Tear Your Eyes Away From the Computer. Link to article: https://nyti.ms/2k15V9g