The Eye and the Computer Screen
In today’s hi-tech world the relationship of the eye and the computer screen is becoming a topic of concern in medical fields. Studies have found that up to 70 percent of computer workers worldwide experience symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS.
Unfortunately, Computer Vision Syndrome is not only limited to the adult population. Many children are involved with computers in their school and home environments. Hours spent on computers by children can result in the same vision stresses experienced by adults. CVS in children can have a profound effect on the normal progression of their vision maturity.
Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome usually appear after 2 or more continuous hours of work on the computer. Headaches, wandering focus, itchy or watery eyes, double vision, and blurry vision are the most common symptoms. Other symptoms also occur and can even include muscle and joint aches, especially in the shoulders and neck.
Harder to Focus On
CVS results from the affect of the computer screen on the eye. Eyes do not read and process characters on a computer screen the same way they process printed materials. Printed characters have crisp edges and high contrast levels making it easy for the eye to focus.
Characters on the computer screen are less defined. Each character is composed of small dots of light that are bright in the middle and fade towards the outer edges. Just as the images fade, our eyes wander across the characters and have difficulty finding a focal point. We must force our eyes to focus which creates a strain.
When reading printed material the eyes automatically find the RPA, the resting point of accommodation. Once this point is determined the eyes can comfortably read the text. The eye has difficulty relaxing on the RPA on the computer screen. The eye wanders and must be forced back to the focal point. This is the cause of eye tension and CVS.