What is Computer Vision Syndrome: Symptoms & Prevention Tips

As per the latest research, more than 60 million people are suffering from computer vision syndrome which is a kind of digital eye strain does not only affects your eyesight but also creates a vision problem in the long-term, especially in old age.

What Causes Computer Vision Syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a kind of strain on your eyes that happens due to prolonged exposure of eyes while reading contents or watching videos on digital devices like desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

When due to long hours of viewing on such devices your eyes feel discomfort and vision problems, which means you have CVS.

Poor lighting, screen glare, improper viewing distance, poor posture, and uncorrected vision problems are the leading factors causing CVS among people globally and owing to digitalization further likely to increase.

According to the latest reports by NCBI, globally more than 60 million people are suffering from computer vision syndrome.

The new age of population becoming adopted using such devices at young ages for longer hours are becoming victims of CVS at a later stage of their life and now young people are also facing such problems.

All such digital devices emit blue light which causes the eyes to refract, resulting in surrounding objects going in and out of focus.

And compared to printed text, images on a screen are comprised of thousands of tiny spots, which puts additional stress on the eyes causing CVS-like health problems.

So, let’s find out more about this disease and how to prevent it or how to cure it.

Computer Vision Syndrome Symptoms

Though, if you visit a specialist doctor, he can diagnose computer vision syndrome through an eye exam, with special attention paid to how the eye works and responds at a computer distance.

But if you have any of the given below indications you can have the CVS problem, you can visit the doctor to get confirmed with a few medical tests.

CVS Disease Symptoms:

• Eyestrain
• Eye fatigue
• Headaches
• Tearing
• Blurry vision
• Backache
• Irritated or red eyes
• Dry eyes (gritty or burning)
• Neck and/or shoulder stiffness and pain

What Causes Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)?

Though, there are a number of factors that determine the amount of strain your body feels as you work on a computer or other digital device.

Also Read: How Much Screen Time Is Too Much or Can Damage Your Eyes?

The lighting conditions in your room, glaring style on the screen, distance from the screen, angle of your head and seating posture etc. all these factors combined cause strain on your eyes resulting in CVS.

How To Prevent Computer Vision Syndrome?

It is obvious that reducing your screen time on such digital devices to avoid CVS, otherwise excessive use of digital devices can permanently damage your eyes.

But owing to studying needs, bounded working hours and gadgets addictive it becomes difficult to reduce the screen viewing time, so you can follow a few rules to prevent CVS syndrome.

#1 Reduce the Screen Glare Level

You can change the lighting around you to reduce the effect on your computer screen. If light from a nearby window casts a glare, move your monitor and close the shades.

You can also have a dimmer switch for the overhead fixtures if they’re too bright, or buy a desk lamp with a moveable shade that casts light evenly over your desk.

#2 Avoid Using Digital Devices in the Dark

Most people use a smartphone at the time of sleeping switching off their bedroom light that badly affects their eyes and creates CVS problems.

The blue light on such a screen has more effects in a dark environment, so you can enable the reading mode, reduce the brightness level in your device or wear protective glasses.

#3 Reorganize Your Desk and PC

To avoid stress on your eyes adjust your monitor slightly below eye level, with a distance of around 20 to 28 inches away from your face.

You can also put a stand next to your monitor and place any printed materials you’re working from on it.

#4 Exercise with the 20-20 Rule

This is called the 20-20-20 rule which means – On every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.

Meanwhile, also make sure while blinking to keep your eyes moist and if feel dry use natural eye drops to lubricate.

#5 Tune the Device Screen Settings

Do you know you can adjust your computer, laptop, TV or smartphone’s screen to minimize the impact of screen light on your eyes?

On computer devices, you adjust the brightness, contrast, tint level or font size that is best for you. While on the smartphone you can enable reading mode or set the screen at a warm colour tone to minimize the impact.

#6 Eat More Green Fruits & Vegetables

If your work or personal life doesn’t allow for minimizing the digital screen exposure on your eyes, you need to put extra nutrition in your body to keep your eyes healthy.

So, eat more green vegetables and fruits that are rich in vitamin A.

All green vegetables have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which protects our eyes, especially leafy vegetables like spinach which also contain high calcium and also have multiple other benefits on your health.

#8 Sit Comfortably and Take Breaks

While sitting in front of make sure your seat is in a comfortable position.

A comfortable chair with support for your neck and back will help you avoid neck and shoulder strain commonly associated with computer vision syndrome.

And also keep taking breaks at regular intervals to avoid strain on the eyes.

A few minutes away from the computer can go a long way when it comes to your eyes. It is just like the way you take stretch breaks for your arms and back.

#9 Blink Eyes More Frequently

Apart from that you also need to make an extra effort to blink more frequently to ensure the front surface of your eyes stays moist.

This will help minimize the risk of developing dry eye when using digital devices for long hours.

#10 Visit an Eye Specialist Doctor 

However, if you have a serious CVS problem, visit your nearest eye specialist doctor now. And let him check your eyes medically and recommend glasses or contact lenses or pair of other special types of glasses to work on such devices.

He can also prescribe a single or bifocal lens, or tinted lens material to boost contrast and filter out glare.