Do your eyes burn at the end of the day? Chances are you’re suffering from eye fatigue, and it’s probably related to computer use.
Vision health professionals are treating a growing number of people who work all day at computers and complain of eye problems.
The American Optometric Association defines Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) as “eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for extended periods.”
The most common symptoms associated with CVS are:
- eyestrain
- headaches
- blurred vision
- dry eyes
- neck and shoulder pain
There is a health care strategy to combat the problem called 20/20/20: Every 20 minutes, the computer user should take a break for at least 20 seconds and look at objects that are 20 feet away.
Dr. Edward Mendelson, an optometrist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has added another 20 to the mix. “Give yourself 20 good blinks,” he says. “Blinking is nature’s way of keeping the eyes moist, and those blinks help to lubricate and refresh.”
So remember: 20/20/20 and 20 blinks to help keep your eyes pain free!