Almost 60 percent of people who use computers and digital devices daily experience eye strain, including sore eyes, headaches, tiredness or loss of concentration.

Here are 5 tips to reduce your risk of eye strain affecting your daily life:

1. Frequent eye exams

Let your eye doctor know if you are experiencing any symptoms listed above. Frequent eye exams are the most important thing you can do to reduce the impact eye strain is having on your life.

2. Reduce glare

Glare from light reflecting off walls and finished surfaces, as well as reflections on your computer screen also can cause eye strain. Using an anti-glare screen on your screen may also reduce reelected glare off the display.

3. Avoid dry eyes

When using a computer the eyes can dry out, due to blinking less often and air conditioning. When staring at a screen, people blink less frequently, up to 66% less than they normally do and tears can also evaporate due to air conditioning.

If you experience dry eye symptoms, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you to discuss artificial tears or other eye lubricants.

4. Walk away

To reduce your risk for computer vision syndrome and neck, back and shoulder pain, it is recommended to walk away – from your screen. Taking frequent screen breaks at least one 10-minute break every hour, will allow your eyes to relax.

During these breaks, stand up, walk for 5 minutes, and also stretch your arms, legs, back, neck and shoulders to reduce tension and muscle fatigue.

5. Computer glasses

Customized computer glasses can be prescribed by eye doctors, these often provide the greatest relief from computer eye strain..

Computer glasses also are a good choice if you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, because these lenses generally are not optimal for the distance to your computer screen.

Computer glasses can also include blue light lenses and anti-reflective (AR) coating, which also reduces glare.

The post 5 Tips to Avoid Computer Eye Strain appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Micro-prisms lenses are fast becoming the optimal treatment for people with Binocular Visual Dysfunction, BVD.

With healthy binocular vision, light enters the two eyes by passing through the cornea and focusing onto the retina in the back of the eye. The brain then interprets the information it receives from the retina of each eye, and produces a single image.

A single image can only be produced if the eyes are perfectly aligned and working together.

In an eye condition, known as Binocular Visual Dysfunction, the eyes are misaligned and is a common reason for the eye doctor prescribing micro-prism lenses.

Double vision or other symptoms occur when the brain tries needs to work hard to compensate for the misalignment of the two eyes.

Prism lenses bend light before it passes through the eye, to redirect the light onto the correct retinal area in each eye. The brain can then accurately interpret the information and produce a single image. 

If you suspect your child has an eye condition, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: Treatments for BVD

How is a prism prescribed?

Hirschberg test. This test is used to identify the presence of strabismus, or a turned eye. Your doctor will aim a small light at your eyes and look for a corneal reflection in the center of each pupil. If your reflection is off-center in either one or both eyes, you may have strabismus.

Krimsky test. This test is used to measure the degree of eye misalignment. Your doctor will aim a small light at your eyes, and place prisms of varying strengths in front of your eye. To determine which prism is appropriate for you, your doctor will look for the prism that is able to bring the corneal reflection to the center of your pupil.

Cover tests. There are three types of cover tests:

1. Cover/uncover test: One eye is covered while your doctor looks for any movement in the eye that is uncovered.
2. Prism and alternate cover test: A prism is placed in front of one eye while your doctor alternates the cover over your two eyes. This test measures the difference between the two eyes to determine what type of prism is appropriate for you.
3. Maddox test: Each eye sees a vertical or horizontal line. Your doctor will use prisms to measure the difference between each of the images. This test is used to determine which type of double vision you have (vertical or horizontal).

What is micro-prism?

Prisms are measured and prescribed with a unit of measurement called prism diopters, for example, 4 prism diopters (PD) or 8PD. The prism is added to your regular eyeglass prescription, in one or both of your lenses. The way the prism is situated depends on the type of double vision you have— either horizontal or vertical.

Micro-prisms is just a small amount of prism, usually under 2 PD.

Even though the amount of prism may be small, the impact on your visual system can be significant, resulting in comfortable vision and alleviating the symptoms of BVD.

Vision therapy

Vision therapy may also be a solution recommended by your eye doctor for your double vision or binocular visual dysfunction.

Vision therapy retrains your eye-brain connections to improve your visual skills for clearer, single vision, with or without your eyeglasses.

If you suffer from double vision or binocular vision difficulties, micro-prism lenses can be prescribed to improve your clarity of vision— enabling a more comfortable way of seeing.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)

Contact an eye doctor near you to find out if prism lenses could be the solution you have looking for.

The post Are Micro-Prisms the Answer for BVD? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

The term eye strain describes a group of symptoms which occurs after extended use of the eyes, usually involving intense concentration or long periods of sustained attention.

If you have any eye discomfort caused by looking at something for a long time, you probably have eye strain, you may have experienced Digital Eye Strain,  if you have sitting in front of a computer screen for hours!

One of the most common causes of Digital Eye Strain is a condition known as Binocular Visual Dysfuction. This is caused bt a misalignment between the two eyes and is successfully treated with prism lenses.

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor near you so that they can start helping you relieve your eye strain.

SEE RELATED: What is Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)?

What is eye strain?

Eye strain can have devastating effects on both school and office performances and add significantly to stress and anxiety.

The term eye strain is frequently used to describe a group of symptoms that are related to the overuse of the eyes.

Eye strain occurs when your eyes get tired from being used intensely, such as working at a computer or driving a car for extended periods. 

In some cases, signs and symptoms of eye strain indicate an underlying eye condition that needs treatment. While you may not be able to change your job, or all the factors that are causing eye strain, you can reduce it.

The two most common causes of eyestrain are Binocular Visual Dysfunction and Convergence Insufficiency.

What is Binocular Visual Dysfunction?

The symptoms of ocular fatigue, tired eyes, blurring, headaches, and occasionally double vision. are brought on by intense use of the eyes for visual tasks.

Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD) is a misalignment between the two eyes, requiring micro-prism lenses.

For some it can occur while concentrating on a visually intense task such as reading fine print or using the computer for hours at a time. These tasks can unconsciously cause the muscles in the eyelids, face, temples, and jaw to clench, leading to discomfort or pain from overusing those muscles.

When eye strain stems from the use of a digital device, it is called Digital Eye Strain (DES) and often results from Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD).

Struggling to see in dim light or an extremely bright or glary environment can also bring on eye strain.

People are found to blink less when staring at a digital screen. This decreased blinking may lead to dry eye syndrome.

The inability to make both eyes work together, due to BVD, is a leading cause of eye strain.

What is convergence insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency (CI) is caused by the difficulty of coordinating the two eyes to look at near vision for extended periods of time

Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a computer, or book.

Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to maintain focus on near tasks, affecting school and work performance and many other aspects of life.

As the eyes struggle to focus, they experience eye strain and fatigue.

How can CI be treated?

The most effective treatment for CI is vision therapy.

Vision therapy is an effective customized program that improves the vision skills to achieve clearer and more comfortable vision.

To decrease some of the symptoms of CI your eye doctor may also prescribe prismatic (prism) eyeglasses. These are not meant to treat or cure the condition, but rather relieve the symptoms. In many cases, prisms are prescribed in combination with vision therapy.

How to protect your eyes from DES?

1. Set limits on screen time

It is important to establish a time limit for daily digital device use — and follow through with it.

The more hours a person spends in front of a screen, the greater their risk of developing symptoms of digital eye strain.

2. 20-20-20 rule

This rule helps to relax the eye muscles and prevent eye strain.

Eye strain can be caused by long periods of intense reading or staring at a digital device for too long. While watching TV or using a digital device, every 20 minutes look at something in the distance (at least 20 feet away) for at least 20 seconds.

3. Blink frequently

People blink less frequently when staring at a screen, which can lead to dry, sore eyes, as well as eye strain.

Remember to blink often while sitting in front of a screen, so you can keep your eyes healthy and moist.

4. Keep a distance

Ideally the screen should be at least 18-24 inches away from your eyes.

It is also important to ensure that the computer screen is positioned just below eye level so that you don’t strain your neck while staring at the screen.

5. Upright posture

Online learning and working from home are becoming more and more popular, leaving everyone sitting in front of a digital screen for many hours during the day.

Without proper posture, this can lead to shoulder, back and neck pain— common symptoms of digital eye strain.

To prevent this, your desk and chair should be at a comfortable height so your feet can rest on the floor. If your feet don’t reach the floor, a stool under the desk is a perfect solution.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)

If you are concerned about eye strain or fatigue, contact an eye doctor near you, as they can help diagnose and treat your eye strain symptoms.

The post 2021 Update: BVD and Digital Eye Strain appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Tension in the neck and shoulders can lead to eye strain, as tense muscles can press on eye nerves at the back of your neck. When thinking about what causes eye strain, you wouldn’t necessarily think that tension in your neck or shoulders would have an effect on your eyes.

Muscle tension in the upper back, neck and shoulders can be caused by a common visual misalignment, called Binocular Vision Dysfunction.

Others who experience neck pain may be compensating for an eye misalignment by tilting their head towards one shoulder. While this may help to realign the images vertically, it can lead to chronic neck pain.

By treating a vision misalignment or eye strain you allow the eyes to see clearly and properly, and symptoms of neck pain can be reduced or eliminated, providing you with a sense of relief.

Contact an eye doctor near you who has experience working with patients with neck pain and diagnosing and treating BVD or CVS.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: BVD and Eye Fatigue

What is BVD?

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a condition where the eyes struggle to send one clear image to the brain due to a slight misalignment of the eyes.

This may not sound serious, especially if the misalignment is only very slight, but if the eyes aren’t working together perfectly it can be difficult or even impossible for a person to function properly without becoming dizzy – even if they have clear vision.

Fortunately, there are treatment options available that can help patients to overcome the impact that BVD has on their lives.

If you think your neck pain or other symptoms are related to your vision, contact a vision therapy eye doctor near you.

BVD Treatment

Vision therapy and prism lenses are a successful way to treat BVD.

1. Vision Therapy 

BVD is often treated with vision therapy.

Vision therapy is a customized program to improve the communication between the eyes and the brain to support the visual system and alleviate the symptoms of BVD, such as neck pain.

Usually, patients find that their symptoms slowly subside or completely disappear by completing a vision therapy program.

2. Prism Lenses

Prismatic (prism) lenses, along with vision therapy, have been proven to alleviate BVD symptoms. Prism lenses work to correct the eyes’ misalignment by manipulating incoming light before it enters the eyes so that when the images from the two eyes reach the brain, the brain can merge them into a single image.

The prisms in the glasses ‘trick’ the brain into thinking the eyes are aligned properly, allowing them to see just one object and preventing eye muscle strain and neck pain.

Contact a vision therapy eye doctor near you to start a vision therapy program to give your eyes the relief they deserve.

What is CVS (computer vision syndrome)?

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is an eye condition caused by staring at a digital device, especially for many hours. This condition presents itself through eye strain, neck strain, fatigue or headaches.

What is the best way to prevent CVS?

The number one way to prevent CVS, also known as Digital Eye Strain,  is by having an eye examination to rule out any visual problems, including lazy eye, focusing, eye tracking and convergence.

There are a number of other effective ways to relieve and even prevent CVS:

• Reduce glare. The eyes need to work much harder when there’s glare on a screen. Make sure the screen is positioned in a way that prevents glare from indoor lighting or sunshine.  A glare filter can also be added to the screen to prevent glare.
• Take breaks and blink often. Follow the 20-20-20 rule to prevent staring at a screen for too long. Take a break from the computer or device for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, and look at something at least 20 feet away.
• Adjust the screen’s angle. Make sure the screen is 20-28 inches from the eyes and that the center of the screen is 4-8 inches lower than eye level.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can help diagnose the cause of your neck pain and find the best treatment options for you and your eyes.

The post 2021 Update: BVD and Neck Pain appeared first on Optometrists.org.

A headache is described as an achy pressure in the forehead, temples and even the upper part of the neck.

A migraine is a severe headache that generally causes more debilitating symptoms. Migraines can cause nausea and make it difficult to speak and think clearly.

Can headaches and migraines cause visual problems?

Yes.

Headaches and migraines are common symptoms of binocular vision problems. They can also be symptoms of other types of visual conditions as well, such as computer vision syndrome (CVS) or near point visual stress (NPVS).

Vision problems can cause fatigue or eye strain that lead to a headache, especially after reading, or using the computer.

If you experience headaches or migraines often, contact a vision therapy eye doctor who can determine whether a binocular vision disorder is causing your pain.

What are binocular vision disorders?

Binocular vision disorders are conditions where the eyes are unable to align properly. This causes the eyes to overcompensate and overcorrect for the misalignment. This strains the eye muscles because they are constantly trying to re-align the eyes to eliminate blurriness and double-vision.

Two types of binocular vision disorders are binocular vision dysfunction and convergence insufficiency.

What is binocular vision dysfunction?

Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) is a condition where the two eyes struggle to send one clear image to the brain due to a slight misalignment of the eyes.

Headaches occur as the brain attempts unsuccessfully to merge the images from each of the eyes.

What is convergence insufficiency?

Convergence insufficiency (CI) affects near vision and eye muscle coordination. Convergence of the eyes occurs when the two eyes need to focus on a close object, such as a book, computer, or smartphone.

Convergence insufficiency means the eyes struggle to focus easily for near tasks, affecting attention, school work, and office performance in adults.

If you experience severe headaches or migraines, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the visual issues of this condition.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: BVD and Neck Pain

What are the best treatments for binocular vision problems?

Vision therapy and micro-prism lenses successfully treat BVD and CI.

1. Micro-prism Lenses

Prismatic (prism) lenses work to correct eye misalignment by manipulating incoming light before it enters the eyes so that when the images from the two eyes reach the brain, the brain can fuse them into a single image.

The prisms in the glasses ‘trick’ the brain into thinking the eyes are properly aligned, causing them to see just one object and preventing eye muscle strain that can cause headaches.

Micro-prisms are a very low amount, usually under 2 dioptres, however their impact can significantly reduce the headaches suffered by many people.

2. Vision Therapy 

Patients with CI or BVD are also often treated with a customized program of vision therapy.

Vision therapy is a program to improve the communication between the brain and the eyes, further supporting the visual system and alleviating the symptoms of BVD or CI.

Usually, patients find that their symptoms gradually subside or completely disappear when they wear prescribed prism lenses, which can be even further helped by completing a program of vision therapy.

Contact a vision therapy eye doctor near you to start a vision therapy program to give your eyes the relief they deserve.

Other Visual Problems

Computer vision syndrome and near point visual stress are common vision problems that cause headaches and migraines. These eye conditions occur when looking at a digital device for too long.

Computer vision syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is an eye condition caused by staring at a digital device, especially after many hours. This condition presents itself through eye strain, dry eyes, or headaches.

Near point visual stress

When the visual system struggles to meet the demands that learning and reading place on the eyes, symptoms like eye strain, fatigue, and headaches can occur— this is known as near point visual stress (NPVS).

When sitting in front of the TV screen or computer for too long, symptoms of NPVS may appear.

What is the best way to prevent CVS and NPVS?

An effective way to relieve and even prevent CVS or NPVS is to allow yourself some “visual stress relief” from digital devices.

This can be achieved by:

• Adjusting the screen angle. Make sure the screen is 20-28 inches from the eyes and that the center of the screen is 4-8 inches lower than eye level.
• Taking breaks and blinking often. Follow the 20-20-20 rule to prevent staring at a screen for too long. Take a break from the computer or device for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes, and look at something 20 feet away.
• Reducing glare. When there is glare reflecting off a screen, the eyes need to work harder to read. Make sure the screen is positioned in a way that prevents glare from indoor lighting or windows. A glare filter can also be added to the screen to prevent glare.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD)

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you who can help diagnose the cause of your headaches and recommend the best treatment options for you and your eyes.

The post 2021 Update: BVD and Headaches appeared first on Optometrists.org.

You may benefit with vision therapy!

Vision therapy is a customized, personalized treatment program designed to strengthen and improve visual skills to achieve clearer and more comfortable vision.

Strengthening the visual skills boosts your ability to focus, read, concentrate and all other aspects required for work performance.

Vision therapy can treat problems that glasses cannot, such as eye teaming, eye tracking, and visual perceptual deficits. With vision therapy, the brain and eyes learn to communicate better— facilitating a permanent change in your vision.

The Find an Eye Doctor directory lists eye doctors near you that are experienced in vision therapy.

SEE RELATED: 2021 Update: Vision Therapy for Adults

Which physical symptoms can benefit from a vision therapy program?

• Frequent squinting/head tilting
• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Eye strain or fatigue
• Headaches or tiredness
• Motion sickness or dizziness
• Poor eye-hand coordination
• Poor posture
• Tendency to cover or close one eye
• Turning of an eye in or out, up or down
• Using finger-pointing when reading

Can someone who wears glasses benefit from vision therapy?

Yes, while eyeglasses and contact lenses can correct blurry vision, vision therapy might be needed to treat the symptoms above.

For some vision conditions, reading or computer glasses, combined with a vision therapy program, have been found to be even more effective than just glasses alone.

Eyeglasses and contact lenses offer improved clarity of vision, but vision therapy actually treats the underlying problem by retraining the visual skills needed for clear and comfortable vision.

Each vision therapy program is individually designed for you and your visual needs.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

If you think you can benefit from vision therapy, schedule a comprehensive vision evaluation with a developmental optometrist near you.

The post What Are the Signs You Need Vision Therapy? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Eye doctors are reporting a major increase in the number of children being diagnosed with digital eye strain.

With smartphone usage and remote learning becoming more prevalent among children, it’s not surprising that children are experiencing digital eye strain.

While digital technology offers many benefits in the spheres of education, communication, and entertainment, overexposure and prolonged use of these devices can also have detrimental effects on your child’s eyes and vision.

Digital eye strain can cause many physical symptoms, including:

• Blurred vision
• Burning or stinging in the eyes
• Difficulty focusing
• Dry eyes
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Irritated eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Neck and shoulder pain

If your child suffers from any of the symptoms listed above they may have digital eye strain.

Protect your child from digital eye strain

There are many ways to protect your child from digital eye strain so that they can preserve their vision and eye health.

1. Teach the 20-20-20 rule

Digital eye strain can be caused by focusing fatigue, or staring at a digital device for too long.

While your child is watching TV or using a digital device, at least every 20 minutes remind them to look at something in the distance (at least 20 feet away) for at least 20 seconds.

This rule helps to relax the eye muscles and prevent eye strain. 

2. Blink frequently

Researchers have found that people blink less frequently when staring at a  screen. Reduced blink rate can lead to sore, dry eyes, as well as eye fatigue.

Remind your children to blink often while sitting in front of a screen, so they can keep their eyes healthy and moist.

If you suspect your child has eyestrain from their computer, contact an eye doctor near you, who can diagnose and treat the condition.

SEE RELATED: Near Point Visual Stress (NPVS)

3. Keep a distance

Children tend to sit with their face up against a screen. This habit can not only cause digital eye strain, but is harmful for their eyes.

Teach your child the importance of keeping a distance from the device. Ideally the screen should be at least 18-24 inches away from their eyes. 

4. Upright posture

With online learning becoming more and more popular, children are being required to sit in front of a digital screen for many hours during the day.

Without proper posture, a day of remote learning can lead to shoulder, back and neck pain— common symptoms of digital eye strain.

To prevent this, your child’s desk and chair should be at a comfortable height so their feet can rest on the floor. If their feet don’t reach the floor, a stool under the desk is a perfect solution.

It is also important to ensure that their computer screen is positioned just below eye level so that they don’t strain their neck while staring at the screen.

Visit an eye doctor

If you find that your child is complaining of blurred vision, sore eyes, headaches, or any other symptoms following prolonged screen time, it is a good idea to schedule an eye exam with an optometrist experienced in children’s vision and vision therapy.

While digital eye strain is often a temporary condition that can be alleviated by making some lifestyle and behavioral changes, your eye doctor may discover that a functional vision problem is the underlying cause of your child’s symptoms.

The Find and Eye Doctor directory may provide a list of eye doctors near you that can diagnose a child with digital eye strain.

A customized program of vision therapy can help to improve their vision and enhance their screen time experience.

LEARN MORE:   Vision Therapy for Children

With technology and screens part of our daily lives, it is essential that we take the time to teach our children how to protect their eyes and vision from the effects of digital exposure.

The post Could Your Child Have Digital Eye Strain? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects the way the brain processes and interprets information.

Dyslexia can affect adults and is known for impacting reading, writing, and spelling. But, what you may not know is that dyslexia may also affect the organizational, concentration, and planning skills required for success in school and in the workplace,

Dyslexia International suggests that between 5-10% of all adults experience dyslexia. That equates to around 700 million people worldwide.

Is dyslexia a vision problem? 

The symptoms of dyslexia can be due to an undiagnosed vision problem.

Because many of the symptoms of dyslexia overlap with vision problems, it’s imperative that an eye doctor performs a comprehensive eye exam to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

If the problem is your vision, an eye doctor experienced in treating patients with dyslexia may recommend specific reading or computer glasses or vision therapy.

Vision therapy

Vision therapy is an effective and customized treatment that can improve the life of children and adults with dylexia, resulting in optimal career performance and a lifetime of success.

Vision therapy may involve the use of lenses or prisms to help train visual skills. In some cases, doctors may also recommend wearing eyeglasses full time, or as needed for activities such as working.

How does dyslexia affect functioning?

Children and adults with dyslexia typically experience many challenges.

It is important to understand that children who suffer from dyslexia will continue to experience the condition in adulthood. If a child with the condition was never diagnosed with dyslexia or wasn’t given the proper tools or treatments to reduce the effects of dyslexia, then they might still be struggling with it and not even know it.

It is important to know that improvement of spelling, reading, and writing skills are still possible even as an adult.

Symptoms of dyslexia can range from mild to severe, and may include problems with:

• Comprehension
• Learning a new language
• Reading aloud
• Reading fluency
• Retelling main ideas of a story
• Time management
• Understanding idioms or jokes

Schedule an appointment with a vision therapy eye doctor to help improve your visual skills.

SEE RELATED: New Research for Adults with Lazy Eye

Dyslexia can also cause

• Blurry or double vision
• Comprehension difficulties
• Eyestrain or headaches
• Fatigue or tiredness when reading
• Reduced attention and concentration
• Seeing a glare on white paper
• Slow reading
• Words or letters to appear to move

When should a vision exam be scheduled? 

The only way to know whether the above symptoms are being caused by a vision problem is to have a comprehensive eye exam, which includes examination of your visual skills and visual processing.

If vision is the problem or part of the problem, the good news is that it can almost always be treated with effective optometric care, including vision therapy.

LEARN MORE: Guide to Vision Therapy for Adults

If you are struggling at work, schedule an eye exam with an eye doctor to rule out vision problems that could be mistaken for – or adding to – the challenges of dyslexia.

The post Does Dyslexia Impact your Work Performance? appeared first on Optometrists.org.

The Vision Development Team

Coping with COVID-19 may be affecting your vision

The American Optometric Association (AOA) defines Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) as, “a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use.”

Many screens have glare, bright light, or poor contrast, which can make the eyes tired and dry after an extended period of use.

Individuals with uncorrected vision or poor functional vision skills have to work harder to see and process the visual information presented on the screens.

The frequent, long episodes of exposure to computers, cell phones, laptops, computers, iPads, or other digital screens may be to blame for symptoms such as:

• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Headaches
• Eyestrain
• Fatigue
• Neck, back, and/or shoulder pain.

Contact an eye doctor near you if you experience any of these symptoms after prolonged use of a digital device, you may be suffering from CVS.

SEE RELATED: Headaches and Vision Therapy: Top 5 Q&A

COVID-19 and CVS

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people diagnosed with CVS was already on the rise.

Now, in the pandemic’s wake, the number of people reporting symptoms of CVS has grown exponentially.

The increase in CVS may be related to the online solutions we are currently using to ensure that  children can continue to learn and adults can continue to  work. Unfortunately, the increase in time spent in front of the screen may pose unexpected health risks.

Fortunately, your optometrist can help keep you working and learning safely in our new digital world.  Your eye doctor may prescribe stress-reducing lenses to reduce your visual strain, or suggest blue-blocking lenses that block or absorb the blue light waves produced by electronic screens.

Vision skills and CVS

Additionally, optometrists who test functional vision skills can look for other factors that may be exacerbating symptoms— such as, problems with visual coordination or visual perception.

Poor vision skills can contribute to eyestrain.  

If your eye doctor identifies poor focusing, tracking, or convergence skills, or visual perceptual challenges, they may prescribe a course of vision training, also known as vision therapy.

Vision training for CVS

Vision training, along with stress-reducing lenses, and or blue-blocking glasses for computer use, may just be what you need to relieve symptoms from CVS and restore comfortable vision.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

If you, or someone you love complains of headaches, eyestrain, dry eyes, or vision changes after prolonged screen time, schedule an appointment with an optometrist.

Your optometrist has their eyes on your ocular health.

The post COVID-19 and Computer Vision Syndrome appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Digital device usage has increased substantially in recent years across all age groups, so that extensive daily use for both social and professional purposes is now normal. Digital devices include computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets and gaming consoles.

Digital eye strain (DES), also known as computer vision syndrome (CVS) affects over 50 percent of people, including both children and adults. 

Symptoms fall into two main categories: those linked to accommodative or binocular vision stress, and external symptoms linked to dry eye.

Contact a vision therapy eye doctor who can diagnose and treat your digital eye strain to alleviate your symptoms.

SEE RELATED: Why Is My Eye Twitching?

How does digital eye strain affect adults? 

According to recent data, approximately 80 percent of American adults use a digital device for more than two hours per day— and 67 percent use two or more devices simultaneously.

It has been reported that 59 percent of adults suffer from symptoms of DES.

Recent data shows:

• 35% experience neck and shoulder pain
• 32% experience sore or tired eyes
• 28% experience blurred vision
• 27% experience headaches
• 27% experience dry eyes

Unfortunately, these DES symptoms typically lead to most adults feeling exhausted by the end of the day, even though their job requires minimal physical exertion.

How is digital eye strain diagnosed?

Digital eye strain can be diagnosed during an eye exam.

During your exam, inform your eye doctor about your home and work habits — specifically if you use a computer for an extended period of time throughout the day. Also, it is a good idea to measure the distance between your eyes and your computer screen, to enable a proper assessment of your eyes at that specific distance.

If a diagnosis of digital eye strain is confirmed, your doctor may prescribe specific glasses or a vision therapy program to improve your visual skills and can also discuss necessary behavioral changes to reduce your symptoms.

Schedule an eye exam with a vision therapy eye doctor who can diagnose and treat your digital eye strain.

Can vision therapy treat digital eye strain? 

Yes.

According to research, vision therapy can significantly improve symptoms associated with digital eye strain. During vision therapy, you will learn how to train your eyes and brain to work together, to improve your visual skills.

Vision therapy exercises to improve binocular vision may target:

• Eye movement skills
• Eye focusing skills
• Eye teaming skills

Behavioral changes to alleviate symptoms

There area variety of behavioral changes you can make to help to reduce your discomfort from digital eye strain.

Appropriate lighting: Digital eye strain is often caused by bright sunlight or harsh fluorescent lighting. Appropriate lighting is important while using a computer — close window curtains and use “soft white” indoor lighting.

Also, position your computer with all windows to the side of your screen, instead of behind or in front of it.

Reduce glare:  Any light that reflects off of your computer screen can cause a glare, and result in eye strain. To reduce the effects of glare, you can purchase an anti-glare screen that can be installed on your computer.

Additionally, if you already wear corrective eyeglasses, make sure that your lenses are made with  anti-reflective (AR) coatings.

Replace older computer screens: Computers with cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors are known to cause a “flicker” of images —a common cause of digital eye strain and fatigue.   Newer flat-panel LED screens have an anti-reflective surface to make screen time more comfortable for your eyes.

If you haven’t done so already, replace your old monitor with a new LED screen —preferably with a large display and the highest resolution possible.

Adjust your display settings: The display settings of your computer or digital device can be adjusted to help minimize eye strain and fatigue.

• Brightness. Adjust the brightness of your screen so it’s similar to the brightness of your room.
• Text color and size. Adjust text color and size —black text on a white background is easiest on the eyes.
• Reduce blue light. Adjust the color temperature of your screen to “warmer” colors such as red and orange to reduce blue light emission, which can also cause eye strain.

Keep blinking: Blinking helps your eyes to stay moist, and prevents dry eyes and irritation. According to research, people blink less frequently when staring at a computer screen.

To avoid dry eyes, try to remember to blink 10 times (with full eyelid closure), every 20 minutes. Your eye doctor may also recommend eye drops which could provide some relief from dry eyes.

20-20-20 rule: Digital eye strain can be caused by focusing fatigue —or staring at your computer screen or smart phone for too long.

The 20-20-20 rule involves looking at something that is 20 feet away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. Looking at distant images relaxes the ocular muscles responsible for focusing, thereby reducing fatigue.

Make your workstation comfortable: Digital eye strain can also cause neck, back and shoulder pain. Make sure that your desk and chair are at a comfortable height so your feet can rest on the floor, and that your computer screen is positioned just below your eye level and 20-24 inches away from your eyes.

Also, take frequent breaks away from your computer to stretch and decrease muscle tension.

Computer glasses: Computer glasses may be  a good option if you spend many hours on a computer, even if you don’t usually wear glasses for distance or reading. Computer glasses are also helpful if you wear contact lenses and experience dry eyes after prolonged screen time.

You may also benefit from computer glasses if you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, as they may not be able to provide adequate vision clarity of the computer screen.  If you are concerned about blue light emissions, computer glasses can be made with specifically tinted lenses, to reduce blue light exposure.

Don’t wait… 

If you think you may be suffering from digital eye strain, make an appointment with an eye doctor.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Eye Conditions

Your doctor can prescribe a vision therapy program to improve your visual skills and binocular vision— enhancing your work performance… and quality of life.

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