Eyesight and computer use

[Xin]

I'm very short-sighted and have to use the computer A LOT to work; this meaning I can be in front of it for more than 10 hours a day.

I'm definitely worried about if this heavy use of the computer will affect my eyes on any way. Reading on the internet suggests that besides eye-strain, there's not much risk to it; yet, I read some studies that suggest short-sight+heavy computer use = glaucoma.

Anyone here informed about this? I'm only 17, and if there's anything I'm scared to death is getting my vision to worsen.

So, is it safe to use the computer so much?

[Addict]

There's already a very similar thread on the first page:
Another reading thread.

One person gave a link to a website that said "nearwork" does not affect eyesight, but I disagree. I don't think your eyes are made to focus on the same thing for hours at a time. I'm fairly certain I've heard that cultures where reading was popular had high rates of myopia, but I'm not sure. This website suggests that reading does cause myopia, but it's also trying to push eye exercises which are proven bullshit:
Myopia and Eye Exercises – American Vision Institute

Anyways, I also have a desk job sitting at a computer 9 hours a day. Then I go back home and work on my website or some programming and I talk to friends online. I surf message boards. I do most of my coursework on a computer. I pretty much live on a computer or I'm reading. I really do think it's likely that there's a link between nearwork and myopia. I had to get glasses in 8th grade and it was around that time when I started playing Asheron's Call, one of the first mmorpgs. Needless, to say it was addictive and I spent way too much time on it.

On the other hand, I have been using computers in a similar way for nearly a decade. I wear glasses, but my eyesight hasn't really gotten worse. I'm actually more worried about carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Peter S C]

Yes... this is a big problem. My eyesight has deteriorated significantly from working long hours in front of a computer. There are many things I could have done better though to help lessen this:

• Blink often and use eyedrops to keep your eyes moist
• Look away from the computer every so often and focus on something in the distance
• Be careful not to stare too much at the screen

I'm sure there are many more...

[Chet]

When possible reset text sizes to larger fonts and use contrast/colors that are easier on the eyes (a light yellow on a black background works well)

[Zukin]

You may also want to take a look at the free myopia manual ebook:

Myopia Manual

[Baltar]

I asked my optometrist about this, and he told me that eye strain is the only net effect of staring at a computer screen for a long time. I'm slightly farsighted myself, and have had no damage to my vision from spending a lot of time using computers for around 14 years so far. However, my friend's mother who is nearsighted, had experienced retinal detachment which I think was related to computer use (although she's a lot older than 17 so age is probably also a factor). Ultimately it would be best to ask your doctor about your specific case.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Xin

I'm only 17, and if there's anything I'm scared to death is getting my vision to worsen.

If we want to be rational about this... we could conclude that if prolonged computer usage was causing eye damage... half of North Americans and most of Europeans would be half-blind... so, since that is not the case... we can assume that there is no correlation between high computer usage and eye problems...

BTW... fifty years ago they used to say the same thing about reading... and one hundred years ago many people believed that if you read too much you could go insane... so much for popular opinion...
.

[Livgivare]

[QUOTE=Peter S C;104650]Yes... this is a big problem. My eyesight has deteriorated significantly from working long hours in front of a computer. There are many things I could have done better though to help lessen this:

• Blink often and use eyedrops to keep your eyes moist
• Look away from the computer every so often and focus on something in the distance
• Be careful not to stare too much at the screen

[QUOTE]

You are totally right, but I would add the fact that try fast-focusing or what it would be called. That means you pick up your index finger, and hod it at computer-screen distance from your eyes, then go to a window and 30 times switch from finger to long distance. This is something I heard on Swedish TV for some time ago was a good exersize for long time computer use. And the more you train this, your eyes will handle the stress of computers and long hours.

Love Leelene

[Xin]

Thanks, guys.

I read in the other thread I was linked to about the Bates method, and I will definitely look into it.

Wikipedia as a free-version of it. =]

[Xin]

Double post. Sorry. xO

[Iksander]

I have been using a computer for quite some time with no adverse side effects; the worst I experience is usually eye strain.

[CoolStuff]

It makes a difference for me at least. I can feel it. I need to take more breaks.

My vision is so much clearer and crisper after not using the computer at all for a day or two. And if I can completely avoid screens, usually my . But computers are what really kill me. And I sit about 30 inches away from the screen, whether I'm using a laptop, my computer at home, or the newest iMacs I use at other places. The monitors are all pretty good. They're all LCD (which I noticed helps a little bit if you have the settings right).

Also, I do have bad eyesight genetics, but it didn't come in until I was playing video games for long long periods of time (when I was young, 3rd-4th grade). I would sit fairly close to the TV, about 3-4 feet. I wasn't taking breaks because my parents had limits for me, so I would always break them and try to get the most out of my time.

[Mark Lapierre]

Originally Posted by Shamou

If we want to be rational about this... we could conclude that if prolonged computer usage was causing eye damage... half of North Americans and most of Europeans would be half-blind... so, since that is not the case... we can assume that there is no correlation between high computer usage and eye problems...

BTW... fifty years ago they used to say the same thing about reading... and one hundred years ago many people believed that if you read too much you could go insane... so much for popular opinion...
.

I have to disagree with you there Shamou. You can only make that assumption if you don't consider the many factors which could help some people resist developing eye problems. And if you ignore the possibility of many people getting by with some degree of damage, but not enough to be considered half-blind.

The apparent lack of huge numbers of half-blind people is not enough to make and judgment about a correlation or lack thereof.

[Gyanish Gungaram]

Sorry Shamou but I've to side with Mark on this one. Computer Usage does degrade eyesight but this depends on a lot of factors such as:

- screen type LCD/Monitor
- Person's eyesight (Good or Bad Eyesight)
- Person's diet (Carrots prevents eye sight deficiencies.)
- Duration of time in front of screen
- Colours the person is watching (Bright colours tend to do more damage to our retina than dark colours.)
- Application the person is using. (If the person is typing black words on white screen, this person's eyesight will take a long time to decrease compared to a gamer which stays focused on a game for 7 hours without moving constantly darting his eyes across the screen watching bright and flashing lights.)

[Shamou]

Mark Lapierre and Gyanish Gungaram... I humbly bow to superior logic and expertize... and I thank you both for making me a little wiser and more knowledgeable...

PS - I just heard that girls like guys who can show emotions and be humble...
.

[InterfaceLeader]

Eat highly coloured vegetables. Carrots really do help your vision!

Take regular breaks, and focus on something in the distance. I am very short-sighted, and if I use the computer for long periods of time my eyes get 'fuzzy' and sore. A walk usually clears it up.

Short-sightedness is a combination of factors, including genetics, diet, and habits. Myopia is on the rise in the USA and Europe, probably because we are increasingly doing jobs which require near-work, computers etc. and because we don't eat properly.

And speak to your optician.

[Mark Lapierre]

Originally Posted by InterfaceLeader

Eat highly coloured vegetables. Carrots really do help your vision!

They help only if your diet is poor. If you already eat a healthy diet and your eyesight is poor, carrots, or any other food, are unlikely to make a difference.

[boat]

I feel ya Xin. I'm only 18 but have terrible eyesight.. I'm talking worse than -7 in my right eye. This has forced me to be more conscious of my vision, and what I've noticed about eyesight is that it fluctuates quite a bit depending on my habits. At least mine do, so I assume other people's might too.

Whenever I'm stressed and don't get much sleep, such as during finals week, my vision greatly decreases and my astigmatism worsens. Same goes for when I do a lot of up close work, and also when I find myself in a new environment that makes me feel nervous and self conscious. To battle these decreases, I've tried several things and I'll tell you the ones that have worked. First thing is obviously to become more emotionally relaxed. Stop stressing out, or remove most stress from your life. This isn't always possible, I understand, but learn to relax. The second thing is to periodically look away from the computer screen and look 30 or so feet away for a few seconds. I try to do this every 10 minutes or so... It's probably better to do it more frequently than that though. That's really all I do, and just these two things have prevented my vision from deteriorating rapidly like it used to. Whenever my vision worsens, I do those two things and it goes back to it's current state unlike in the past when it would continue decreasing.

Also, for up close work, I use my older eyeglass prescriptions. My vision deteriorates A LOT if I do up close work using my current prescription.

[Dive Bomb]

I was searching the web and found a list of tips here

[votoshka]

I have needed glasses for myopia since I was 13. My vision deteriorated quite significantly in the year before I was prescribed glasses (the previous year, I could sit at the back of the classroom and read the blackboard, by the time I needed glasses I needed to sit at the front of the room, and even then it was a strain).

The worst deterioration in my vision, however, happened before I was about 18 or so. In the years since then, my eyes have remained fairly constant (I'm now 34). Now, the thing is, in the years my eyes were deteriorating I was spending a lot LESS time in front of a computer screen than I do now!

Now, I am not saying that spending a long time in front of a computer doesn't affect your vision, or your eye health, but I think that for many people with myopia, the worst changes occur during their teens, regardless of other habits. (The same is true for other family members of mine).

Now, to be fair, I did do a LOT of reading when I was younger (and still do) so maybe that had a negative impact? But over the past few years I've spent hours and hours in front of a computer screen each day, with no real impact on my vision.