Can Heavy Computer Usage Wreck Your Eyes?

It should come as no surprise that as kids spend more and more time on computers, the chances of them experiencing computer eye strain will increase.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Internet access in schools increased from 35 percent to 95 percent from 1994 to 1999, and a recent Roper Starch Survey indicated the average American child now spends one to three hours per day on the computer. As computer usage increases, more cases of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) are being reported. 

CVS is eye-strain that results from near work on the computer. It can cause headaches, sore eyes, blurry vision, fatigue and potentially even myopia (near-sightedness) among students.

In order to help prevent students from suffering the effects of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), The Vision Therapy Center has developed a free poster which displays proper visual habits for viewing a computer screen or smart phone.

The poster, with easy-to-follow graphics, was created due to the increasing computer usage and consequent stress placed on people’s visual systems. “The demands on the visual system dramatically increase as our education, work and entertainment become more dependent on computers,” said Dr. Kellye Knueppel, developmental optometrist at The Vision Therapy Center in Brookfield. 

However, Dr. Knueppel cautions that just because a person is spending more time at the computer doesn’t mean they’re going to get CVS.

She notes that the risk people face isn’t necessarily from high computer and smart phone usage. In fact, many people will be able to use computers to this extended degree without acquiring CVS.  “The risk occurs when people don’t view these screens in the proper manner,” she said.

To download the poster detailing the tips to avoid computer eye strain, click here.