Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS): A Reminder For All Computer Users
Using a computer and staring at the screens for a couple of hours every day can be harmful to the eyes. It can lead to digital eye strain/CVS or computer vision syndrome. If you think you are one of those people who use their computer and other electronic mobile devices for a couple of hours each day, then you must know these important facts about CVS.
Gone were the days when people do almost all things manually. There is no doubt, everything seems to be getting more computerized nowadays. Many of today's jobs require the employees to use the computer for a couple of hours per day. According to optometrists, using the computer and staring at the screens for extended periods of time can be harmful to the eyes. It can lead to digital eye strain or CVS or computer vision syndrome.
If you think you are one of those people who use their computer, smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and other electronic mobile devices for a couple of hours each day, you might want to protect your eyes against computer vision syndrome. Here are a few things that every optometrist wants people to know about CVS.
What is CVS?
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as digital eye strain, is the term used to describe the range of vision and eye-related issues and disorders that are caused by the prolonged usage of the computer. People who are suffering from CVS experience vision problems, and eye discomfort. Depending on how long you usually stare at your digital device, the condition can be mild to severe.
Signs and symptoms of CVS
The common signs and symptoms of CVS include blurry vision, eyestrain, eye fatigue, dry eyes, headaches, discomfort, scratchy eyes, neck and/or shoulder pain.
A person with CVS may or may not experience all of these signs and symptoms. Each individual is unique and with that each may not experience exactly the same symptoms. The symptoms will vary according to your posture, the lighting you use, the number of hours you spend staring at your digital device screen, the glare or brightness, the range of the monitor, and the current condition of your eyes.
How to treat CVS?
While there are different ways to avoid CVS or to at least minimize the severity of its symptoms, it is still highly recommended that you consult an optometrist. The eye doctor can help you relieve the CVS symptoms in a safer and more effective way through creating a treatment plan that perfectly fits your needs.
Who is more prone to CVS?
People working from home or freelance virtual workers as well as office encoders and online gamers are just among those who are more prone to this type of eye-related syndrome because they tend to spend an average of 6 hours per day staring at their computer screens. But CVS does not only affect those who are computer users but also those individuals who are users of smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and other electronic mobile devices. It can even affect children and young people who use electronic mobile devices for extended periods of time or who stare at the computer screen all day at school especially if they have poor posture.
Moreover, people who are currently suffering from or who have experienced aging eyes, astigmatism, farsightedness, diabetic eye problems, or presbyopia are vulnerable to CVS. If you are wearing a pair of prescription contact lenses or eyeglasses, it is better to talk to your optometrist during the eye exam to know if your prescription is ideal for long hours of screen time or if you need another set of glasses to minimize your eyes' sensitivity to computer vision syndrome.