| Millions of Americans go to work every day to | | | | are required to get eye exams each year to |
| sit at a computer for 8 or more hours, seven | | | | renew their lens prescription, it's important |
| days a week. While office work is hardly | | | | for those who don't wear contacts as well. |
| considered to be a "dangerous" job, several | | | | Tracking the health of your eyes will allow |
| years ago, doctors began to notice that | | | | your optometrist to identify whether or not |
| certain afflictions are becoming increasingly | | | | you're experiencing a deterioration of vision |
| common among those who use computers all day | | | | due to CVS. |
| long. | | | | |
| | | | Dr. Wan also contends that proper lighting is |
| First, the medical community became aware of | | | | important, citing that eyestrain can be |
| CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome), a painful and | | | | caused by excessive lighting either coming in |
| sometimes debilitating inflammation in the | | | | through a window, or from interior lighting |
| wrist, arms, and hands. In response to the | | | | itself. Dim your lights when using a |
| increased number of office workers being | | | | computer. |
| diagnosed with CTS, computer furniture | | | | |
| manufacturers began to develop ergonomically | | | | Glare is another factor that Dr. Wan claims |
| correct keyboards and keyboard trays, as well | | | | can cause CVS. In addition to adding an |
| as computer chairs that offer more | | | | anti-reflective coating to your eyeglasses, |
| comfortable seating for computer use. Now, | | | | glare can be prevented by anti-glare screens |
| many employers provide ergonomically correct | | | | attached to your monitor, or by using an LCD |
| workstations for their office staff and CTS | | | | monitor arm. LCD monitor arms actually allow |
| is on the decline. | | | | you to tilt or slide your monitor at the |
| | | | touch of a finger, eliminating strain as the |
| Unfortunately, a new hazard has now taken the | | | | light in the room changes. We found |
| place of CTS. It's called CVS (Computer | | | | affordable, high-quality LCD monitors online |
| Vision Syndrome), and is caused by prolonged | | | | at Versa Products, Inc. |
| visual exposure to a computer screen. CVS | | | | |
| has, in the past two years, become the number | | | | Adjusting the brightness of your computer |
| one health complaint of office employees. | | | | screen can also help. Optimize for comfort |
| | | | which may mean either reducing or increasing |
| Like CTS, Computer Vision Syndrome is also | | | | the brightness. Find one that feels |
| preventable. There are a few things you can | | | | comfortable to your eyes. |
| do to reduce the sensitivity and eye strain | | | | |
| associated with computer work. According to | | | | Interestingly, Dr. Wan also tells his |
| optometrist Dr. Larry K. Wan, there are five | | | | patients to blink more often. When staring at |
| key ways to reduce the effects of CVS. | | | | a computer screen, we tend to blink less than |
| | | | we normally do-a process which keeps the eyes |
| Dr. Wan suggests getting regular eye exams, | | | | lubricated and comfortable. Make a point of |
| which means (according to NIOSH-the National | | | | blinking more often and every half hour, |
| Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) | | | | blink about ten times in a row, slowly. This |
| once a year. While many contact-lens wearers | | | | will help reduce the effects of CVS as well. |