Computer Vision Syndrome

Remember when carpal tunnel syndrome was all the rage? Now it’s CVS...

If you’ve noticed a difference in your vision – you might just have CVS – computer vision syndrome. It’s a result of too much screen time and optometrist’s appointment books are filling up with people complaining of symptoms - such as headaches, dry eyes, double vision and neck or back ache. There are a few things you can do to stave off CVS:

• Lighting – ambient lighting should be about half as bright as that typically found in most offices. Your computer should be positioned without any windows in front or behind it.

• Glare – reflections on your screen or nearby surfaces need to be eliminated.

• Monitor – adjust your display setting so the brightness of the screen is about the same as the work environment. If your screen looks like a light source – it too bright. It’s also a good idea to increase the text and font size to reduce strain.

Give yourself some visual breaks, don’t forget to blink – and get up and walk around once in a while. If you work on a computer monitor all day – computer glasses are a really good idea.