Do you experience burning eyes, blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, or neck and shoulder pain during computer use? If you do, you might be experiencing Computer Vision Syndrome.
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or ‘digital eye strain’ describes a group of eye- and vision-related disorders that result from prolonged viewing of digital screens (i.e. computer, cell phone, tablets). CVS symptoms tend to occur when the visual demand of the digital task exceeds the individual’s ability and may occur due to poor print contrast, decreased print clarity, and/or the presence of glare and reflections.
In some cases symptoms associated with CVS can be alleviated by measuring the distance from the eyes to the computer screen and having the eye doctor use this measurement to design a computer-specific eyeglass prescription. Simple changes such as altering the angle of the computer screen, modifying ambient lighting, correcting poor posture, and/or the use of eyeglass lenses specifically designed for computer use can also be helpful.
Another modification is to implement the 20-20-20- Rule: Every 20 minutes look at a target at least 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. However, if an individual has problems with visual skills such as eye teaming, focusing, and tracking, these adjustments will not be enough. At Snider Therapy Centers, these specific visual abilities are evaluated during the initial Neuro-Visual Assessment. If found to be an issue, a therapy program utilizing phototherapy, lenses, and vision therapy can be designed to remediate the visual conditions and resolve the symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome.