At work and at play, digital devices such as computers, gaming consoles and mobile devices bombard the eye with flickering images. The result: a troublesome present and a painful future.
“Radiation emitted from various techno gadgets is one of the main factors that cause eye stress,” says Usha Shridhar, consultant ophthalmologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Bangalore. “Up to 90% of people who use computers regularly face a lot of eye strain,” adds Sameer Kaushal, consultant ophthalmologist, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon. In addition, people blink less while staring at a screen, aggravating dryness in the eyes caused by dry air circulating in air-conditioned rooms.
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The stress from the extended use of digital video devices such as computer monitors can ultimately lead to what is called computer vision syndrome (CVS), manifested as severe pain in the eyes, accompanied by headaches. The eyes can also gradually weaken, a condition referred to as asthenopia. “When the retina is exposed to UV (ultraviolet) rays emitted by (such) gadgets, it can also result in minor refractive errors,” says Dr Shridhar.
Frequent computer users are at greater risk of developing glaucoma. Specialists also believe flat television screens affect eye development, leading to nearsightedness and focusing problems, as the human eye is designed to see objects in 3D, using stereoscopic vision: The image of an object created by both our eyes is slightly different because of their relative positioning. The brain combines the two images to give a sense of depth. Hence, watching flat surfaces for long periods affects eyesight.
Telltale symptoms
Eye strain, headache, blurred vision, dry eyes and neck and back pain are the five major symptoms of CVS, a rapidly spreading but largely unrecognized epidemic among both professional and ordinary computer users, according to a study by researchers at the University of Albany, US, and Wenzhou Medical College, China, published in September. It is a condition that is becoming increasingly common as the world goes digital. The American Optometric Association (AOA) adds to the list of CVS symptoms (from staring at a computer screen for long periods): tired and sore eyes, glare sensitivity, and shoulder pain. The AOA estimates that around 50% of computer users experience such symptoms.
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Preventive measures
People who work at a digital screen for around 7 hours daily should be alert to the first signs of eye strain. The signs can vary across individuals: For instance, both excessive watering and dry eye, though seemingly opposite phenomena, are symptoms of visual stress.