Modern lifestyle has made some equipment and devices came into our lives to stay; smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops and video games are part of our lives and a trend in the future; for that reason, everyone in the world uses one or several devices daily, either at work, school or home.
To a greater or minor extent, we are constantly exposed to the use of screens and its artificial lights, which in time may jeopardize our visual health, generating a condition known as the Computer Visual Syndrome. Accordingly, maybe you are wondering, what is it? How to know if we have? And how can I prevent it?
In an attempt to answer these questions, let us first understand that the Computer Visual Syndrome is a set of eye discomfort, and even bodily, resulting from overexposure to the artificial lights of computers’ screens and other electronic devices.
While these annoyances are temporary, eventually they could jeopardize our vision, thus, our life quality. Therefore, it is important to identify the symptoms caused by this disease, which include: eye fatigue, redness of eyes and eyelids, double and blurred vision, burning and dry eyes, tearing, light hypersensitivity, nausea, dizziness, general fatigue, concentration difficulties and headaches, as well as neck, back, wrists and shoulders pain.
If you are related to one or more of these symptoms, it is advisable to take into consideration the following measures to avoid or minimize the impact of this disease on your health:
Maintain a proper posture: Use a chair to support your body, keeping your feet at a 90 degrees angle perpendicularly to the floor. The back should remain straight and against the chair.
Use adequate lighting: Excessive lighting could generate reflections on the screen. Also, you can reduce the brightness of the screen, so colors look smoother; and you do not have to use these devices in the dark, as it will require a greater visual effort, causing more fatigue.
Maintain and hold the right distance: Ensure that the screen device is not too close to your eyes, but slightly below them.
Moisturize your eyes: Use artificial teardrops which may help to minimize eye dryness. You can also blink or keep your eyes closed for 20 seconds at a time.
Apply the 20-20-20 rule: That is to look aside the screen for 20 seconds every 20 twenty minutes, focusing you vision at a 20 feet (6 meters) distance to relax your eyes.
In addition to these measures, the most important is to raise awareness on your family, friends and co-workers about the effects and the popper use we give to electronic devices. Use technology appropriately to avoid the side effects!
It surely comes handy in this technological era that we are living, and definitely I feel related to at least three of the symptoms describe above.