Prolonged computer use can cause eye strain, leading to pain, dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. LCD screens are less straining, but must be calibrated correctly. Resting the eyes can alleviate symptoms, but it is unclear if computer screens can cause permanent damage over time.
Ever since the popularity of computers started the rapid rise, there have been questions associated with computer screens and eye strain. Some say the evidence is clear that they can damage a person’s eyesight. After all, if they cause eye strain and discomfort, that’s the body’s way of saying something. However, the extent to which computer screens damage vision is unclear.
There is a lot that is known. Firstly, eye strain from prolonged computer use is a fact, although some people are more susceptible than others. Second, it can usually be prevented or alleviated in a few simple steps. Third, technology, which is partially responsible for the problem, may also offer a partial solution.
There are many symptoms that often arise due to eye strain from computer screens. It might start with some pain. Then, it can progress to dry eyes, blurred vision, and even headaches. Taking a 15- to 15-minute break every hour is a good way to avoid this problem and rest your eyes, although some employers may not be as generous with their break times. If possible, split up your computer activities and non-computer activities during the day as much as possible.
One of the major improvements in computer screens has also helped. LCD screens tend to be much less straining on the eyes than traditional CRT computer screens. However, even an LCD screen, if it’s not calibrated correctly or if it’s too bright, can be just as hard on the eyes. This is very important as many people tend to keep their LCD screens too bright, simply because they are not looking at them from the correct angle and may be trying to compensate for the ‘screen door’ effect.
Fortunately, most eye damage, if you have to call it that, from using computer screens tends to be a short-term situation. Once the eyes are rested, the symptoms tend to disappear quickly. However, if your eyes are not rested enough, symptoms may return more quickly than they initially appeared after computer activity resumes.
While these short-term effects are well documented, the main question on people’s minds is whether computer screens are capable of causing permanent damage over time. There’s not enough data on this question one way or another. While many who work in office environments and have worked with computers their entire lives have developed eye problems, many others have not. Perhaps in the future research will be completed that can fully answer this question.
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