COmputer or mylot addicts: Dry eyes?It could be your computer.

Philippines
February 9, 2007 3:59pm CST
I guess this is true that computers can cause eyes to dry because of prolonged focus of your eyes to the computers which makes you blink less. I was looking for an answer to my question because i have observed this many times that my eyes dry to prolonged focus on the monitor. I've read this magazine (good housekeeping) wherein there is a discussion about it.It says that if you tend to squint at the monitor,you'll end up blinking less and that in turn will mean dry eyes. There was a study also in Ohio State University, computer users who squinted even a tiny bit wound up blinking at half their normal rate."We squint by reflex whenever we have trouble seeing," says lead researcher who is a professor of optometry (an eye doctor). To minimize squinting, first check your step. Maybe a bright lamp is causing trouble. Or perhaps the brightness control on the monitor needs adjusting or you need new glasses. Then, as you work, consiously relax the muscles around your eyes. And rest every 20minutes by looking away from the monitor,toward something in the distance. SO,have you observed this during spending time on your computers?
3 responses
@patrush (13)
• Indonesia
10 Feb 07
I never had any problem with my eyes caused by computer... Eventough I'm using glasses it caused by reading to many book while in bed... Every 15 minutes I'm using computer I always at least looking away from my computer and each 2 hours I usually take a short walk from my desk to get some rest... Just for your info I'm using computer almost 10-14 hours a day...
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 07
It's really good that you've the habit of taking a break every 15 minutes looking at the computer. I am just always concentrating on my work, looking at the monitor and forget about letting my eyes to rest. I gotta remind myself of that. ^_^
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
Oh!I could not last that long in a computer coz my eyes is so sensitive to light. I am using glasses for my astigmatism.I'll give you a tip where to look to because it helps...Try to llok for green things because that color is relaxing to our eyes.
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
10 Feb 07
I always thought dry eyes is because of the radiation from the monitor. I didn't know it's because of the less blinking eyes too. Thanks for the tips. Yeah, the idea of getting rest for your eyes after 20 minutes of working is really helpful. I'm a programmer, and my daily work is to look at the monitor for the whole day. Once, my eyes got really painful and I went and checked out from the clinic. and the doctor said, I gotta really take a rest after 20 minutes, otherwise I might need to change job. After that, I really have to force myself to take a break after some period looking at the monitor, and slowly my eyes became better. And I realized that CRT monitor actually makes the eyes worse than the LCD monitor.
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
You must take good care of your eyes,since your job requires you to stay on the computer the whole day. And try to see green things because its a relaxing color.
• United States
10 Feb 07
the number one reason for dry eyes is humidity. The numbetr two is environmental particulation. If you are in a room where the drywall is thick and chalky, that alone will cause dry eye. The computer emits a light in your eye, but also being in a room with computer on with bright lights on at all times can also be more of a dry eye causing culprit.
• Philippines
10 Feb 07
This sharing of yours add up to my knowledge. I didnt think those other factors contributes to drying of our eyes. What an informative response.