Computer Vision Syndrome

The Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a temporary condition resulting from focusing your eyes on a computer screen for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time.

Symptoms of the Computer Vision Syndrome include headaches, blurred vision, polyopia (multiple vision, you see one object as more than one), redness of the eyes, eye strain, dry eyes, irritated eyes, double vision, vertigo, dizziness and some difficulty in refocusing your eyes. Other physical symptoms are neck pain and fatigue.

These symptoms can be further aggravated by improper lighting conditions (i.e. glare or bright overhead lighting) or air moving past the eyes (e.g. overhead vents, direct air from a fan).

Some studies claim that some 90% of people who spend three hours or more a day at a computer are affected.

Research[1] has found that maintaining ideal distance from screen, keeping level of eyes above the top of screen, taking frequent breaks, using LCD monitors and using antiglare screen and adjusting brightness levels according to workplace reduced these ocular complaints to a significant level.

[1] Agarwal et al: Evaluation of the Factors which Contribute to the Ocular Complaints in Computer Users in Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research - 2013