Spending more than nine hours a day looking at a computer screen, as the average American does, can take a toll on your eye health. Nastaran Golriz, OD, diagnoses and treats computer vision syndrome at idoc Optical in Washington, DC. If you have eyestrain, frequent headaches, or neck and shoulder pain, call idoc Optical or make an appointment online today.
Sometimes called digital eyestrain, computer vision syndrome is a group of vision and eye problems that stem from spending too much time looking at a computer screen, tablet, e-reader, or smartphone.
Among the symptoms of computer vision syndrome are:
In addition to spending prolonged time staring at your computer screen, your risk of developing computer vision syndrome increases if there is poor lighting or glare on your screen. You might also have trouble if your screen is at an incorrect viewing distance or if you have poor posture.
Computer vision syndrome ranges in severity, and your experience depends on your visual abilities and how much time you spend looking at screens. You should make an appointment with Dr. Golriz if you notice any symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome.
The condition is progressive, and your symptoms become more severe and disruptive if you don’t get help. Additionally, other eye health or vision problems can cause similar symptoms, so it’s best to get an accurate diagnosis.
Untreated computer vision syndrome can also cause other eye issues like astigmatism, presbyopia, and diabetic eye problems to worsen.
Dr. Golriz provides comprehensive eye exams, including computer eye syndrome assessments. She measures your visual acuity, checking for changes in your vision, and uses refraction to test potential corrective lens prescriptions.
She also tests your eye coordination and focus to evaluate how well your eyes work together and how well they transition from looking at a near object to something in the distance. She also checks for signs of dry eye and talks to you about other symptoms.
Dr. Golriz provides the correct prescription for glasses or contact lenses. She might recommend adding a blue light-filtering coating to your eyeglass lenses.
Dr. Golriz also recommends that you follow the 20-20-20 rule. When you’re working at a computer, shift your gaze to something 20 feet away for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. You should also give yourself a 15-minute break for every two hours you spend on your computer.
Keep your workstation in mind, too. You can adjust the position and height of your screen to optimize viewing, and you might also want to add lighting.
Call idoc Optical today or make an appointment online if you’re concerned about computer vision or any other eye issues.
