Human eye vs. computer screen (Who is winning?)

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Computer Vision Syndrome Did you know that a normal human being blinks 20 times in a minute, whereas a computer user blinks only 7 times a minute!

Have you ever had eyestrain, blurred vision, delayed focusing, headaches, back and neck aches, dry and burning eyes, light sensitivity, distorted color vision, forehead heaviness, or sore eyes after using a computer for long periods at a time?

Quick fixes for common eye strain

  1. Blurred vision; red eyes: Get a full glass of water and drink the entire glass, then blink and rub your eyes gently, blink and rub, blink and rub. (Also see recommendations below)
  2. Migraine or bad headache: Massage your temples on both sides of your face. Dim or lower the environmental lighting around you if you can. If that still does not help, then chug 2 bottles of Gatorade.

Recommendation(s)
It has been suggested that after 20 minutes of computer use, you should take a 20 second eye focus break and look at objects that are 20 feet away from you.

Be sure to adjust your monitor refresh rate to the highest available setting as it is easier on your eyes.

Helpful tools such as Eye Defender http://www.eterlab.com/eyedefender/ is a freeware download from Eterlab that will automatically interrupt your work and make you take a short eye break.

3 for 1 special: Get off your butt and take a water break.

  1. This will remove the computer from your vision and help relax your eyes
  2. Help hydrate your eyes and overall body as we all need a large source of water in our daily diet.
  3. Exercise your body by going to the water cooler or getting a refill of water.

This article is not intended to inform your employer that you need more breaks or that your computer is causing any permanent damage to your health, however this article is trying to help you be aware of your personal health and ways to prevent temporary strain on your eyes. So who is winning, your eyes or the computer screen? You be the judge as you can control this for yourself. Delay no further and take control to knock your monitor out by doing the recommendations listed above.

Good luck and we wish you all many more years of safe computer use.

Eye Strain related illnesses for further research:
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)