Is your computer screen making you feel sick? Have headaches, eyestrain, and neck strain? Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a problem where prolonged exposure to blue light has negative side effects on the eyes. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of CVS and how to cope with it.

Table of Contents

What is Blue light syndrome / Computer vision syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is a common condition that affects people who use computers for an extended period of time. It’s a type of eye strain because you’re looking at a screen all day long. Symptoms include: headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry eyes and irritated eyelids.

Computer vision syndrome is an eye condition that affects many people who work too long on their computer screen. It can cause headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and even soreness. Symptoms usually set in when a person spends six hours or more staring at a computer screen. If you think you may be experiencing the sensations of this condition, there are steps you can take to feel better quickly.

Effects of blue light on eyes?

Blue light especially of wavelength 300 to 400 nm can penetrate the cornea and can be absorbed by iris and pupils. In kids it can even penetrate lenses and can bombard the retina. Kids using more mobiles, laptops and Tv screens for video games and entertainment and study can get affected more severely.

Cornea: Blue light leads to production of more free radicals and damages human corneal epithelial cells causing their apoptosis.
Lens: Lens is situated behind cornea suspended in liquid solution absorbs some of blue light preventing its reach upto retina. This protective effect is partial and it takes a toll on lenses, making it more susceptible to cataract formation.
Retina: Some blue light even reaches the retina, especially in kids and produces retinal damages. It damages the phytochemicals in the retina which are essential for the sensation of light and colour.
Circadian rhythm: Excessive exposure to blue light produces imbalance in melatonin hormone level which regulates the sleep wake cycle called as circadian rhythm. Disturbed sleep level leads to imbalance in other hormone levels like corticosteroids and androgens. In the long term this can lead to obesity and obesity related illnesses.

Long term effects of blue light

Exposure to blue light more than 2 hours a day with use of smartphones, TV, laptops, tablets, leads to the following damaging effects on eyes.

Retinal damage
Higher chances of refractive errors
Age related eye conditions
Nervous tics
Reduced visual performance

Short term effects of blue light

Blurred eye vision
Redness of eyes
Eye strain
Eye fatigue

Causes of Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome is a long-term eye disorder that’s caused by the excessive use of a computer, mobiles and video games, TV screens. It includes dryness, redness, or irritation in the eyes. This condition can be prevented by taking regular breaks from work and decreasing the time spent on your computer screen in general.

If you work at a fixed position for many hours each day and have not changed positions in a while, it’s likely that the joints in your neck are stiffened and creating tension for your head. This tension can cause headaches and neck pain, which is known as Screen Burn.

Lower back pain is a common symptom of RSI, but it can also be caused by other issues such as a stiff neck. Screen Burn is an issue that can be treated by physically stretching your body to help relieve the tension in the neck, shoulders, and arms.

This can include throwing a ball against a wall and then catching it, or putting pressure on your shoulder blades together.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is an overuse injury of the hands, wrists and arms for which you need to take more than usual breaks from typing or other deskwork. It’s also common for people to have this type of injury when they do repetitive tasks, such as filing papers or working on a computer.

What are symptoms of Blue light syndrome / Computer vision syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is a condition that occurs when too much blue light enters your eyes. There are many symptoms, but the most common one for people who are experiencing this problem is blurry vision.

Computer vision syndrome is a condition that happens when eye strain and exposure to blue light screens like laptops, smartphones, televisions, tablets, and computers cause symptoms such as eye strain, dry eyes and headaches. Symptoms typically begin within an hour of using a computer or digital device for long periods of time.

Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS is a condition that aggravates vision and may cause headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue. This syndrome is caused by prolonged use of computing devices. Eye strain can be reduced with breaks from the computer and by using an anti-reflective lens which will block 99% of the blue light reaching the eye.

Treatment of Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome is the name for a group of symptoms that can occur after prolonged use of computer screens. Symptoms include eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and neck pain. Symptoms are usually caused by the strain on the muscles in the eye from focusing on a screen too close for too many hours at a time.

Treatment includes rest periods and medical treatment if needed. Macular Degeneration. Macular Degeneration is a disease that affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for focusing and central vision. The macula is one of two layers in the back of the eye that contain light-sensitive photoreceptors. Fortunately, macular degeneration does not cause blind spots or loss of central vision. Early treatment can decrease your risk of developing more advanced macular degeneration and loss of central vision.

Other Treatments: Other treatments are important to get through the rehabilitation and therapy process. Losing strength in your eyes can cause vision loss, so it’s important to exercise the eyes. The ophthalmologist will help you practise using your feet and hands for a few minutes a day.

If your vision is blurry or blurred even when you are not wearing glasses, then you may want to consider new lenses. Your vision will improve if you are able to correct blurred vision and or a visual field defect with the use of glasses in addition to your cane, crutches or wheelchair. Early detection is important as this disease can progress rapidly, so it’s important to get help at the earliest stage possible.

Prevention and Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a condition that leads to eye strain, eyestrain, and other problems. The symptoms are often caused by the improper use of a computer for a prolonged period of time. These symptoms can range from dry eyes and nose, redness of the eyes, fatigue, headaches, neck pain, and even blurred vision. To prevent Computer Vision Syndrome, people should stop using their computers for extended periods and take frequent breaks so they can see better without focusing on their computer screen. Should You Take a Computer Vision Break?

It is recommended that computer users take regular breaks from their screens. This way, they can avoid getting a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome. A research study by the University of Melbourne showed that eye strain after using a computer for more than two hours on average can lead to blurred vision, dry eyes and headaches. The most common symptoms include blurry monitors, eyestrain, neck pain, headaches and dry eyes. To prevent these conditions, people should take a break once every two hours.

Monitors can be polarised or non-polarized, and the former is recommended for maximum vision rather than the latter. The main difference is that when viewed directly from the side, non-polarized monitors block some of the bright light from reaching your eyes. Monitors can also be rotated to help prevent eye strain.

What are the different types of computer vision syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is a condition that occurs when the eyes are not given enough time to rest. This can happen in many ways, but most commonly occurs during long hours of computer use when there is an abnormally high amount of light and glare in the area. Symptoms may include headaches, flushed skin around the eyes, eyestrain, and eye pain. What are the different types of computer vision syndrome? Computer vision syndrome is a condition that occurs when the eyes are not given enough time to rest. This can happen in many ways, but most commonly occurs during long hours of computer use when there is an abnormally high amount of light and glare in the area. Symptoms may include headaches, flushed skin around the eyes, eyestrain, and eye pain.

How can you take steps to reduce the risk of computer vision syndrome?

Computer vision syndrome is a pain that affects people who use computers for long periods of time. It occurs when your eyes become dry and tired, causing blurry vision and eye fatigue. There are some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of computer vision syndrome.

First, make sure you use a proper height adjustable desk.
Your back should be in a neutral position with your hands on the keyboard and mouse.
Your face should be 15-20 degrees from the monitor so your eyes can focus easily on both objects.
Monitor should be 4-5 inches below eye level.
Monitor should be 20-28 inches for the eyes.
If you have trouble focusing, use an eye drop that is designed for dry or tired eyes.
Finally, try not to look at the screen too close or too far away for long periods of time. Your eyes will adapt in time.

Blue light filters

Computer vision syndrome or CVS is a condition that can cause eye strain, headaches, and other symptoms. It is triggered by too much computer use and blue light emitted from computer monitors. Computer vision syndrome can also be caused by looking at your smartphone in the evening before bedtime.

The best way to prevent getting caught up in computer vision syndrome is to wear orange tinted glasses while using computers. If you are already suffering from CVS or if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to reduce your usage of computers and stop using your phone in the evening before bedtime.

Computer vision syndrome, also known as digital eye strain, is a result of staring at screens for long periods of time. Excessive computer use can lead to eye fatigue and exhaustion. To avoid this in the future, try wearing blue light filters when using screens at night. Using a red or amber light filter will also help prevent the symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

A great way to cure computer vision syndrome is to use a blue light filter. Blue light filtering glasses are available at most eyeglasses stores and online. The screen filters block out harmful blue light from screens. Even though there are prescription blue light filters on the market, many people prefer using non-prescription blue light filters that don’t require a prescription. Blue light filters are safer to use than filters that block out UV and infrared light, which can also cause computer vision syndrome. A blue light filter is a great solution for people who work at computers all day. The filter protects the eyes from the harmful blue light that causes computer vision syndrome by blocking it with glass. You can also wear a blue light filter while using the computer if you need to prevent symptoms of computer vision syndrome. When using on-screen and web-based applications, such as e-mail, Skype or Facebook, the filter helps reduce eye strain by reducing the amount of blue light being emitted.

What to look for in a non-prescription blue light filter?

Blue light filters typically block out wavelengths between 400 and 500 nanometers. They don’t block any visible light except at the very short end of their spectrum. Visible light is not harmful to your eyes, but it can cause computer vision syndrome if you stare at the monitor for long periods of time. The long-term effects of blue light exposure are not well understood, but we do know that it increases your risk for eye strain and other health problems. Even short-term exposure can cause damage to the retina and other parts of your vision system. So, if you wear contact lenses, you should also use a blue light filter while using the computer. If a non-prescription blue light filter doesn’t work for you, consider purchasing an inexpensive prescription blue light filter that blocks out most of the damaging blue light. This will help to reduce your chances of eye strain. You can also use a tinted green lens when using the computer and a magnifying glass to focus on small objects or text. If you have any questions, ask your optometrist about options for using computer equipment that reduces the risk of eye damage.

References

Randolph, S. A. (2017). Computer vision syndrome. Workplace health & safety, 65(7), 328-328.
Blehm, C., Vishnu, S., Khattak, A., Mitra, S., & Yee, R. W. (2005). Computer vision syndrome: a review. Survey of ophthalmology, 50(3), 253-262.
Loh, K. Y., & Redd, S. C. (2008). Understanding and preventing computer vision syndrome. Malaysian family physician: the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia, 3(3), 128.
Leung, T. W., Li, R. W. H., & Kee, C. S. (2017). Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses: optical and clinical performances. PloS one, 12(1), e0169114.
Kimberly, B., & James R, P. (2009). Amber lenses to block blue light and improve sleep: a randomized trial. Chronobiology international, 26(8), 1602-1612.