Approximately 70 million Americans use computers at work. Over 100 million use the Internet regularly. As the use of computers in the workplace and at home continues to grow, and increasing number of people are experiencing the symptoms of computer-related eyestrain. These people could relieve associated eyestrain, focusing difficulty, neck and shoulder pain, fatigue and headache by using a computer specific prescription. This prescription is different than their daily eye glasses and here's why:

Reading material on a computer screen is not the same as reading regular print. Images on computer screens are made up of hundreds of tiny dots called pixels which have a bright center and a fading, indistinct edge. This lack of a defined edge makes comfortable focusing impossible. Consequently, an individual's focus drifts beyond or further away than the true location of the screen to a "resting focal point". The effort to constantly refocus back to the true location of the computer screen creates fatigue. This repetitive stress on the eye muscles causes the symptoms just mentioned above.

One of the first things an individual should do is make sure there is not excess lighting and glare on the screen. Also the screen should be just lower than their line of sight, when their head is held in a straight forward direction; the chin should not be raised or lowered but in a comfortable natural posture. Their seat should have support for the base of the back and the individual should be sitting with their back straight.

Our office will use special equipment and objective testing techniques and procedures to eliminate the constant refocusing created by the computer screen. We will suggest a lens prescription specifically for your situation and work environment. Did you know there are variable focusing (mini-progressive) lenses available just for this kind of task? Standard progressive lenses have smaller "zones" of clear vision for specific distances and may be too restrictive for comfortable computer use.

Patients should also realize the use of artificial tears is suggested for those using a computer more that three hours per day or who use soft contact lenses. Studies have shown that when people concentrate in front of the screen, their blink rate reduces in half. Many of the commercial over the counter artificial tears or soft lens lubricants will do an adequate job at relieving dry, irritated red eyes.