COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME
Today Computer has become a way of life. It has transgressed all barriers of age. Not only do we use the computer for both work and play, but, with the development of the world wide web, we are using computers for nearly all aspects of our life.

Viewing a computer screen is a visually demanding task that requires good functioning of the eyes: good acuteness of vision (visual acuity), good focus of the eyes on the screen and reference materials, and good eye movement and coordination.

To complicate what is already a demanding visual task, there are often compromises in the visual environment such as: screen reflections, glare from lighting, poor images on the screen and improper location of the screen or other work materials.

As a result many people develop what is known as Computer Vision Syndrome - CVS. It's most common symptoms are

• Eyestrain (sore eyes or eye fatigue)
• Headache
• Near blurred vision
• Slowness in changing the focus of the eyes (distance to near and back)
• Blur in the distance after near work
• Glare (light) sensitivity
• Eye irritation (burning, dryness, redness)
• Contact lens discomfort
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Back pain
• A viewing distance of 20-28 inches is most common and recommended.
• The center of the computer screen should be 4-9 inches below your eyes. Your eyes work best with a slight downward gaze. If the computer screen is higher than this, it causes an awkward posture (tilting the head backward) that contributes to sore neck, back, or shoulder.

• Indirect lighting
• No back lights falling directly on your computer screen
• Less colour contrasting screen. Best would be white letters on a black background or in case of colour monitors, grey-pink and white, or green blue and white combinations work very well.
• Eliminate bright lights from your peripheral vision .
• Excessive eye, head and body movements between your reference material and the screen can cause discomfort.