Today we are sharing an interesting infographic from Vision Direct UK that reveals how Computer Vision Syndrome can affect your eyes.

Computers have made all of our lives so much easier. We’re lucky to have computers in our daily lives making work easier. We love our computers that allow us to blog and share our love for ergonomic products! However, computers have also cause a number of problems from extended use like back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and eye strain.

When you strain your eyes on a computer for a long time you can cause major problems with your sight which also causes other side effects. Eye strain can lead to problems with headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Spending more time in front of a computer for work can only lead to making these problems worse.

The following infographic shares info on how to counteract this problem and help relieve eye strain. The tips included in the eye strain infographic are easy to follow. They don’t require you to make major changes in your lifestyle, so it’s easy to get started TODAY with combating eye strain.

Here’s the infographic transcript in case you can’t see the image:

Do you have digital eye strain?

Anyone in front of a digital screen is at risk.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is the medical term for digital eye strain.

Eye Strain Symptoms:

• Redness or irritation
• Blurred vision
• Dry eyes
• General fatigue
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headaches

What Is Eye Strain:

Eye strain is caused by over-use of digital devices and the eyes having to constantly refocus and reposition to process content like graphics and text. (And this info graphic! OMG!)

Now the most common computer-related repetitive strain injury – more than tendonitis.

Fewer than 1 in 5 adults have heard of the condition.

Eye Strain Causes:

Blinking moisturizes the eye. The average person blinks around 18 times per minute. This is halved when looking at a computer or other digital device.

Children aged between 8 and 18 are exposed to 17.5 more hours per week of digital media today then they were in the 1990s.

Digital content is created by thousands of pixels. When spaced far apart these become distorted which causes stress and strain on the eyes. This is caused pixilation.

Eye Strain Results:

After spending two or more hours looking at digital devices you can experience dry eyes, blurred vision, irritation, eye fatigue, headaches, neck and back pain.

Dry eyes can result from reduced blinking rates.

Headaches can be cause by repeated eye strain.

General fatigue can occur from staring at screens and straining to see small fonts and images.

Eye Strain Solution:

Keep hydrated. Drink at least 1.2 L of fluid to prevent dryness of the eyes.

Certain foods also help preserve your vision. Including: courgettes, broccoli, fatty fish, eggs, garlic, onions, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, apricots.

Healthy ergonomics for mobile:

• viewing angle slightly below eye level
• device at comfortable distance from eyes
• font size and browser settings enlarged for eye comfort
• screen resolution contrast and brightness adjusted for eye comfort

Healthy ergonomics for computers:

• overhead lighting dimmed
• viewing angle no more than 35” from monitor
• viewing distance 50-100 cm
• top of monitor at or just below eye level
• monitor positioned flat and directly in front of user, no tilt
• keyboard positioned so upper arms hang vertically
• chair supports spine and keeps body upright

For every 20 minutes you spend on a digital device, take 20 seconds and look at something 20 feet away.

… or you could just go outside!