Does the Video Display Terminal present a radiation hazard?
Will working with computers harm my eyes?
Are special purpose glasses necessary for computer users?
Who pays for the eye examination and glasses?
What are the specific stressors on my vision with computer work?
Can Vision training prevent computer eyes?
How much time do I have to spend exercising?
What about physical exercises?
How important is my working environment?
What do I do if I have more than 2 diopters of near-sight?
Is there a scientific basis for this?
Does
the Video Display Terminal present a radiation hazard?
The American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
concluded that all measurable radiation emitted by VDT units are well below
emission standards established anywhere in the world. The flat LCD screen
emit even less radiation that the older CRT.
Will working
with computers harm my eyes?
The answer to this depends on how you work with your computer. If you are
simply working for many hours then chances are that
your eyes, neck and possibly wrists will be affected. NIOSH estimate that
88% of computer users are affected by vision problems or have muscular pain
due to computer work.
Arranging your workstation and room lighting according to the ergonomic recommendations will go a long way to reduce the stress. If you in addition take short breaks every 20 minutes and do some simple exercises you will discover that you can work more effectively without the adverse consequences.
Vision problems are aggravated by the need to keep focus constant for many hours. The eyes are not designed for this kind of activity.
Are
special purpose glasses necessary for computer users?
If you already wear glasses you may need to have new glasses that are especially made for working with the computer. Normal reading glasses are designed for reading at about 35 cm. Typically computer screens are about 50 to 60 cm from your eyes. This distance may be beyond the prescription you current wear.
Who
pays for the eye examination and glasses?
In the US the employee pay for both the eye exam and for the new glasses.
In the EU your employer is responsible for paying for both.
What
are the specific stressors on my vision with computer work?
The human eye is designed for roaming around and focus on objects both near
and far. When the eyes are required to keep focus within a narrow range for
extended periods of time then a stiffness develops. This manifest itself as
difficulty in focusing on objects beyond the screen. Initially this go away
after a few minutes or over night. However, over a long period of time it
begins to be a permanent condition and you become near-sighted.
The text on screen does not have sharply defined edges as print. The pixels on the screen form a pattern where the centre is dense and the edges are fussy. Reading anti aliased characters all day require more effort than normal reading.
Poor eye-coordination is another common problem when working with computers. The eyes converge behind the screen making the text slightly double. Small doubling can be filtered out by the brain but it will cause strain and headaches often develop.
People working with computers tend to blink their eyes less often. Normal blinking rate is about 21 times per minute. Computer users tend to blink as little as 7 times per minute. This low blinking rate lead to dryness of the eyes as well as energy loss. You experience this as sore or burning eyes. The relationship between the eyes and the monitor can largely prevent this. The top of the monitor should be at the same height as your eyes. This way you look down at the screen and your eyes are half closed, thus exposing less surface that can become dry.
Can
Vision training prevent computer eyes?
Vision training can most probably restore the visual acuity you have lost
as well as maintain your good eyesight while you work on your computer.
How
much time do I have to spend exercising?
It is recommended that you make short vision breaks every 20 minutes. Each
break can be as short as 20 to 30 seconds depending on what activity you chose
to do.
What
about physical exercises?
Computer users tend to collapse into their screens and thus put a lot of stress
on their back and neck muscles. Neck pains can largely be avoided by placing
the screen is such a position that you do not have to bend over to see it.
Keeping you neck straight all the time.
Your back should also be straight. Having a well designed chair combined with regular stretching breaks will keep you back muscles flexible. The problem arise if you hold your back in a fixed position for long periods of time. We tend to be so focused on the screen and the information than come and go that we forget our body. Your body is not designed to sit in front of a computer for 10 hours a day. Your body needs exercise.
How
important is my working environment?
It is very important. A well designed workstation will make your work virtually
effortless and keep your mind sharp. The room lighting should be adjusted
to suit computer work. All objects reflected in your screen should be shielded
or removed. Make sure to take the changes during the day into account as well
as the environment when working at night.
What
do I do if I have more than 2 diopters of near-sight?
The Working eyes workshop does not cover what to do for higher degree of near-sight
and other vision problems. For that you will need to attend a two day Vision
training workshop where you will learn specific strategies for how you can
regain your eyesight.
Is
there a scientific basis for this?
Yes, there definitely is. The efficacy of Vision training was endorsed by
the American Optometrist Association in 1986 sighting 238 scientific studies
as supporting documents. The effects caused by working with video screens
has also been studied extensively. While there is no scientific evidence that
working with computers damage your eyes. There is ample evidence that it can
cause serious discomfort. The Working eyes program is designed to make you
more effective at work and at the same time maintain your natural eyesight.