"RAMp UP" on your COMPUTER VISION KNOWLEDGE!
What do YOU know about Computer Eye Strain?
Tired, dry, scratchy irritated eyes, sounds like allergies! But before you blame the spring, consider this; if you work more than 3 hours consistently on a computer, tablet, or even smart phone, your symptoms can stem from Computer Vision Syndrome or CVS. Eyestrain, headaches, muscle soreness, and of course blurry vision are all signs and symptoms of CVS, or computer Vision Syndrome. In fact the FDA has recognized CVS as a repetitive stress disorder, a very real condition that was born from technology.
TEST TIME! Here’s a short quiz to help you see what you can do to control or prevent the symptoms of CVS.
Question 1. Our eyes focus the same on printed words as they do on computer word images.
A) True
B) False
Question 2: If your room brightness is average, you can make your vision more comfortable by changing your computer screen brightness to be:
A) 75% more bright than the room brightness
B) 75% less bright than the room brightness
C) About the same bright as the room brightness
D) NONE of the above; it makes no difference on comfort levels
Question 3: In terms of percentage, how many Americans are affected by CVS?
A) 10%-15%
B) 20%-30%
C) 50%
D) 70%-80%
Question 4: The Best way to check or diagnose CVS-computer vision syndrome, is using the “Big E” on the eye chart at your eye doctors office
A) True
B) False
Question 5: We blink _________________ times during face to face conversation than we do when we work on a computer screen?
A) Twice as many
B) The same amount of
C) About 33% less
D) Half as many
Question 6: Kids are not affected by computer vision syndrome (CVS).
A) True
B) False
Question 7: I need to have glasses for sure if I use a computer very often.
A) True
B) False
Question 8: If within a year, during my eye health and vision test, my doctor says I don’t have CVS, it means I’ll never get it.
A) True
B) False
Question 9: Which of these can help lower my chances of getting computer vision syndrome?
A) Adjust your monitor so the top edge is just slightly below eye level
B) Practice the 20/20 rule for 20/20 vision; take a 20 second break to look away from the computer for every 20 minutes you are staring at the computer
C) Wear vision fatigue relieving lenses with Recharge or Blue Tech lenses to combat vision fatigue
D) All of the above
Answers:
Question 1. Our eyes focus the same on printed words as they do on computer word images.
A) True
B) False, printed text on paper has good contrast with well-defined borders. Computer text is an image with less definition and the eye must try to stay focused on items on the computer screen that are partially in focus and partially out of focus, thousands of times a minute!
Question 2: If your room brightness is average, you can make your vision more comfortable by changing your computer screen brightness to be:
A) 75% more bright than the room brightness
B) 75% less bright than the room brightness
C) About the same bright as the room brightness
D) NONE of the above; it makes no difference on comfort levels
Question 3: In terms of percentage, how many Americans are affected by CVS?
A) 10%-15%
B) 20%-30%
C) 50%
D) 70%-80%, over 80% of people are affected by CVS according to the American Optometric Association
Question 4: The Best way to check or diagnose CVS-computer vision syndrome, is using the “Big E” on the eye chart at your eye doctors office
A) True
B) False, The “Big E” eye chart (Snellen chart) test your far vision, but it cannot determine the existence of binocular dysfunction or focusing dysfunction at the near levels.
Question 5: We blink _________________ times during face to face conversation as we do when we work on a computer screen?
A) Twice as many
B) The same amount of
C) About 33% less
D) Half as many
Question 6: Kids are not affected by computer vision syndrome (CVS).
A) True
B) False, In fact we are exposed to over 75% of a LIFETIME of blue light hazard and UV light before the age of 18! (Many kindergarten students are learning on an iPad which emits blue light, hazard-high energy light, that is damaging to the retina.) Limit your child’s time to 20 minutes on these smart phones and tablets.
Question 7: I need to have glasses for sure if I use a computer very often.
A) True
B) False, However most patients on a computer screen can benefit from Visual Fatigue Relieving Lenses.
Question 8: If within a year, during my eye health and vision test, my doctor says I don’t have CVS, it means I’ll never get it.
A) True
B) False, The tiny muscles in the eye responsible for efficient vision as well as clear vision are like any other muscle in the body; and should be checked at least yearly by your eye health professional.
Question 9: Which of these can help lower my chances of getting computer vision syndrome?
A) Adjust your monitor so the top edge is just slightly below eye level
B) Practice the 20/20 rule for 20/20 vision; take a 20 second break to look away from the computer for every 20 minutes you are staring at the computer
C) Wear vision fatigue relieving lenses with Recharge or Blue Tech lenses to combat vision fatigue
D) All of the above
