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What is Computer Vision
Syndrome?
The
Problem
A
government agency, NIOSH, estimates that nearly
60 million Americans suffer from computer
eyestrain. If you spend hours each day in front
of a computer screen, you likely experience some
symptoms of computer eyestrain:
Headaches
Loss of focus
Burning/tired
eyes
Double vision
Blurred vision
Neck and shoulder
pains
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This is caused by our eyes and brain reacting
differently to characters on the screen than they do to
printed characters. Until now, normal eye exams for near
vision have resulted in eyewear suited for reading
printed material, not for viewing computer
screens.

Our eyes respond well to most printed material,
which is characterized by its dense black characters
with well-defined edges which contrast markedly from
their light background. Healthy eyes can easily maintain
focus on the printed page.
Characters on a computer screen,
however, don't have this contrast, or well-defined
edges. These characters are brightest at their centers
and diminish in intensity toward their edges. Our eyes
are unable to maintain focus and remain on plane with
these images. They instead drift out to a point called
the resting point of accommodation (RPA).
Our eyes constantly move to the
RPA, and then strain to regain focus on the screen. This
continuous flexing of the eyes' focusing muscles creates
fatigue and the burning, tired eyes feeling. |
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