How to Save Your Vision in Today’s Digital World

           Today, most of us are fully immersed in the digital world around us.  From our work computers to laptops and tablets to our smart phones that we never leave home without, we definitely always have an amazing amount of information at our fingertips.  While technology has continually advanced to allow us access to this amazing flow of information, it can also put a tremendous strain on our eyes.  Common symptoms that can result from excessive computer usage may include: eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, fatigue, blurred vision and loss of focus.  The combination of these symptoms is often referred to as computer vision syndrome. 

If you are one of the millions of Americans that now use some sort of digital device for more than 8 hours a day, you have probably felt your eyes begin to strain, dry out or become fatigued towards the end of the day.  If this is you, then you have suffered from some of the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome.  The barrage of symptoms from this syndrome can range from minor inconvenience to being totally debilitating and decreasing productivity completely. 

The best treatment for computer vision syndrome is often a combination of changing your digital work habits with the correct ergonomic setup and by taking frequent breaks to look off in the distance using the 20/20/20 rule.  This is an easy exercise to relax your eyes so they do not overfocus up close by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes you are at the computer.  There are also occupational computer prescription eyeglasses that can help you read the computer and other digital devices.  This will not only improve your vision at your proper viewing distance, but also aid your comfort and productivity while using your digital devices.  Dry eye treatment may also be needed to help your vision perform optimally when staring at a monitor all day.  This is often due to the fact that we tend not to blink as much when working on a computer and the right lubricating eye drop or medication dry eye drop can sometimes make all the difference.  To see your best and perform up to your potential at work ask your eye doctor about computer vision syndrome at your next eye exam.       

Are your eyes constantly tearing? You may actually be suffering from Dry Eyes!

You may have noticed the sensation that your eyes feel drier this time of year. As the heaters are running and the humidity drops, dryness can often creep in. This dryness can be particularly bothersome if you are a person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome or what is also known as Ocular Surface Disease.

A person suffering from Dry Eye Syndrome may often feel like they have burning, stinging eyes, redness, and a foreign body sensation.  However; the most common symptom is often a reflex tearing effect caused by dry, irritated eyes.  This tearing is too watery and can often run down one’s face instead of properly hydrating the eye, thus not helping to relieve dry eye symptoms. 

There are certain systemic diseases that can exacerbate this condition. Some of the most common systemic diseases that put you more at risk for dry eye include Diabetes, Thyroid disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition, lifestyle factors such as increased caffeine consumption, increased computer use, and certain medications can lead to dry eye if not properly managed.

Your eye doctor plays a vital role in the fight against dry eye by diagnosing and treating this condition in a number of ways. The first line of treatment is often properly managing any contributing systemic diseases such as Diabetes with your Primary Care Provider.  Once this is under control your eye doctor will initiate a treatment protocol that may include over the counter eye drops and vitamin supplements, prescription eye drops and lifestyle changes. 

Discussing your specific symptoms with your eye doctor can help determine the best treatment options. Some options your eye doctor may choose to treat your dry eye include:

1.                           Over the counter artificial tear eye drops; which can help alleviate minor dry eye symptoms

2.                           Omega 3 vitamin supplements have also been shown to improve tear film and alleviate many symptoms.

3.                           Punctal plugs; which keep your tears from draining as quickly and thus keep the tear film on your eyes for a longer period of time.

4.                           Anti-inflammatory medication eye drops such as Restasis can help a patient produce more tears over time.

To find out if you suffer from dry eye syndrome please contact our office at 770-479-0222 or www.EdwardsEyeCare.com to schedule your comprehensive eye examination. 

How to Save Your Vision in Today's Digital World

Today, most of us are fully immersed in the digital world around us. From our work computers to laptops and tablets to our smart phones that we never leave home without, we definitely always have an amazing amount of information at our fingertips. While technology has continually advanced to allow us access to this amazing flow of information, it can also put a tremendous strain on our eyes. Common symptoms that can result from excessive computer usage may include: eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, fatigue, blurred vision and loss of focus. The combination of these symptoms is often referred to as computer vision syndrome. March has recently been recognized as Save Your Vision month by many national eye care organizations and seeks to bring awareness to computer vision syndrome and how to best manage it. If you are one of the millions of Americans that now use some sort of digital device for more than 8 hours a day, you have probably felt your eyes begin to strain, dry out or become fatigued towards the end of the day. If this is you, then you have suffered from some of the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome. The barrage of symptoms from this syndrome can range from minor inconvenience to being totally debilitating and decreasing productivity completely. The best treatment for computer vision syndrome is often a combination of changing your digital work habits with the correct ergonomic setup and by taking frequent breaks to look off in the distance using the 20/20/20 rule. This is an easy exercise to relax your eyes so they do not overfocus up close by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes you are at the computer. There are also occupational computer prescription eyeglasses that can help you read the computer and other digital devices. This will not only improve your vision at your proper viewing distance, but also aid your comfort and productivity while using your digital devices. Dry eye treatment may also be needed to help your vision perform optimally when staring at a monitor all day. This is often due to the fact that we tend not to blink as much when working on a computer and the right lubricating eye drop or medication dry eye drop can sometimes make all the difference. To see your best and perform up to your potential at work ask your eye doctor about computer vision syndrome at your next eye exam.

Computer Use and Your Vision

Computers are so consistently integrated into our lifestyles today from the work station at our jobs, to the family laptop, and even our smart phones; it is no wonder we often spend the majority of the day with our eyes locked into some sort of virtual screen display.

If you routinely spend hours in front of a computer screen you have probably experienced symptoms of Computer vision syndrome (CVS) at one time or another. CVS symptoms can include eye strain, headaches, loss of focus, burning eyes, double vision, blurred vision, neck and shoulder pain, and much more.

Creating a work environment that is more ergonomically friendly can help reduce eye and musculoskeletal symptoms associated with Computer vision syndrome. A custom pair of computer eyeglasses may also alleviate your symptoms by helping you see better at precisely the right distance range of your computer monitor.

Read more about practical tips to ease computer eye strain to improve your visual efficiency, productivity, and comfort while in front of the computer.