(upwave) — The rumor: You can damage your eyes by looking at a computer screen for too long
The verdict: Computer use can definitely strain your eyes — but there are ways to combat the damage
Studies have shown that between 50 and 90% of people who work in front of a computer screen have some symptoms of eye trouble.
“We definitely see a lot of people who complain of eyestrain,” says opthalmologist Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler. “Hours upon hours of close focusing without taking a break is usually the main culprit.”
The problem is so common, there’s even a name for it: Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).
Wachler says that people usually blink around 18 times per minute, which refreshes the eyes naturally. But blink rates are reduced when staring at a computer screen or other digital device, and this can make your eyes burn, dry out, turn red or feel itchy.
Sitting too close to your computer monitor, or holding a digital device closer to your eyes than you would normally hold a book or newspaper, also poses a problem, according to Wachler. “This forces your eyes to work harder than usual as you strain to focus on tiny font sizes,” he warns.
For what you can do to combat CVS, click the link here: CNN.com
