Are Your Gadgets Making You Sick? (4)
Poor Vision
The condition: Missile-locking your eyes to a monitor all day can lead to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), the symptoms of which include blurred vision, light sensitivity and headaches. That's because we humans weren't built for computer work.
"From an evolutionary standpoint, our eyes are designed for prolonged use at distances and for short term activities up close in three dimensions," says Dr. Andrea Thau, spokesperson for the American Optometric Association. "Hunting is an example of how they'd be used over distances, while working with tools is how they were meant to be used up close. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and we're using our eyes in the entirely opposite way. Most of the work our eyes do is up close and on flat, two-dimensional surfaces like screens or papers. This is very confusing to our visual system."
How to prevent or cure it: According to Dr. Thau, you can save your eyes by positioning your monitor 18 to 24 inches away from your face. You also want the very top of your screen at eye-level so that you're looking down on your work area. And every 15 to 20 minutes, give your peepers a rest by turning away from the screen and looking at something else -- like an angry boss wondering why you're slacking off.
"From an evolutionary standpoint, our eyes are designed for prolonged use at distances and for short term activities up close in three dimensions," says Dr. Andrea Thau, spokesperson for the American Optometric Association. "Hunting is an example of how they'd be used over distances, while working with tools is how they were meant to be used up close. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and we're using our eyes in the entirely opposite way. Most of the work our eyes do is up close and on flat, two-dimensional surfaces like screens or papers. This is very confusing to our visual system."
How to prevent or cure it: According to Dr. Thau, you can save your eyes by positioning your monitor 18 to 24 inches away from your face. You also want the very top of your screen at eye-level so that you're looking down on your work area. And every 15 to 20 minutes, give your peepers a rest by turning away from the screen and looking at something else -- like an angry boss wondering why you're slacking off.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave @ Apr 12th 2007 2:48PM
After three hours or more of computer use, headaches and nausea sets in and takes three hours or more to go away. Does not happen with laptops only CRT's..
D....
Carol @ Apr 12th 2007 3:51PM
I think science is missing something very important here. Have any of you read "Cross Currents" or "The Body Electric" by Robert Becker?
Headaches? Light Sensitivity? Blurred vision? These are all symptoms of SEPTIC (systemic) infection - for instance, Lyme, strep, EBV, etc...
Science keeps telling us we need to avoid germs - the war on germs, the war on cancer, etc...
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that germs are NOT the enemy. I have Lyme Disease, and I guarantee the spirochete and virtually every germ (bacteria, fungi, virus) has a specific purpose here on earth. So we can talk about how dirty a cell phone is and try to avoid germs all we want, but there will always be another germ to replace it.
But if you are getting headaches, light sensitivity, blurred vision, ringing ears, etc... from looking at a computer monitor or use of a cell phone, I honestly believe that this is caused by the electromagnetic fields of the computer or cell phone. What I believe is happening is that whatever 'bugs' you have in your body at the time suddenly begin to multiply and replicate out of control when exposed to these manmade EMFs. If you don't believe me, pay attention to how you feel when you first sit down at the computer, and then compare it to how you feel after an hour in front of it. The electromagnetic fields are causing all these pathogens to behave abnormally - for instance, to cross the blood-brain barrier and replicate out of control.
The author of these two books though is concerned that our technological age, together with toxicity from pollution, is behind the increase in cancers. I forget the exact percentage - it's in one of these two books - but it's been proven that we all have cancer cells in our bodies 24/7, and our immune systems were designed to fight these off quite nicely. The problem? When exposed to manmade electromagnetic fields, these cancer cells multiply at a rate 300% faster than normal (don't quote me on the percentage, but I think I'm close). You have to read these two books!
The solution to our ever-increasing rates of cancer, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes (and virtually EVERY disease) is to turn off the manmade power, right down to the 60hz frequencies coming into our homes 24/7 - and to totally eliminate our synthetic world of chemicals.
Sylvia @ Apr 12th 2007 4:03PM
im 14 and im on the computer for a long time(what teen isn't!)lol. i constantly get blurred vision when i look away from the laptop and nausea like now ive been on 2 hours and im not feeling good and it also makes me tired.( this is when people would respond and say then u should gt off...i kno)
Norm J @ Apr 12th 2007 4:32PM
Computer Vision Syndrome......................hahahahahaahhaahahahaahaahaaaaahahahaah! Jesus there's a name for everything! THen if someone does come up with a magic pill to cure it the side effects will be kidney failure, bleeding of the bowels, heartburn and sinus headaches. What a joke.
Ashley @ Apr 12th 2007 5:21PM
No Norm it isnt a joke you computer junkie. Before I started using the computer I had perfect vision in a year my eyes were horrible...I now wear glasses and it costs me alot of money to keep getting stronger lenses.
In no time you will have vision problems too if you want them so badley.
Robyn @ Apr 12th 2007 6:29PM
ohh wow, maybe this is the reason for my dumb daily headaches! And why i can't drive at night because the lights KILL me. It's all so clear to me now...
kaitlyn @ Apr 12th 2007 6:34PM
Eat carrots!!
:)
JD @ Apr 12th 2007 7:43PM
I'm convinced a CRT once gave me symptoms so severe they mimicked a migrane and led to a night in the ER. I pulled an all nighter a few years ago in effort to catch up on overdue work. The monitor was rather outdated and kind of flickered in its refresh rate. Anyway, long story short- The next morning I became violently ill with light sensitivity, a splitting headache, vommiting, the whole deal.
Doctors ran a bunch of tests and determined it must have been a severe migrane despite my not having a history of them. I do believe that hours of exposure as I had (probably 8 of them) can lead to some serious problems.
scott @ Apr 17th 2007 3:44PM
so carol are you sugesting we turn off the electrisity ot our homes? mabey if your ageinst electricity you need to go live in the woods wearing a foil hat too for good meashure while your using YOUR COMPUTER if you say EMF's are as dangerous as you say then why are you using your computer?
JOSH @ Apr 17th 2007 6:04PM
AS A ENGINEER I WONDER IF WORKING IN 3D MODEL SPACE HELPS THE SITUATION.
AV @ Apr 17th 2007 7:35PM
I notice this when I'm on the computer for extremely long periods of time. Especially the light sensitivity. My eyes hurt so bad some times they fill with tears and I can't even open them for a couple minutes. Even when I can I still can't look at the screen.
Stormwater Bacteria @ Sep 11th 2007 5:27PM
I wish I had the luxury of limiting myself to 3 hours per day. I easily use computers for more than 10 every day.
http://www.filterra.com/stormwater-bacteria
bob @ Sep 15th 2007 7:42PM
check out eyebody.com
he will help you with vision problems.
How do we make a 3-D computer, engineer guy?
Maybe, try this: see from the back of your brain, bring your attention to the visual cortex, if you can, and see through your eyes not with them.
Dan @ Sep 20th 2007 8:03AM
when i was young they just told me id go blind
Urban Runoff @ Mar 22nd 2008 8:22PM
I haven't gone blind yet, but I can easily imagine it happening if I spend the next 30 years staring at monitors.
http://www.filterra.com/urban-runoff
al sotoudeh @ Apr 19th 2008 12:59AM
I have been using a panasonic cordless phone for few years and for a long time a sony cordless. I have scalop or call it skin irritation like a wound never want o cure.it itches and sensetive over my right ear lips
when phone gets rested all the time. I have to use the phone during business hours 6 days week long hours. I guess silly to mention here
but I guess need to see a doc for it first and thought to mention here
when I read article on line today!