Treating Monitor-Related Eye Strain?

bergeron76 asks: "Like many of you, I look at CRT and LCD displays constantly when I'm at work and when I'm at home (and even when I'm in my car). As a result, I was wondering if any of you have any neat ideas or ways to help reduce eye strain and dryness while looking at displays continuously? I've tried vitamins, eye drops, increased blinking, and combinations of glasses / contacts with little success thus far. People make assumptions about me because my eyes are constantly blood-shot, and I'm wondering what I can do to heal my eyes? I recently heard about Punctum Plugs and was wondering if anyone has had any experience with them and if they're worth the cost. They're little plugs that reduce the size of your tear ducts so your eyes retain more fluid and stay 'lubed'. Does anyone have any experiences with these or have any other recommendations for reducing eye strain and dryness (aside from not computing)?"

Comments

Are you generally healthy?

[stienman]

You may have eye problems because you aren't eating well, aren't fit or don't get enough sleep on a regular basis. My eyes are still recovering from a late night (20 hours awake) - it usually takes a few days. Also note that near the end of your twenties you will find your body doesn't heal from such activities as quickly. If you stay up for more than 16 to 20 hours at a time more than once a week I wouldn't expect you to ever recover.

But you are talking about two seperate (but related) things - eye strain, and dry eyes. There are two seperate remedies if you have taken care of health, fitness, and sleep. First, look away from the screen at a far away object for 30 seconds or more at least every 10-15 minutes. There are programs which cover the screen and force you to do so for periods of time. Second, make a program that flashes something large on your display every 10-30 seconds extremely briefly. Your eyes will instinctively blink, and you will not be distracted after getting used to it - much less distracting than a beep, or other stimulues, and uses your reflexes so you don't need to take your mind off what you're doing.

I find that reading and coding cause me to keep my eyes open for far longer than they should be. I would be surprised if you were actually blinking enough when you were trying to blink more frequently.

-Adam

Invert Your Colors

[Asicath]

Invert the color sceme that you use when coding. I use white text on black background, it takes a bit of getting used to, but the difference is well worth it.

My eyes used to spasm and all sorts of nasty crap before I did this. A monitor is basiclly a large lightbulb, when the screen is mostly white, they will light the whole room.

The only problem is that many sites use white as a background and look ugly if you force your own colors on them.

Another career threatened by dry eyes

[John Q. Public]

Just today, the SF Chronicle had a column on Rich Aurilia (baseball player) who is dealing with a similar issue and his hunt for a solution. Since he has far more cash for doctors than I do, his solutions may not match yours but they may help...

• (for those who don't click through)
• drops in his eyes
• two flaxseed oil tablets a day
• clear wraparound glasses, essentially protective goggles
• sealed off his tear ducts so that fluid wouldn't drain easily from his eyes

Sealing off the ducts seems like a radical solution to me. I can't imagine monkeying that much with my body just to avoid dry eyes.
---

This might help:

[SpiritHex]

I've had the same problems and found some decent solutions, over the years. This has helped immensely:

1) Cut.caffeine.cold. This is the worst offender by far, this nice psychotropic drug we geeks commonly overuse. It does a nice job of severely restricting blood to your arms (worsening and/or creating RSI/CTS whichever) and drying up eyes to an insane degree. It also makes you bitter, but that's another story. #1 problem.

2) Minimizing screen reflections, getting a nice anti-screen artifact, helps with viewing

3) Eye Pills. Mighty powerful herb, can clear up to alcoholic level red eye syndrome in 20-30 mns. Your eyes will go bloodshot red to pure white. Guaranteed, plus 100% natural. Take 2-4 pills as needed, 2-3 times a week. Helps improve vision slightly as well. This heals your eyes, not a quick fix solution only.

4) Cod Liver Oil pills. These seal off the moisture in your eyes, helping bringing that healthy white eye look (esp useful in winter with the harsh, cold winds). Use as needed, 2-3 times per week. Make sure you get da pills version, not the bottle one :)

5) Carrots. No kidding, these boost color perception and overall brightness. Makes video games look killer as well (same as eyebrights, minus red cleansing properties). Karrot Top!

6) Avoid Visine eye drops. Avoid all of them. Useless, only designed as a habit forming money wasting scheme. They have harmful agents which do provide temporary relief only to worsen your condition over time, very fast. Ask any doctor. Use "artificial" neutral-tear like drops if you must, I'd suggest using none at all and doing steps 1-5. Say no to eye drops. You don't wanna end up like Jimmy the security guard, trust me.

7) Take a 2 mns eye/wrist break every XX mns (30 mns here). This helps. Focusing on distant object as well to maintain good eyesight (starring at a close object is what worsen myopia).

8) Ocular Rosacae? This is an eye disorder which makes your eyes red, and gritty, all the time. Small % of the pop has this [red tomato face? :) Look this up, it is tied to this].

That's it. I've read up on this, this is the best advice I have. Try it, and tell the world Johnny. You'll see how well this works.

And lasik eye surgery rocks for those still stuck with coke bottles glasses (although they are making a trendy comeback lately)