Computers, Long Hours and Vision Problems?

msid asks: "I have been computing for almost 10 years, starting back in 1996 when my father bought me my first computer. In the process, I fell in love with computers and got stuck with them. The last year though has been a real challenge for me. I sleep 5 hours, in average, per day and I spend more that 15 hours in front of my laptop's monitor (a 17" TFT Widescreen), either programming or reading. I have never had 'problems' with my vision up until now. Do you have a specific way of using light sources in your workspace? I have heard of special glasses for computer users. Should I use them or not?" "A week ago, I checked my eyes and I found 0.25 astigmatism in both of them. They told me that this is not necessarily a problem, and it is mainly due to the intensive computer work. The actual symptom is that I lose my concentration more easily now. Also, the lighting of the monitor is killing me, especially when combined with a white background. Since I am willing to continue working in the same pace that I do now, what do you propose? Is there a habit that you follow to relax your eyes? Is there a way of preventing vision problems?"

Comments

here's one article...

[yagu]

I can't vouch for this, but it's interesting information -- why aren't you googling?

Key quote from above article:

"There isn't good research that says it causes permanent damage, but even temporary symptoms are worth noting," said Ticho.

For the record, I've been using computers for LONG hours for over twenty years and haven't noticed any deterioration in my ability to sads lkjasl llksdkl!

Duals bad?

[mpitcavage]

I found that dual monitors with different sync rates give me headaches

Re:Duals bad?

[Overly Critical Guy]

Does anyone else notice that usually the questions submitted to Ask Slashdot answer their own questions?

1.) This guy says he has vision problems.
2.) Then reveals that he only sleeps five hours a day.
3.) Then reveals over 15 hours are spent staring at one single surface.
4.) Then reveals a doctor has already told him what's going on.
5.) Then asks how he can relieve his eyes and regain his concentration.

For starters, how about sleeping more than five hours a day and not spending 15 hours straight staring at a single surface?

Re:Duals bad?

[magarity]

dual monitors with different sync rates give me headaches
 
I completely agree but dual monitors with the same sync at different distances from your face is great. It gets your eyes to focus back and forth. I put a monitor at normal distance and a second about twice that, at a lower resolution, and use it for things that don't need fine resolution like email. It pretty much stopped eye strain for me.

Light source behind the display, glasses?

[dada21]

I've been a regular over at the AVSForums for years -- I'm a confessed home theater geek/snob. A few years ago someone mentioned that they had a light source behind their TV -- just a soft white light. In total darkness, the white light reduced eye tension as it allowed the eye to go from the bright TV to a gradient light to the dark wall, and it also increased the visible contrast of the TV.

I started doing it immediately (Standard Definition) and have always increased my use of it as time goes on. My current theater is a projector, and I have a soft light behind my screen matting. I definitely find less eye strain if I have the light on.

About 2 years ago I tried it with my computer monitor (I'm a dual monitor user on the rare occasion that I'm not using my PDA; PC use is down to less than 5% of my computing time). I can say that I have less eye strain for sure when I use the soft lighting.

I tried to do a quick Google search but my PDA won't let me display any articles that talk about the light behind the display. Maybe someone with a real PC can find one and post a link -- I'm sure I've seen studies backing up the usage of the light behind the display, but I don't have any links for now.

On a tinfoil hat conspiracy sidenote: I was an eye glass wearer for a very long time. My vision deteriorated every year or two it seemed. I stopped wearing glasses a few years back and tried some of the eye exercises (as a friend recommended) and I was able to drop my driving restriction and I pass every eye test I've taken for the past few years -- without my glasses on. Anyone else have similar problems with glasses?

Re:Light source behind the display, glasses?

[dal20402]

A few years ago someone mentioned that they had a light source behind their TV -- just a soft white light. In total darkness, the white light reduced eye tension as it allowed the eye to go from the bright TV to a gradient light to the dark wall, and it also increased the visible contrast of the TV.

So very true. Try it - it's amazing. Assuming your monitor isn't shoved all the way against the wall, put some kind of incandescent light behind it that will reflect off the walls around it.

For me, that gives me several extra hours of computing joy before my eyes die.

The other thing is: since I expect you're coding and working with lots of text, ditch your CRTs, use LCDs, make sure they're adjusted properly (if you're using analog inputs), and turn off anti-aliasing for small fonts. The sharpness makes an enormous difference.

And for whoever's sake make sure to turn on the light when it gets dark. The worst headaches I get are when I forget to do that and I'm suddenly sitting in a darkened room staring at 2 big monitors at full brightness.

Re:Light source behind the display, glasses?

[reason]

It's a well-known fact that wearing corrective lenses causes the eye to learn to depend on the lens

No. It's a well-known "common sense" idea with no scientific backing. Although many optometrists have long believed it to be true, when put to the test, it turns out that it's a myth.

Don't read on the computer

[jgardn]

Get a good laser printer. (As far as I know laser is cheaper than inkjet per page, and you get a better resolution.) Print the pages you want to read. Read them with the monitor turned off.

When I spend a great deal of time looking at a monitor, I can't focus after a while. Either the font size goes up or I turn it off and get some sleep or read a book.

Your body is sending you a signal. Pay attention and heed its warnings or suffer the consequences later in life.

Durrh...?

[g0at]

Holy Christ. Have you tried a) sleeping more and b) getting outside? Might be a place to start.

-b

Re:Durrh...?

[temojen]

Yup, his main symptom is lack of concentration, and he thinks it's his eyes? It's cronic sleep deprivation. 10 hours a night for a week, then 8-9 hours a night from then on should do wonders. It'd probably make him more productive in an 8 hour day than he was in 15.

mr. magoo

[hosecoat]

the main problem with using computers for 10 years is that, invariably, your eyes age 10 years.

You're looking at the wrong culprit

[sfjoe]

Five hours of sleep per night is NOT enough. Despite what you think and what you hear from your friends, you need more sleep. From wikipedia on sleep deprivation, "Lack of sleep may also result in irritability, blurred vision..."
Go to bed.

Re:It's not just an environment issue

[coolgeek]

Starting with 20/20 vision as a teenager and seeing my vision degrade slowly to nearsightedness through my 20's I bought into a theory that staring at a fixed focal distance for extended periods somehow effects the muscles in the eyes. So when it came down to being unable to read street signs while driving unless I slowed to 15 MPH (at 37), I finally went to the optometrist.

There I was told a few things. First, my eye muscles were doing what they were supposed to do. Second, she told me people's eyes change over time. Various factors including diet, tear production and UV light (to name a few) contribute to macular degeneration. UV light is a especially a factor for me since I've lived in L.A. and the Southwest most of my life. I also have inadequate tear production so I have to use artificial tears once or twice a day. I also found out one of my lenses has a slight stigmatism which has become more pronounced as I have been aging.

My only advice: do not listen to a bunch of wannabe Optometrists/Opthamologists on /. Go spend the $50 on an eye exam. Consult a professional and follow their advice. Get a second or third opinion if you feel you need it. If you have glaucoma or cataracts, the exam will be absolutely priceless.

You can get some decent glasses at Costco for around $100 (depending on your prescription and options). Personally I go to the "good" optometrist with the modern gear and sidestep their sales pitch to sell me expensive glasses.

Here's some more info (which I did find by googling):

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/202_eyes.htm l

Re:It's not just an environment issue

[Anonymous Coward]

When I first got AOL ~1994 and sat down for about 1 hour of computing, my eyes were sower and red. my eyes adjusted after a few days, but im not sure if thats for the better.

That's normal with AOL. It's just your body coping with trauma.

Re:It's not just an environment issue

[bbcisdabomb]

Do not go anywhere other than an actual optomotrist's office to get glasses. My experience with places like Costco and Shopko is that their optomotrists, while certified, are told to only find problems that they can fix, and if the patients don't have any problem, to give them a mild perscription so they can sell the glasses anyway. Your optomotrist will find EVERYTHING wrong with your eyes, and can usually fix them or refer you to someone who can. Just think, would Costco really send you to eye surgery? Your optomotrist would. Note: Forgive the spelling, I'm tired.