Protecting Your Vision in the Digitally-Drowning 21st Century

Ancient humans depended upon their eyes for survival. Survival of the fittest resulted in eyes that were structured for spotting game or danger from a distance. We inherited these hunter-soldier eyes from our human ancestors. Pity the poor human of the 21st century. Both our work and recreation now depend upon seeing computer and hand-held device screens viewed from within arm's length. The same screens, on the job and at home, are now the source of stress on our visual systems' capabilities. Optometrists call this "digital eye strain" or "computer vision syndrome." The technical evolution of the Digital Age and the capabilities of the human eye simply aren't in sync. Optometrists report a dramatic upswing in people experiencing visual stress such as eye strain, headaches and blurred vision. This digital visual stress can also be the root cause of neck or shoulder tension, back pain and excessive fatigue. These symptoms result in lowered visual efficiency as the day progresses. The result is lower productivity at work and a lower quality of life for both adults and children in today's Digital Age. Extended screen time with its associated complex eye movements and focusing shifts, can result in near-point visual stress. Most of us work at jobs that used to allow more physical movement and the opportunity to look away from near work. Today, our jobs require tiring concentration and long periods looking at a computer screen. Although computer manufacturers have i...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news