Computer Use and Eye Damage

Will extensive computer use harm your eyes?  As LASIK specialists, this is a question we are frequently asked at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

 

The short answer is no.  Using a computer will not permanently harm your eyes.  However, the over use of computers can cause eye problems. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the name for eye problems caused by computer use.  CVS is not a single problem but refers to a range of eye problems caused by computer use.

• Symptoms of CVS can include:
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Dry eyes
• Red or irritated eyes
• Neck or back pain

People who use computers usually don’t blink as often as those that don’t use computers, causing dry eyes which can lead to irritation.  Normally, humans blink about 18 times a minute, but some studies show we blink only half that often while using computers and other digital screen devices.

Some people can also experience headaches while using computers or video games, which may indicate that the person has a problem with focusing, causing eye strain. Computer-use eye strain can be made worse by improper use of contacts (wearing them too long, wearing dirty lenses), etc.  It’s better to wear glasses at least occasionally while using a computer.

 

We advise that computer users take a break away from the computer every 20 minutes. Sit about 25 inches from the screen and look at the screen in a slightly downward manner.  These techniques may help you avoid common problems associated with the use of computers.

  

Is LASIK Right for High Astigmatism?

Astigmatism exists when an irregularly shaped cornea or lens in the eye causes blurry vision.  High astigmatism is a more severe form, and cause reading problems, headaches and other difficulties. 

High astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contacts or with LASIK surgery.  As the degree to astigmatism gets higher, the choices in contact lenses gets slimmer.  According to the specialists at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, SC, some people just don’t like wearing contact lenses or don’t find satisfactory improvement in their vision with toric lenses for astigmatism. Others may have eyes that are too small for surgery or contacts.

Each person needs to decide the right method for them.  Most patients with high astigmatisms try different options for correction before finding the one just right for them.  Eventually, many people get tired of dealing with glasses and contact lenses and turn to LASIK for their high astigmatism.

For extremely high astigmatism, LASIK may be a very suitable option. LASIK surgery attempts to permanently correct cornea abnormalities. High astigmatic patients will often see improvement in their vision, but may still need to wear contact lenses or glasses to achieve the desired results for vision correction. Although some patients may experience trouble with night vision and sensitivity to light after LASIK, the majority of patients do great.

Only your eye doctor can tell you if you’re a good candidate for LASIK.  The people at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery in Mount Pleasant, SC are experts at LASIK surgery and will exam you to determine your suitability for LASIK corrective surgery. Give them a call.  They are happy to help.

Do You Need Reading Glasses or LASIK?

Why is that restaurant menu so blurry?

The first step to answering that question is to identify when your blurred vision occurred. Have you had blurry vision for most of your life? Or is this a new condition that has popped up recently?

There could be many reasons why it may be hard to read things close-up:

• Farsightedness
• Presbyopia
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Or another type of eye disease

If you are farsighted, this means you have a refractive error (created by the shape of your eye or the curve of your cornea) that causes light to focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. Farsighted individuals have trouble focusing on close-up objects. Refractive errors can be corrected through blade-free LASIK in Charleston for many people.

As most people reach their 40s, a condition called presbyopia can make it difficult to focus on menus, smart phones and other near objects. Unlike a refractive error, presbyopia is caused by a gradual stiffening of the eye lens, making it harder to focus. Off-the-shelf reading glasses are available to help people combat this natural occurrence, but many dislike having to resort to “readers.” LASIK, in its traditional sense, will not correct presbyopia, but there are methods such as monovision LASIK that may help improve close-up vision. This method corrects only one eye for close-up vision while the other is left with clear distance vision.

Cataracts, glaucoma and other eye diseases cannot be corrected through Charleston LASIK. Symptoms of these conditions may include blurry vision, so if you are experiencing any changes in your vision make sure to schedule an eye exam right away. Early detection can help monitor and protect your eye health.

Back to the original question: Why is that restaurant menu so blurry? The only way to find out is by scheduling an eye exam or LASIK Consultation.

Don’t leave your eye health a mystery. Contact Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery today to schedule a free LASIK Consultation and find out if your eyes are right for LASIK. Call 843-856-5275 or visit charlestoncornea.com to learn more.