COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME

HOMOEOPATHY FOR EYE TROUBLES OF NEW GENERATION SEDENTARY PROFESSIONALS & NEW GENERATION KIDS – COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME

                                                                                                                

Nowadays, Computer and Smart mobile phone become a part of our life, for some it’s not a part of life it becomes major in their life. Computer eye strain is a common problem that everyone experiences. We strain our eyes using the computer, reading, watching TV and doing other demanding visual tasks. After a long day of staring at a computer at work, many people relax by staring at a different computer at home. Between spreadsheets and Facebook, our eyes are seeing more pixels than ever before. Staring at a computer monitor for hours on end has become a part of the modern workday and inevitably, all of that staring can put a real strain on our eyes. With so many of us using computers at work, computer eye strain has become a major job-related complaint. Studies show that eye strain and other bothersome visual symptoms occur in 50 to 90 percent of computer workers. The name for eye problems caused by computer use is computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS is not one specific eye problem. Instead, the term encompasses a whole range of eyestrain and pain experienced by computer users.

In addition, working adults aren't the only ones vulnerable to computer vision syndrome. Kids who stare at portable video games or who use computers throughout the day at school also can experience eye problems related to computer use, especially if the lighting and computer position are less than ideal.

Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a temporary condition resulting from focusing the eyes on a computer display for protracted, uninterrupted periods of time. Some symptoms of CVS include headaches, blurred vision, neck pain, redness in the eyes, fatigue, eye strain, dry eyes, irritated eyes, double vision, vertigo/dizziness, polyopia, and difficulty refocusing the eyes. These symptoms can be further aggravated by improper lighting conditions (i.e. glare or bright overhead lighting) or air moving past the eyes (e.g. overhead vents, direct air from a fan).

Research on CVS

According to the US National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, computer vision syndrome affects some 90% of the people who spend three hours or more a day at a computer. Another study in Malaysia was conducted on 795 college students between the ages of 18 and 25. The students experienced headaches along with eyestrain, with 89.9% of the students surveyed feeling any type of symptom of CVS.

Process by which computer screen beam affect vision

Computer vision syndrome is similar to other repetitive stress injuries at work like carpal tunnel syndrome. It occurs when you're carrying out the same motion over and over again. Just like those other repetitive stress injuries, computer vision syndrome can get worse the longer you continue the activity. Working at a computer requires that the eyes continuously focus, move back and forth, and align with what you are seeing. You may have to look down at papers and then back up to type, and the eyes have to accommodate to changing images on the screen in order to create a clear picture for the brain to interpret.

Viewing a computer screen often makes the eyes work harder. As a result, the unique characteristics and high visual demands of computer viewing make many individuals susceptible to the development of vision-related symptoms.

Uncorrected vision problems can increase the severity of Computer Vision Syndrome symptoms.

Viewing a computer screen is different than reading a printed page. Often the letters on the computer screen are not as precise or sharply defined, the level of contrast of the letters to the background is reduced, and the presence of glare and reflections on the screen may make viewing difficult.

Viewing distances and angles used for computer work are also often different from those commonly used for other reading or writing tasks. As a result, the eye focusing and eye movement requirements for computer viewing can place additional demands on the visual system. In addition, the presence of even minor vision problems can often significantly affect comfort and performance at a computer. Uncorrected or under corrected vision problems can be major contributing factors to computer-related eyestrain.

Even people who have an eyeglass or contact lens prescription may find it's not suitable for the specific viewing distances of their computer screen. Some people tilt their heads at odd angles because their glasses aren't designed for looking at a computer. Or they bend toward the screen in order to see it clearly. Their postures can result in muscle spasms or pain in the neck, shoulder or back.

In most cases, symptoms of CVS occur because the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilities of the individual to comfortably perform them. At greatest risk for developing CVS are those persons who spend two or more continuous hours at a computer every day.

Clinical Features

There's no evidence that computer vision syndrome causes any long-term damage to the eyes. The most common symptoms are

• Eyestrain

• Headaches

• Blurred vision

• Difficulty in changing focus between far and near

• Dryness of eyes

• Irritated eyes

• Tired eyes

• Redness

• Contact lens discomfort

Neck, shoulder and backache can also be related to the way we use our eyes at the computer.

Steps to diagnose CVS

Computer Vision Syndrome can be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination. Testing, with special emphasis on visual requirements at the computer working distance, may include:

·        Patient history to determine any symptoms the patient is experiencing and the presence of any general health problems, medications taken, or environmental factors that may be contributing to the symptoms related to computer use.

·        Visual acuity measurements to assess the extent to which vision may be affected.

·        A refraction to determine the appropriate lens power needed to compensate for any refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism).

·        Testing how the eyes focus, move and work together. In order to obtain a clear, single image of what is being viewed, the eyes must effectively change focus, move and work in unison.

This testing will look for problems that keep your eyes from focusing effectively or make it difficult to use both eyes together. This testing may be done without the use of eye drops to determine how the eyes respond under normal seeing conditions. In some cases, such as when some of the eyes' focusing power may be hidden, eye drops may be used. They temporarily keep the eyes from changing focus while testing is done.

Preventive Steps to get relief from CVS

Here are some easy steps you can take to reduce your risk of computer eye strain and other common symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS):

·        Get a comprehensive eye exam - Having a routine comprehensive eye exam is the most important thing you can do to prevent or treat computer vision problems. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), computer users should have an eye exam before they start working on a computer and once a year thereafter.

·         Use proper lighting - Eye strain often is caused by excessively bright light either from outdoor sunlight coming in through a window or from harsh interior lighting. When you use a computer, your ambient lighting should be about half as bright as that typically found in most offices. Eliminate exterior light by closing drapes, shades or blinds. Reduce interior lighting by using fewer light bulbs or fluorescent tubes, or use lower intensity bulbs and tubes. If possible, position your computer monitor or screen so windows are to the side, instead of in front or behind it.

·        Minimize glare - Glare on walls and finished surfaces, as well as reflections on your computer screen also can cause computer eye strain. Consider installing an anti-glare screen on your monitor and, if possible, paint bright white walls a darker color with a matte finish. Again, cover the windows. When outside light cannot be reduced, consider using a computer hood.

·        If you wear glasses, purchase lenses with anti-reflective (AR) coating. AR coating reduces glare by minimizing the amount of light reflecting off the front and back surfaces of your eyeglass lenses.

·        Upgrade your display - If you have not already done so, replace your old tube-style monitor (called a cathode ray tube or CRT) with a flat-panel liquid crystal display (LCD), like those on laptop computers. LCD/LED screens are easier on the eyes and usually have an anti-reflective surface. Old-fashioned CRT screens can cause a noticeable "flicker" of images, which is a major cause of computer eye strain. Even if this flicker is imperceptible, it still can contribute to eye strain and fatigue during computer work.

·        Adjust your computer display settings - Adjusting the display settings of your computer can help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Generally, these adjustments are beneficial:

o   Brightness - Adjust the brightness of the display so it's approximately the same as the brightness of your surrounding workstation. As a test, look at the white background of this Web page. If it looks like a light source, it's too bright. If it seems dull and gray, it may be too dark.

o   Text size and contrast - Adjust the text size and contrast for comfort, especially when reading or composing long documents. Usually, black print on a white background is the best combination for comfort.

o   Colour Temperature - This is a technical term used to describe the spectrum of visible light emitted by a color display. Blue light is short-wavelength visible light that is associated with more eye strain than longer wavelength hues, such as orange and red. Reducing the color temperature of your display lowers the amount of blue light emitted by a color display for better long-term viewing comfort.

·        Silicone hydrogel contact lenses were associated with more comfort than regular soft lenses among computer users.

·        Blink more often - Blinking is very important when working at a computer; blinking moistens your eyes to prevent dryness and irritation.When working at a computer, people blink less frequently — about one-third as often as they normally do— and many blinks performed during computer work are only partial lid closures, according to studies. To reduce your risk of dry eyes during computer use, try this exercise: Every 20 minutes, blink 10 times by closing your eyes as if falling asleep (very slowly). This will help rewet your eyes.

·        Exercise your eyes - Another cause of computer eye strain is focusing fatigue. To reduce your risk of tiring your eyes by constantly focusing on your screen, look away from your computer at least every 20 minutes and gaze at a distant object (at least 20 feet away) for at least 20 seconds. Some eye doctors call this the "20-20-20 rule." Looking far away relaxes the focusing muscle inside the eye to reduce fatigue.

·        Another exercise is to look far away at an object for 10-15 seconds, then gaze at something up close for

·        10-15 seconds. Then look back at the distant object. Do this 10 times.

·        Take frequent breaks - To reduce your risk for computer vision syndrome and neck, back and shoulder pain, take frequent breaks during your computer work day. Many workers take only two 15-minute breaks from their computer throughout their work day. According to a recent NIOSH study, discomfort and eye strain were significantly reduced when computer workers took four additional five-minute "mini-breaks" throughout their work day. And these supplementary breaks did not reduce the workers' productivity. Data entry speed was significantly faster as a result of the extra breaks, so work output was maintained even though the workers had 20 extra minutes of break time each day. During your computer breaks, stand up, move about and stretch your arms, legs, back, neck and shoulders to reduce tension and muscle fatigue.

·        Consider computer eyewear - For the greatest comfort at your computer, you might benefit from having your eye care professional modify your eyeglasses prescription to create customized computer glasses This is especially true if you normally wear contact lenses, which may become dry and uncomfortable during sustained computer work.

·        Computer glasses also are a good choice if you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, because these lenses generally are not optimal for the distance to your computer screen.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT

Homoeopathy has holistic approach towards patient which means treating patient as a whole and not his specific disease or parts of body. While selecting constitutional medicine of patient his physical, emotional and general factors are considered. These make our life force called work in harmonious way, and help us to improve our immune power . A constitutional remedy chosen by an experienced prescriber is the most appropriate way to help a person with deep-seated or chronic conditions. Remedies below have been helpful in many cases of CVS, and are mentioned here to introduce a few of the possibilities homoeopathy can offer, not as suggestions for self-care.

Some Common Homoeopathic Remedies for Eye Strain and Computer Vision Syndrome

Argentum Nit: Complaints due to overwork. Muscles around eyes become tired. Patient feels better by closing eye or pressure. Aggravated by overheated. Good remedy for restoring power of weakened cilliary muscle

Arnica: Constant close focus cause sore feeling on eye. Fatigue due to overwork. Patient desire open eyes and feel dizzy on closing them.Backache due to overexertion.

Ruta Grave: Chief remedy for eyestrain due to overuse of eye muscle. Patient has watery eyes, oversensitive to light. Stiffness and pain Ultimately lead to headache Patient feel pressure behind eyeball. Difficulty to focusing eye.

Conium Mac: Artificial light or overwork cause eyestrain. Photophobia. improper night vision. Patient has foreign substance sensation as brain go to sleep. Aggravation on night, Amelioration by pressure and dark room. Seing black spot from fatigue. Headache with lancinating pain on vertex , semilateral.

Natrum Mur: Continuous reading or school work lead to weak bruised feeling in the eye,stiffness of muscle around eyeball. Eyelid feel heavy and lastly person complain of headache. Person feel that letters on screen board runs together. Constant computer typing cause numbness and tingling in the fingers. Person can not hold the things. Backache relieved by putting hard things under back.

Thuja: Good remedy for cramp in fingers. Tips of fingers tough ended. Feel dead.

Crocus Sativa: Patient complain of constant blinking after eyestrain, and reading a lot.

Euphrasia: After continuous eye work problem start. Watery eye. Burning and swelling lids Sticky mucous on cornea so patient blink often.

Kalmia Latifolia: Stiffness of eyes eyelids. aggravate by moving eyes. Vision weak or impaired with nerve pain in face, teeth. Joint or muscle stiffness. Shift from place to place .

Xanthinam: Good remedy for backache. Patient has pain on coccyx area. Patient can not sit on hard surface and put soft pillow below while sitting.

Pilocarpus: Good remedy for eyestrain cause may be whatever. Slightest use cause tired feeling of eye. Nausea and vertigo after use of eye. White spots before eye.

Senega officinalis: Remedy act on rectus superior. Patient has sensation as eyeball is too large for orbit. Object looks shaped. Hypersensitive to light. Headache with pressure and weakness of eye .Pain in temples, bursting pain forehead. Double vision ,dry eye, ameliorated by bending head backward .

Onosmodium: There is a strained and tired feeling in eye muscles. There can also be a tense drawing pain over the eyes. This pain tends to be worse over the over left eye. Distances are difficult to judge.

Physostigma: There is twitching of the muscles around the eye. There can also be difficulty focusing and irritability after using eyes. The pupils can sometimes appear very small from eyestrain.