EYEGONOMICS

Are your Eye’s Itchy? Dry? Are you blinking a lot while staring at your screen? Are you a cell phone junky! Are you out in the sun without proper protection? Do you have problems sleeping at night?Extended computer use or inadequate or excessive lighting may cause eye strain.

In my case eye strain is twofold, I spend my week in front of a computer and my weekends on the water. I use a smartphone, on the water (Kyocera, waterproof) and in the office (Apple). They are my go-to sources for immediate information, and on the water for navigation.

I grew up in a coastal community and was always on the water in some capacity and found that bright sunlight and reflected light off the water would cause my eyes to water and led to headaches when shifts as a lifeguard were for extended periods. UVA and UVB radiation damage the lens, retina, and macula over time. It is important to protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses. Winter and water sports require sun protection, as the sun’s glare is magnified by snow and water.

Surfers, lifeguards, sports sailors, skiers and crew teams often suffer additional problems from salt water, snow reflection, and exposure to the elements. Pinguecula and pterygium are growths on your eye’s conjunctiva, the clear covering over the white part of the eye.

Pinguecula is a growth that looks like a yellow spot or bumps on the conjunctiva. It often appears on the side of the eye near your nose. A pinguecula is a deposit of protein, fat, or calcium.

Pterygium is a growth of fleshy tissue that may start as a pinguecula. It can remain small or grow large enough to cover part of the cornea. When this happens, it can affect your vision 

 It is important to wear a hat with a visor, and sunglasses or goggles that conform to the shape of your face to provide more protection from the sun and the elements. Block the UV rays from the side and from the top of the sunglasses.

Everyone is sensitive to light to some degree, but light sensitivity or photophobia is an abnormal intolerance for light. Discomfort can be experienced from light sources such as sunlight and fluorescent or other artificial lights. It may cause the person with light sensitivity to squint or to have to close their eyes. It can cause pain and/or tears. In some cases, this may be accompanied by a headache.

The brighter the light, the greater the discomfort. Generally, people with this condition are affected by bright lights, but in extreme cases, any light can trigger the effect. The wavelength of the light (i.e. the color) may also be important. For example, blue light generally causes more trouble than other colors. Large changes in light levels can cause this condition. For example, if you often spend time in darkened rooms, you will be less used to brighter lights and notice them more.

A recent case published in The New England Journal of Medicine states that one day a patient suddenly notices the loss of vision completely and started seeing again 20 minutes later. This would be an awful experience for anyone! Sudden unexplained blindness is terrifying, and no one wants to go through such an ordeal.

In another case, one patient, when visiting his specialist his vision seemed normal, there were no noticeable disorders, however, partial blindness symptoms kept occurring for the next six months to the point that, after countless tests, his doctor focused on analyzing the patient’s behavior. The doctor discovered that the culprit creating the problem was the use of patient’s smartphone used at night for extended periods.

The effects of mobile phones, laptops, and tablets, according to research can cause damage to the retina. Constant use researchers found that subjects had deterioration and later loss of vision. But, those are not all the risks that light emitted from mobile screens can cause.

There are eye strain problems related to sleep disorders and the reduction in the production of melatonin. We all need at least 6 hours a day to be fully functional. When eye strain upsets the sleep cycle personality and reason can be affected.  

- Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or the group of ocular symptoms such as transient myopia, eye fatigue, dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision, and other symptoms are suffered by more than 80% of screen users. This type of eye strain can be reduced by having the monitor placed at the correct height and with proper lighting.

Transient blindness can come from all sorts of eye strain. As a former Lifeguard/Swim Instructor, I can vouch for damage that can be caused by sunlight and reflected light from the water.  Headaches can result and stress-related shoulder fatigue from sunlight-induced eye strain can be painful. That type of eye strain can cause red eye, dry eye, and fatigue that causes blinking and the disability to focus, not only your eyes but on a task at hand.

What is Transient Blindness? Loss of vision from 5 to 20 minutes sometimes occurs in people that use smartphones for extended periods in the dark. (Sound familiar?)  I find myself at night in a dark room, watching the news and using my phone to verify news reports and to look up references for fake news. I always thought my headaches were from the Newsy Nuts and now I know I was creating perfect conditions for eye strain and sleep deprivation. Who knew?

Why are your office light source and monitor levels so important? Natural light sources can boost employee morale by reducing eye strain, headaches, and stress between the shoulders. Less stress, better communication, and customer service. Happier customer, and a more confident healthier employee! It is a win-win situation. Much better for the bottom line. Create some Happy!