Computer Vision Syndrome

Computer vision syndrome is a vision disorder characterized by eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision.  it is believed to be caused by the nearness of the eyes to the computer monitors many of us work at day after day.  Yet some people develop symptoms, while others never do.  The human eye is able to adjust to near and distant vision fields without much drama in most cases.  It seems that certain co-morbid conditions amplify the effects of CVS in certain individuals.  There are also people who never experience any discomfort at all from working in front of a computer monitor for extended periods of time, even for years on end.

Because Computer Vision Syndrome is more of a collection of issues than a single, identifiable malady, it is often misdiagnosed as any of several other eye conditions.  This is rarely harmful, since treatment of the group of conditions is often similar to to the treatments prescribed for a single problem;  the danger comes only when the syndrome further contributes to existing or undiagnosed early signs of serious vision problems, such as macular degeneration.

Here is an infographic that seeks to clarify some of the mysterious symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome.  If you notice several of these symptoms going on with your own vision, let your eye care provider know.