When many people were younger their mothers would warn them about the dangers of sitting too close to the television set. It might have started to seem like just another one of the things that they would say that didn't really have any consequences - like telling you that your face would stick if you kept it in the same position for too long. While most of us have grown accustomed to staring at screens on a daily basic, whether that be at work or at home, that doesn't mean that it cannot be harmful to our eyes.

Computer Vision Syndrome is caused by staring at a screen for uninterrupted periods of time and can cause dry eyes, headaches, eye strain, fatigue, redness of the eyes, and neck pain. While there is the word computer in the name, this is not the only screen that can cause this ailment. You could be watching your favorite shows on television or be playing video games for hours on end and wind up with a case of CVS.

As dry eyes is one of the main symptoms of this condition, one of the cures that you will find is over-the-counter artificial tears or eye drops. This is a very common condition and affects nine out of ten people who spend three or more hours a day in front of a computer or television. Many people who experience the milder symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome, might not even realize their issues are being caused by their exposure to a screen for too long.

If you're worried about contracting CVS, than there are things that you can do to help protect yourself. Many people don't have the option of just not looking at a computer throughout the day. Computer eyeglasses are available for those that need it. You also might want to think about this condition if you have children that spend a lot of time playing games or while they study on the computer. Sometimes just changing the configuration of your desk or the lighting in the room can be enough to reduce the negative exposure that your eyes are experiencing on a daily basis. If you are worried that you have CVS than you should visit your local eye doctor.

10 Steps for Relief from CVS or eye strain from All About Vision can be found here.


This page is sponsored in part by Royal Bank Plaza Dental Centre of Toronto. For a beautiful smile give their office a call at (416) 362-7400 or visit them in person at 200 Bay St., Suite LR2 Toronto, Ontario