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Help Screen Computer Eye-Strain Dr. David J. Demko, Gerontologist AgeVenture News Service Ever so slowly. Yet, ever so surely. Increasing numbers of older adults are going on-line. Perhaps, you're among the one-in-ten seniors who access the Internet from home, or among the additional twelve percent who log on using a friend's, school's, or public library's computer. No matter where users log-on, they share one thing in common, vision difficulties generated by computer screens. Dry-eyes, eye-strain, glare, and headaches. Definitely takes the fun out of on-line surfing. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who spend a lot of time in front of a computer monitor, it should be a relief to know there's relief for your vision difficulties. The American Academy of Ophthalmology, a.k.a the Eye M.D. Association offers practical advice for dealing with computer eyestrain and dry eye. Academy spokesperson Ruth Williams, MD has the following advice for treating minor eye irritations: re-arrange your computer workstation with comfort in mind, take more frequent rest breaks, get proper eyeglasses, if needed get an eye exam to pinpoint the cause of discomfort, check to see if eye disease is the cause of your symptoms, check to see if your prescription needs updating, AgeVenture News reminds readers that mature eyes require more light in order to see clearly. For example, a 50 year old requires twice as much light for reading than does a 25 year old. An 80 year old can require three times more light than the 25 year old. That's why senior adults have a tendency to pump up the brightness in order to see more clearly. Unfortunately, the additional light causes glaring on glossy print or screen surfaces, leading to eye-straining glare. Here's a few additional suggestions from AgeVenture News. if you wear contact lenses, blink more frequently to hydrate your lenses, glance away from the screen and briefly re-focus on a distance object, desk lamps should shed light from behind you in the direction of the screen, every 15-20 minutes, stand and stretch or get up and walk about the room, set your computer screen for better contrast to reduce eye strain, avoid flourescent lighting which tends to create eye-straining glare, eye-exercise (glance side-to-side then up and down) protects against fatigue. Dr. Williams also has advice for planning your computer's workspace. SCREEN DISTANCE: Sit about 20 inches from the computer monitor, a little farther away than reading distance, with the top of the screen at or below eye level. EQUIPMENT: Choose a monitor that tilts or swivels, and has both contrast and brightness controls. FURNITURE: Use an adjustable chair. Your body will thank you later, i.e. fewer work-related aches and pains. WORKING DOCUMENTS: Place materials on a document holder, so you don’t have to keep looking back and forth, refocusing your eyes and turning your neck and head. LIGHTING: Modify lighting to eliminate reflections or glare. A hood or micromesh filter for your screen might help limit reflections and glare. REST BREAKS: Take periodic rest breaks, and try to blink often to keep your eyes from drying out. Some final precautions. In addition, forced-air heating systems can also increase problems with dry eyes during the winter, says Dr. Williams. Dry eye occurs when the eye doesn’t produce enough tears to keep the eye comfortable. Usual symptoms include stinging or burning eyes, scratchiness, a feeling that there’s something in the eye, excessive tearing or difficulty wearing contact lenses. Over-the-counter eye drops called artificial tears usually help, but if dry eye persists, see your Eye M.D. for an evaluation. The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons-Eye M.D.s-with more than 27,000 members worldwide. See related articles in AgeVenture Headline News. See related articles in AgeVenture Lifestyle News. AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP Dr. Demko reports on lifestyle issues and trends in Aging America. Submit comments to: demko@demko.com This column may be used, free-of-charge, by print and broadcast media with the following attribution: "David Demko, AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com" Please see AgeVenture "Permission to reprint" policy.

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