What Could Be the Long Term Effects of an Eye Strain?

The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) of the United States had declared that eye strain is the leading problem for computer users. Dr. Paul F. Bommarito, an Occupational Vision Optometrist and Certified Industrial Ergonomist, said that about 88% of heavy computer users experience these problems.

Eye strain as a form of asthenopia is discomforting and annoying. Studies declare that as now, there are no lasting health consequences associated with it. Complications and problems arise when it is not tended to. Most of these complications have no long term effects but it leads us to understand that they need our attention and consideration to delay further discomfort.

Working on a computer for long periods of time in a day without proper resting once in a while could result to eye strain. This habit causes stress to the eye muscles especially those that control eye movement, as well as the facial and scalp muscles, thus, leading to pain and headache. Eye strain affects the eyesight of a person, thus, resulting to lower energy levels and performance outputs.

It is treated as a minor eye problem that can be prevented and corrected. Appropriate work station and workplace design like lighting, glare reduction, distance from computer, etc., can help prevent eye strain.

There is the so-called "VDU" or Visual Display Unit, a term that describes a visual display device for a computer. Some examples of VDUs are: a flat panel display, monitor, and a projector. Some visual problems are associated with the use of VDUs. "The percentage of workers suffering visual problems increases in proportion to the number of hours worked at the VDU. Surveys of those working more than six hours a day at the VDU have found up to 91 per cent experience visual problem... A consistent finding of studies of VDU users is that vision-related problems are higher among operators doing repetitive keyboard and screen work than among those doing more creative question and answer work suggesting that the intensity and repetitiveness of the work are important factors...Studies have also shown that eyestrain becomes worse in direct proportion to the amount of time spent each day at a VDU." (VDU Work and Hazards to Health Chapter 2)

The above article writes that extensive research says, that VDUs will not cause disease or permanent damage to the eyes. On another hand, many experts' findings show that some people whose job deal with VDUs may suffer the risk of more serious long-term damage than eye strain. For jobs requiring extensive and sustained attention and concentration on the computer (e.g. data entry, etc.), short, deliberate breaks or pauses must be honored by the worker.

If an individual cares for his eyes and performs proper preventive steps, he will keep on being effective on his tasks and maintain relatively good eyesight. Otherwise, if personal attempts to relieve eye strain do not work, and there are persistent eye discomforts which affect your vision and performance, then you would need to go visit an eye specialist for an eye examine.

For more information about eye strains you may find this site very resourceful http://www.eyestrainfromcomputers.com as it has information related to eye strains which is believed to be partially related to eye fatigue.