Optyx Eyewear Blog

Computer Vision Syndrome

"" — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:25:00 -0600

By: Dr. Sara Dawson

Imagine an average weekday - you wake up in the morning, and as you get ready for work, you use your smartphone to check the weather and for any important emails or calendar events for the day. During your morning commute on the train, you read your new novel or electronic journal on your tablet. Finally at work, eight or more hours of viewing a computer screen and reading text fill your day. On the way home, you pull out the smartphone again for some solitaire... then you get home and it's time to relax with some facebook or netflix on the desktop.

In this age of computers, it's easy to spend a majority of the day on an electronic screen, whether for work or for pleasure. And we're suffering for it. Studies show that up to 90% of computer users suffer from symptoms of what is now called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). Common symptoms include eye strain, headaches, blurred distance vision, blurred near vision, double vision, and dry or burning eyes. Neck and shoulder pain are also considered part of CVS if they result from abnormal postures that are taken in the effort to provide more clear vision.

In most cases of CVS, a thorough eye exam by an eye care professional can reveal a treatable cause:

Even very small amounts of uncorrected or undercorrected prescriptions can cause CVS symptoms over the prolonged time spent viewing small print at a near distance, even if the vision is generally clear and comfortable. Having a recent and accurate eyeglass or contact lens prescription is essential for avoiding CVS.
Certain binocular vision problems, such as difficulty focusing and maintaining a close working distance or difficulty turning the eyes in together, can also lead to discomfort. Prescription low powered reading glasses, progressive lenses, or eye exercises as part of a vision therapy program can be beneficial in these cases.
Many studies have shown the connection between electronic screen use and dry eyes. Computer users do not blink as often as they need to in order to maintain the tear film, and having a screen set at eye level or above leaves a larger surface area of the eye exposed to the air (compared to a normal reading position looking downward). Any mild tendency toward dry eyes is made worse under these conditions, resulting in red eyes, burning, or a dry/gritty feeling. Contact lens wearers may experience worse symptoms. Certain brands of drug store artifical tears can help to relieve dryness, but frequently additional treatment is necessary. Your eye doctor can recommend appropriate drops or other treatments based on their exam findings.

Making some small changes in your visual habits and workplace environment can also help to relieve CVS symptoms:

If possible, sit at the computer so that the screen is about 15 degrees below your line of sight, tilted up towards you, at a distance of 20-28 inches.
An anti-reflective coating on your glasses eliminates glare from surrounding light sources on your lenses and provides increased visual efficiency and comfort. A filter placed over the computer screen itself reduces screen glare from overhead lighting or desk lamps. Avoid facing directly towards or away from unshaded windows.
Keep the computer screen clean, and use a high contrast setting with a brightness that matches your surroundings for the best visual comfort.
Perhaps most importantly, practice visual hygiene with the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of reading or computer work, give the eyes a 20 second break and look up at least 20 feet away. If the environment allows, take frequent longer breaks to stand up and stretch - 5 to 10 minutes break per hour is recommended.

Sources:

American Optometric Association: Center for Healthy Vision. "Computer Vision Syndrome". Accessed online at http://www.aoa.org/x5253.xml.

American Optometric Association: Clinical Care and Practice Advancement. "Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)." Accessed online at http://www.aoa.org/x5374.xml.

Anshell, Jeffery, editor. Visual ergonomics: A handbook. Taylor and Francis group: London. Accessed online at http://apk.lab.uii.ac.id/download/Pengumuman/Visual%20Ergonomics%20Handbook.pdf#page=96.

Rosenfield, Mark. "Computer vision syndrome: a review of ocular causes and potential treatments." Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics 31:5 (Sept. 2011) 502-515. Accessed online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-1313.2011.00834.x/full.

Tribley, J. et al. "Tips for computer vision syndrome relief and prevention." Work 39 (2011) 85–87. Accessed online at http://iospress.metapress.com/content/r734u1l877233722/fulltext.pdf.

Sunglasses, Not Just a Fashion Accessory

"" — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:55:00 -0500

With summer approaching many of us are thinking of purchasing a new pair of sunglasses as a fashion accessory. What many of us don’t realize is how important it is to purchase a pair that not only looks good but one that protects our eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. Sunglasses are essential for preventing damage to your eye by exposure to the UV rays of the sun. Over-exposure to UV light contributes to various eye problems. Listed below are a few of the common ocular changes caused by the sun. 1. Cataracts – When the lense of the eye gets opacified and cloudy resulting in blurred vision. 2. Macula degeneration- damage to the retina resulting in central vision loss. 3. Pingueculas and ptyergiums- clear- yellowish growth seen on the white part of the eye, can cause discomfort and or distorted vision. 4. Damage to the skin on and around the eyelid- discoloration, wrinkles and skin cancer. Risk of damage to our eyes is cumulative, meaning the danger continues to increase as we spend time in the sun. It is especially important for kids to protect their eyes. A great deal of damage is caused before the age of 18 so it essential to start protecting at an early age. Most children spend a significant amount of time outdoors. In addition to the health risks the sun causes there is a significant amount of visual discomfort from the sun. The brightness of the sun causes us to squint and tear which then can blur our vision. The use of sunglasses will improve visual comfort and overall clarity. When purchasing sunglasses consider a wrap around style which limits the stray sunlight that reaches your eyes from above and on the sides of the frame. Look for lenses that block out 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation. Just because a lens is tinted dark doesn’t mean it has UV protection. Polarized lenses are a good choice for both protection and reducing glare. Even during the winter months and on cloudy days our eyes are exposed to UV light so remember sunglasses should be worn all year round. Now you can go out and buy those cool sunglasses with the knowledge that you are being proactive in taking care of your eyes. Written by Dr. Dawn Seewald

Multifocal Contact Lenses

"" — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:02:00 -0500

Presbyopia is the progressive deterioration of near vision, in populations starting in their early 40s. Changes in near vision remain dynamic due to changes in the eyes’ focusing muscles. Fine print becomes difficult to see, menus are hard to read, or the arms just aren’t long enough anymore to hold things far enough to see!

Many presbyopic patients are surprised to discover that multifocal contact lenses exist. In fact, there are many options available, with different designs in different add powers, that can address their unique visual demands.

There has been a large increase of multifocal fittings due to how active, and tech savvy presbyopic patients have become, who want to be independent of their glasses, as well as the new advancements in the multifocal contact lens markets. Presbyopes are projected to be the single largest group of potential contact lens wearers by 2018, making up 28% of all potential contact lens wearers.

Monovision (one eye corrected for distance, the other for near), may be a good option for some presbyopes, but it begins to fail as add power increases and depth perception is disturbed. The biggest advantage of soft multifocal lenses is that they work over a variety of focal ranges, whereas monovision only allows focus of two distinct focal lengths. A creative practitioner with a good understanding of the different lens designs can really help the success of patients who want to be more independent of their glasses.

So even for an active New Yorker who likes to comfortably read the Times, watch a broadway show, and then blog about it on the computer, it is likely that multifocal lenses are available to support this active lifestyle!

Written by Dr. Wynn Tran, OD

CATARACTS

"" — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:00:00 -0500

What Is a Cataract?

Many people have heard the term cataract and know it's eye related, but often confuse it with other medical eye conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration, which permanently damage vision. In contrast to those, cataracts are (usually) a normal part of aging, and are treatable. Cataracts are the leading cause of reduced vision in people over age 55. A cataract is when the lens inside the eye (which helps the eye focus, like a camera) starts to get cloudy. This causes the vision to blur, worsens glare from bright lights, and glasses are not enough to clear up the vision.

How to Prevent and Treat Cataracts

Cataracts are related to UV light absorbtion, so wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from UV can delay or slow the development of cataracts. Smoking can speed up cataract development, so avoid/stop smoking. There is some research that shows consuming eye-friendly nutrients, like lutein/zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc, can reduce the risk of cataract formation. Once a cataract has begun developing it will slowly worsen over a number of years, and when the vision is impaired enough, your eye doctor will recommend removing the cataract with is a simple minor surgical procedure. Regular eye checkups are important so your eye doctor can discover cataracts early on and discuss options with you.

-- Contributed by Dr. Elizabeth Wickware, OD, MS

How to Beat Seasonal Allergies

"" — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:37:00 -0500

One day, in ancient India, the Buddha was giving a teaching to his followers. On this day however, instead of a verbal teaching, he simply held up a flower. One of his disciples, Mahakasyapa, smiled. Today, in Central Park the cherry blossoms are flowering and the tulips are bursting forth, but not all of us are able to enjoy all the beauty around us since we cannot stop sneezing, tearing and rubbing our eyes. The allergy season is here! There are several types of ocular allergic reactions, but I will talk about the most common one: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Ocular allergies mostly involve the conjunctiva, a thin membrane which acts as a barrier that covers the white surface of the eyeball. Pollen and dust come in contact with the mast cells of the conjunctiva, which are like time-bombs full of itchy substances, called histamines. When released, histamines cause a reaction of inflammation, which in turn causes burning, itching, redness and watery discharge. The more you rub, the more mast-cells are spurred to release their allergenic explosives, causing the eyes to itch even more. Some people with allergicrhinitis, asthma, eczema and hay fever are more likely to develop ocular allergies.

There are several things you can do to control your symptoms. First and most important is to try to avoid eye rubbing. Cold compresses and taking over the counter allergy medicines can relieve the discomfort, but if these home remedies aren't helping, there are topical drops that a health care provider can prescribe. Eye drops may contain a decongestant, an antihistamine, a mast-cell stabilizer, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a mild steroid or a combination of these, which can be a stronger treatment for your ocular allergies. Your eye doctor will prescribe the right regimen needed. So... Go ahead and smell the flowers! And smile!

-- Contributed by Dr. Elvira Levit, OD

Dry Eye Syndrome

"" — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:03:00 -0500

Patients come to me with one of several symptoms: burning, tearing, foreign body sensation, gritty/sandy feeling, redness, tearing, itching, blurred vision (corrected by blinking), and pain in their eyes. Symptoms are often exacerbated by wind, smoke, reading, watching television and/or computer use.

While there are other eye conditions that may cause any one of these symptoms, and proper diagnosis by an eye care professional is needed, the most common diagnosis is Dry Eye Syndrome. Dry Eye Syndrome is an ocular irritation due to deficiency in the quality and/or quantity of tears.

There are several causes of Dry Eye Syndrome: aging, hormonal changes (especially in post menopausal women), medications, contact lenses, contact lens solutions, environmental conditions, excessive computer use, as well as some systemic diseases.

The good news is that there is treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome. Depending on the severity and cause, an eye doctor will make the appropriate treatment plan.

-- Contributed by Dr. Karen Perekalsky, OD

3D Vision and Your Health

"" — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:09:00 -0500

With emerging 3D technology, we all have questions on how it affects our eye health. See this link to learn how these new technologies may help uncover visual problems.

[3D Eye Health]

-- Contributed by Dr. Hema Khanna

Your Eye Care Specialist

"" — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:02:00 -0500

Our neighborhood locations provide you and your family with a comprehensive solution from examinations through an extensive designer eyewear collection and quality contact lenses. Each location is staffed by the finest Doctors of Optometry, opticians and personal eyewear styling specialists.

Our new website provides our customers with a host of new, easy and convenient features that permit you to schedule eye examinations, at any of our locations, at a time that works for you. Need contact lenses? We have them. Simply logon to our site and register utilizing our easy-to-use form and we will deliver your lenses directly to your home.

When it comes to eyewear selection, Optyx covers the field with a wide range of designer brands including the finest sunglasses. When you are an Optyx customer there is no need to go anywhere else, we provide you with all the personal service you expect under one roof.

Get to know us and us you. You will love the attention that this quality neighborhood business can provide. It’s like having your own Eye Care Concierge.