Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) February 11, 2015
“Compute vision syndrome” (CVS), also called “compute eye strain” is among the most common eye doctors complaints. CVS is essentially a form of dry eye, according to radio host and fresh water advocate Sharon Kleyne. Because dry eye tends to be more common in winter, CVS is also more common in winter.
Every winter, the internet is full of articles with suggestions for preventing and relieving CVS and winter dry eye.* Any steps taken to relieve CVS and winter dry eye, according to Kleyne, should include tear film water supplementation.
- Hill, S, “Does staring at screens all day really damage your eyes?” Digital Trends, February 7, 2015
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/does-your-phone-damage-your-eyes-an-experts-advice/
Kleyne will discuss CVS, winter dry eye and tear film water supplementation on her upcoming
Sharon Kleyne Hour™ Power of Water® radio show of February 16, 2015. For the live broadcast, or podcasts of past shows, go to http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2207/the-sharon-kleyne-hour.
The syndicated radio show, hosted by Sharon Kleyne, is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica and Apple iTunes. The education oriented show is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research, a global research and technology center founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere and dehydration. Nature’s Tears® EyeMist® is the Research Center’s signature product for dry and dehydrated eyes.
Nearly everyone who uses a computer more than nine hours a day experiences some degree of CVS symptoms, according to Kleyne. The symptoms are the same as those for dry eye because CVS is essentially a form of dry eye, defined as loss of water (or moisture dehydration) in the eyes’ basal tear film, which is normally 99 percent water.
Symptoms of computer vision syndrome and dry eye syndrome, says Kleyne, include eye discomfort, burning eyes, red eyes, temporarily blurred vision, headache, fatigue, sore shoulders, lowered productivity and heightened stress. Dry eye is worse in winter because cold air can’t hold nearly as much moisture as warm air. When air is humid, the tear film is able to absorb atmospheric humidity or water vapor. When air is dry, the tear film tends to lose water to the atmosphere due to increased evaporation.
Computer vision syndrome is caused by several factors, Kleyne notes, the most significant of which is a reduced reflexive eyelid blink rate. When eyelids blink, they replenish the tear film. When eyelids don’t blink, the likelihood that tear film water will evaporate increases. When tear film water evaporates, dry eye symptoms occur.
The normal reflexive blink rate is about 30 per minute, Kleyne explains. For someone working intently at a computer, the blink rate can drop as low as three times per minute. In addition, office computers tend to be located in rooms with fluorescent lighting, forced air heating and cooling, and insulated walls and windows, all of which are dehydrating to eyes and skin.
Dry eye syndrome, Kleyne notes, can also be caused by fever, internal dehydration and malfunction of the tear glands and of the tiny oil glands located in the eyelids. Most medical therapies are directed at these causes.
The easiest way to prevent or relieve CVS, according to Kleyne, is to blink more often and avoid high risk dry eye situations, such as fluorescent lighting or low humidity. Positioning yourself to look slightly down on the compute screen keeps the eyelids a little lower, with less exposed tear film surface. Frequent breaks also help, as does looking around the room occasionally.
One approach pioneered by Sharon Kleyne is moisture supplementation. Since the tear film has the ability to absorb water directly from humid air, increasing the humidity in the immediate vicinity of the eyes will increase tear film water content. The product Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®, from Kleyne’s company, Bio-Logic Aqua® Research, accomplishes that with a three second application of all-natural tissue culture grade water in the form of an ultra fine mist.
Drinking eight glasses of water a day in addition to all other fluids also helps keep the tear film moist. .
Kleyne supports all strategies to prevent and reverse CVS and winter dry eye. She believes the place to start should be to bring the tear film’s water content backup to its normal 99%.