Grants Pass, OR (PRWEB) March 21, 2016
“Digital eyestrain” is surprisingly common and also extremely sneaky. It can present itself as a headache, sore shoulders or sleepiness – or there can be no symptoms at all. The condition is so widespread and potentially harmful that the American Optometric Association has designated “avoiding digital eyestrain in the workplace” as the theme for this year’s, “Save Your Vision Month,” during March 2016. Water and health advocate Sharon Kleyne will honor this special month by discussing digital eyestrain on her upcoming “Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water®” radio show.
Digital eyestrain is also called “computer vision syndrome,” CVS, “computer eyestrain” or “computer dry eye.” The use of the word “digital” by the AOA expands the syndrome from just computers to tablets, smart phones, ipads and TV screens.
Kleyne will discuss AOA Save Your Vision Month 2016 and prevention of digital eyestrain on the upcoming Sharon Kleyne Hour™ Power of Water® radio show of March 21, 2016. The globally syndicated, education oriented show is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica (Health and Wellness, and Variety Channels) and Apple iTunes. For podcasts of past shows, go to http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2207/the-sharon-kleyne-hour
Sharon Kleyne Hour® Power of Water® is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere, body surface evaporation, dehydration and education. The Research Center’s signature consumer product for supplemental eye moisture is Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®.
There are two reasons, according to Kleyne, why extensive use of computers and other digital screen items can cause dry eye symptoms. First, when people are deeply engrossed in a task, they blink far less often – dropping from an average of 30 times a minute to as low as six times a minute. Blinking refreshes the tear film. Not blinking exposes the tear film, which is 99 percent water, to increased evaporative pressure. An evaporative drop in the tear film’s water content of only 2 percent can trigger dry eye symptoms.
The most common dry eye symptoms, says Kleyne, are eye discomfort, blurred vision that comes and goes, itching eyes, tired eyes, grainy eyes, headaches, sore shoulders, fatigue and feelings of stress or depression.
Kleyne offers a number of tips to avoid or prevent digital eyestrain or CVS. The two most important are having an annual eye exam and following the “20-20-20 Rule”: Every 20 minutes, look away from the computer for at least 20 seconds, at an object 20 feet away.
Other Kleyne tips include positioning the body so the eyes look slightly down at the screen. This lowers the eyelids slightly, slowing evaporation. Use a regular incandescent light, if possible, rather than a fluorescent light. Position the computer to avoid glare. Pay attention to room humidity and be aware that indoor air with forced air heating and cooling, and insulated walls and windows, can be dehydrating. Use a room humidifier or put out bowls of water or house plants.
drinking eight full glasses of water per day – in addition to all other fluid intake – is strongly recommended by Kleyne. While the body is capable of extracting water from, for example, orange juice, Kleyne’s logic is, “why make it more difficult for the body to absorb the water?” Kleyne does advocate juices and foods with high water content as water supplements but suggests avoiding drinks containing alcohol, caffeine, carbonation or lots of sugar, all of which are dehydrating to the body (foods that are dehydrating to the body will also be dehydrating to the eyes). For maximum benefit, drink two of the eight glasses upon rising and two more full glasses during the day. The remainder may be sipped.
And finally, Kleyne suggests the use of a personal hand held eye humidifying device, to supplement any tear film moisture lost to evaporation. Nature’s Tears® EyeMist®, from Kleyne’s Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®, is intended for exactly that purpose. Kleyne notes that a president of IBM told her years ago that, “Someday, Nature’s Tears EyeMist will be on the desk beside every computer.”
©2016 Bio-Logic Aqua® Research Water Life Science®. All rights reserved.
“Save your vision month 2016,” AOA, 2016
http://www.aoa.org/optometrists/tools-and-resources/toolkits-and-practice-resources/public-education-and-campaign-materials/save-your-vision-month-2016