Spending long hrs on comp? Beware of asthenopia

Here is a warning for all those computer geeks, who don’t blink an eyelid when in front of a computer screen. A recent study of 440 students studying in computer institutes and surfing in internet cafes, and professionals in the age group of 15-25 years spending long hours before the computer have now started complaining of what is called the computer vision syndrome (CVS) or Asthenopia.

CVS refers to an eye disorder that has symptoms like eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes, slow refocusing, neck or backache, light sensitivity of eyes and double vision. A study carried out by Dinesh Bhanderi, Sushil Kumar Choudhary and Vikas Doshi of PS Medical College, Karamsad points out that girls were more susceptible to Asthenopia as compared to boys. The study was published in the February edition of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.

The syndrome showed a high prevalence of 47 per cent among students and young professionals working in banks, studying at computer institutes and pursuing computer application degrees. Around 26 per cent reported of strong Asthenopic symptoms while 74 per cent experienced the symptoms occasionally. These students used to spend anywhere between six and 12 hours in front of the computer.

The study also shatters a myth that keeping the computer monitor at eye level or above eye level can reduce Asthenopia. The study advises that the screen should be below eye-level. The study points that nearly 70.2 per cent students and professionals took a break after spending six hours before the computer. However, it warns all those students with spectacles to refrain from spending long hours, as this will increase their susceptibility to CVS. About 60 per cent students who were found with Asthenopia wore spectacles.

Only 33.9 per cent of respondents took precautions of using an anti-glare screen. While 71 per cent of the students, who did not take precautions and complained of one or more symptoms of Asthenopia, did not adjust the brightness or contrast settings of the computer.

The study also warns that Asthenopia was prevalent in all those youngsters, who started before their teens on computers. As against users of computer, the study pointed to the prevalence of CVS among computer users in the age group of 5-10 years.