Do you find yourself sitting in front of the computer, rubbing your eyes and having trouble focusing?

Think it's just fatigue? Think again. It could by a syndrome that doctors say affect

Blurring eyes

Computer Vision Syndrome contributes to decreased work performance, doctors say

For many of us, sustained time in front of a computer is part of the job.

When we find ourselves rubbing our eyes, trying to re-focus and needing to rest our eyes after a day's work, or play, in front of a computer, we are not simply tired as we often think, but, rather, experiencing a syndrome that can be staved off.

It's Computer Vision Syndrome, a complex of vision and eye problems related to work in front of a computer.

"I see a steady increase in patients with CVS," said Dr. Richard E. Meetz, a clinical associate professor with the Indiana University School of Optometry.

He said, however, the increase is owed not to more problems, but to the greater number of users, the aging of the population and lengthier time spent at the computer.

"The human eye is just not evolved to sit in front of a computer for eight hours a day. Vision on a computer is still a more demanding task than reading a book," Meetz said, "Yes, we can set up an Rx to make that more comfortable, but few patients spend the money to get those glasses that are set for that use.

"This actually floors me more than anything. People will spend hundreds of dollars on custom shoes to run for one hour and more money for another pair to play a particular sport. But they want one pair of glasses to do everything that visual tasks demand of their eyes for eight-plus hours a day."

Robert Hopper is one person who got a special prescription designed for his line of sight when working at the computer, something he has done for more than 30 years.

"It just made sense since I do a lot of work at the computer," he said.

Hopper is the former director of technology at Purdue University Calumet who now holds that position with Tri-Creek Schools.

"As I was getting older, I just felt the need for it," he said.

The upper portion of his glass lens is for use at the computer while the lower portion is for reading, he said.

The American Optometric Association believes that inadequate attention has been paid to computer-related vision and eye problems and says CVS is pervasive among computer workers and contributes to decreased work performance.

"In my opinion, the dryness is the biggest issue," said Dr. John Tanner, a doctor of optometry with Deschamps Eyecare, in Merrillville.

Tanner said when people are staring at a computer they blink less frequently, which causes their eyes to become dry, redden and burn.

"There are three layers of tear film on the eye. The top, oil layer needs to be spread over the eye through blinking," he said.

Meetz said while most people older than 40 experience some loss of tears and some women have such a loss in their mid-20s, most people don't notice it as they normally blink 15 times a minute. However, during "near work" and especially time in front of a computer, Meetz said, blinking drops to only three times a minute. That results in not only tired, red, watery eyes, but fatigue as well, he said.

"The easiest thing to do is to use an artificial tear product in each eye before you start, and then reapply each hour you are working," Meetz said.

Tanner added there are plenty of over-the-counter, artificial tears products as well as ones that can be prescribed.

"Some people go out and get Clear Eyes to treat the redness, but that doesn't help the dry eye," he said.

Meetz observed that most IT people are young with what he calls "good near focus," so they tend, when doing a computer setup, to set the computer directly straight ahead on the line of sight.

Those older than 40 then, generally, tilt their heads back considerably to get their reading power on the line of sight, resulting in neck and shoulder pain, Meetz said.

That's when glasses such as those Hopper wears at the computer come into play, Meetz said. He added that he recommends to all computer users, whatever their age, that they drop the height of the screen.

"Our eyes just work more comfortably looking down at reading than straight ahead and reading," Meetz said.

OSHA standard is to have the screen set 10 to 30 degrees below the line of sight, he said.

Dr. John Tanner of Deschamps Eyecare in Merrillville offers some tips for vision-friendly computer use:

* Many newer computer screens pick up glare. Control lighting to reduce glare.

* Reposition the monitor for looking downward.

* Take frequent breaks away from the computer.

* Reduce caffeine intake as it can dry eyes. Increase water intake.

To learn more about Computer Vison Syndrome, visit the American Optometric Association online at www.aoa.org.