Posts Tagged ‘accommodation’

Facebook Fan Submitted topic #2: How do Smart Phones affect our Vision?

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

We asked for suggestions from our Facebook fans for blog posts and we got some great responses.   This is the second of  5 posts on Dr.  Beach’s blog  to be based on these topics/questions.

Wanda, a CEC Facebook fan, asks:    “With more phones being smart phones allowing us to spend more time on Facebook, ect how does this effect our vision versus time spent on computers?”

Wanda, I have to admit that I am addicted to my Blackberry Storm (and still pondering the Google droid) so I can relate to this question as a patient and an optometrist.   storm full 178x300 Facebook Fan Submitted topic #2: How do Smart Phones affect our Vision?This is a great topic as more and more people buy smart phones and spend more time using applications on those phones.

Some of the potential visual issues of using smart phones are very similar to those experienced with heavy computer use.    I made some pretty interesting posts regarding Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) about a month ago.     Be sure to check them out if you get a chance, but potential issues that could be experienced with smart phone and computer use include headache, loss of focus, burning/tired feeling, and blurred vision.

One effect of smart phones that may be more severe than with computer use is the need for “accommodation”, or the contraction of near focusing iphone 150x150 Facebook Fan Submitted topic #2: How do Smart Phones affect our Vision?muscles.   This is for two reasons.    First, most of us hold our smart phones at a distance much closer than we view our computers.  The closer the distance, the greater the contraction of near focus.   Secondly, the print or text on smart phones is typically much smaller than that found on computers.  The smaller the print, the greater the contraction of near focus.

It is this overuse of accommodation when using smart phones that may create problems for some individuals.   Overuse can result in headaches, eye strain, and blurry vision.   Sometimes, the contraction of accommodation is such that it may not relax when looking far away which would actually result in blurry distance vision.

Whether it be computers or smart phones, the key is to take breaks.    On the Computer Vision Syndrome post I advocated the 20-20-20 Rule:   every 20 minutes, take a 20 second break by looking at something 20 feet away.  This would relax accommodation.   Given the increased demand on the near focusing muscles created by smart phones, perhaps that rule should be adapted to 10-20-20:  every 10 minutes, take a break and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Wanda, thank you for submitting such a great topic.


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Computer Vision Syndrome

Monday, March 15th, 2010

VSComputerWebFlyer 300x174 Computer Vision Syndrome

It is estimated that nearly 140 million Americans use a computer at work, home, or school on a daily basis.   While computers have dramatically improved our lives over the last 20 years, they haven’t been quite so kind to the eyes viewing them.    Millions of people, using the computer more than 2 hours a day, have experienced Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

What is Computer Vision Syndrome?

CVS is a combination of visual and physical symptoms due to the stress placed on the eyes with extended and chronic computer use.     It is most often accompanied by:

  • Headache
  • Loss of focus
  • Burning/tired eyes
  • Blurred vision
  • Shoulder/back aches

What Causes CVS?

In my experience with many CVS patients, there appears to be 3 main contributing factors:

  1. Constant contraction of the near-focus muscles of the eye: this produces fatigue, headaches, fluctuating or decreased focus.
  2. Glare from the computer screen:  interferes with clear vision, producing eye strain and uncomfortable vision.
  3. Decreased blinking of the eyes:   results in greater evaporation of moisture from the eyes which then causes dryness, burning, redness and further blurry vision

Solutions for CVS

The best approach to CVS is a two-pronged treatment plan.   The first step is prescription Computer Glasses, based on careful testing of your visual tendencies when focusing up close.   This will relieve the focusing demand & stress created by chronic computer use.   Computer glasses will also incorporate Anti-Glare Treatment, which will free your eyes from computer glare and will allow for clear AND comfortable vision.   The second aspect of treating CVS is to address the physical symptoms created by reduced blinking.   Careful assessment of your ocular surface will allow for recommendations of artificial tears specific to your situation.   In some cases, complete relief may require prescription eye drops or the installation of tear duct plugs to retain your own natural tears.

If you find yourself in front of the computer on a daily basis, make sure to discuss any of these issues with your optometrist or schedule an appointment to see us.    Your eyes don’t have to suffer from CVS !

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Study Finds 66% Increase in Myopia in Americans aged 12-54 Years

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

A recent study in the Journal of Ophthalmology compared the incidence of myopia (near-sightedness) from the early 1970′s to 2004.   The researchers found a 66% increase in myopia over that 30 year time frame.  A 66% increase!   I get a little bored with statistics sometimes, but that is an amazing increase over such a short period of time.   The study goes on to say that in the early 1970′s, about 25% of Americans had myopia and that in 2004 that number was near 46%.

Unfortunately, the study was strictly observational and didn’t investigate the causes of this drastic increase.  There are many studies that conclude that myopia does have a genetic component.   Myopic parents are more likely to have myopic children.  But it’s impossible to predict the presence or degree of myopia in children based on the parent’s prescriptions.

We also know, through a number of studies, that environmental conditions play a role in the development of myopia.  “Law school myopia” is a term that is used often.   It relates to a famous study that showed law school students had a significant increase in myopia at graduation compared to their first day of graduate school.  This increase, which isn’t exclusive to law school students, was attributed to the rigorous visual demands that extensive reading can place on a person’s visual system.   When a person is reading, accommodation muscles are contracted to allow the eye to focus at close distances.   accom Study Finds 66% Increase in Myopia in Americans aged 12 54 Years

Having those muscles contracted for long periods of time will restrict their ability to relax and can translate into in an increase in near sightedness.   Imagine you contract your bicep at full strength for two hours and then try to relax it….you most likely will not be able to move your arm back into its normal position.   For some individuals, this may happen with their accommodation or near-focusing muscles.

Does the dramatic increase in computer use in modern times account for some of this myopia increase?    More detailed studies on the causative factors will be needed.  But, using the computer does require the same accommodation muscles that are seen in “law school myopia.”   Obviously, we can’t stop using the computer or reading or studying.  But there are some other things that can help.

Taking breaks from up-close visual tasks is key.  Every 15-20 minutes look up from the reading material or computer and look at something far away—maybe a clock or a poster or painting.   Allowing your eyes, for at least 30 seconds, to focus on that target at a distance will relax those accommodation  muscles.

Still, the study is surprising.  And hopefully it will trigger more studies on the causes for such a dramatic increase in myopia in the U.S.

As always, I’d love to hear your comments or questions.  Give us a shout over on Facebook or on Google+.    And, remember, you can now request an appointment for your annual eye exam  at our office by clicking here.

Best wishes,

Dr. Beach.

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