Roxy Damico, Contributor
Pictured above: Alexis Atlzins uses a computer in the lab.
In today’s society, technology becomes more advanced with each passing day. Between cellphone, computer and television screens, our eyes cannot catch a break. We are constantly straining muscles in our eyes and inflicting pain upon ourselves with things like headaches and migraines.
College students cannot really avoid the use of computers. Almost everyone who steps foot into a classroom is carrying a computer or has one back in their room or at home. Between writing papers, checking emails and updating Facebook or Twitter, computers have become a basic necessity in the life of anyone in college.
As we use them, the time passes and we don’t realize that we have been staring at the screen for hours on end. Doing so can cause the muscles in the eyes to become strained, which will result in the headaches that almost everyone has dealt with at some point. Lewis University’s physician, Kevin Polsley, along with Michelle Ronchetti, Director of Health Services, gave a bit of their insight on the matter.
With new health problems constantly flying through the media, nothing can be surely proven, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something we can do to help ourselves.
Polsley stated that he was not confident on severe long-term effects of computer screens on vision, but that there are things that students can do while working on their computers. Taking a break every now and then, specifically every 30 minutes, is extremely important to help the muscles in the eyes relax before becoming so overworked that we can feel headaches or other pains begin to take effect. Focusing on something in the distance will help to relieve a little bit of the tension.
Not only can staring at the screen for too long be a problem, but working with the machines in poorly-lit environments can cause the eyes to strain even more. Eyesiteonwellness.com gives information on CVS (computer vision syndrome) and some additional symptoms other than headaches. Double vision and neck and shoulder pain can arise from overuse of computers as well.
The strain and pain that staring at a computer screen can cause are not necessarily permanent or even damaging, but they will cause anyone to be uncomfortable and in pain.
Another important idea to keep in mind when looking at any sort of screen is to remember to blink. Even though it is a natural reflex, looking at one thing for so long can cause us to force our eyes to stay looking at it without making their natural movements. It is important to always keep the eyes hydrated and moist to maintain comfortable vision.
Eliminating computer use altogether is nearly impossible, especially in college. However, it is important to limit ourselves and do whatever possible to keep our eyes healthy.
Get routine eye exams to check things out, and take the precautions to avoid feeling pain and causing yourself strain.
Photo provided by Lauren Barnes.
Roxanne Damico
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