Can Computers Affect Your Health?

HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN

Computer Vision Syndrome is a real condition, caused by working at a computer for hours on end and resulting in eye strain, blurry vision, dry eyes and even dizziness.
You sit all day in front of a computer because your job requires it. Maybe you’re a programmer, an accountant, a paralegal, a bookkeeper or a writer – and many jobs these days require eight hours plus working at computers. Could your job be making you sick and you don’t even know it?
Let’s start with computer posture. Notice how you sit at your computer. Are you always looking down? Is the computer screen directly in front of your eyes? Does your neck get sore? Is your back affected? Poor posture and keeping your head in the same position for hours on end can cause headaches, muscle tension in your neck and shoulders, pain that radiates down your arms, muscle spasms and lower back pain. Of course we know that chiropractic adjustments can help ease any of these conditions and it would serve you well to maintain a regular schedule with us!
You may also experience eye strain, blurred vision, and dizziness as a result of prolonged computer usage. In fact, there’s even a name for this particular set of symptoms – it’s called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)!
Customized glasses are available that are designed to reduce eyestrain, blurriness and headaches in those who suffer from CVS. You may wonder why you need specialized glasses, particularly if you already have prescribed lenses.
If you are nearsighted, your glasses probably are designed to help you with tasks such as driving or television viewing – when you most likely to have a problem seeing things at a distance. If you are farsighted, your glasses are most likely designed to help you with close work, such as reading and sewing.
But computer screens are generally not close enough or far away enough to make either of these types of glasses efficient at reducing eye-related problems. Computer screens fall into what is called “intermediate vision,” and even “progressive lenses,” which have a very small area for intermediate vision, are not as effective as lenses made specifically for computer vision! Research studies have confirmed that customized computer eyeglasses can reduce eyestrain and increase worker productivity, while a prescription that is only slightly “off” can noticeably reduce productivity.
Without specialized glasses that help to correct the symptoms of CVS, you will tend to tilt your head forward or try to look through the part of your glasses that gives you the best vision. Either way, this posture can cause pain in your neck, shoulders or back.
Our advice? See a qualified eye doctor to talk about CVS corrective lenses (there are several types) and see us for relief of the pain in your neck, shoulders and back! We can recommend some additional actions you can take to reduce pain and muscle tension that often accompanies prolonged computer usage!

St. Paul, MN Low Back Specialist Dr. Douglas Yost