If you spend hours a day looking at a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you may be experiencing computer vision syndrome (CVS), also known as digital eye strain. This condition affects an estimated 50 to 90 percent of people who work at screens, and it is especially common among tech professionals in Silicon Valley.
Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome
Common symptoms include eye strain and fatigue (especially toward the end of the workday), headaches during or after screen use, blurred vision at your screen distance or when looking away, dry, irritated, or red eyes, and neck, shoulder, or back pain from poor posture while working.
Why Screens Are Hard on Your Eyes
Your eyes work harder when looking at a screen than when reading print. Screen text has less contrast, screen glare causes squinting, you blink less frequently (leading to dry eyes), and the focusing distance for most screens is in an awkward intermediate zone that standard glasses do not optimize for.
How We Help
At your computer vision evaluation, your doctor will assess your specific symptoms and work environment, test your vision at near, intermediate, and far distances, evaluate your tear film and blink rate, measure your current prescription at screen-working distance, and recommend a personalized treatment plan.
Treatment Options
Depending on your evaluation, treatment may include specialized computer glasses optimized for your screen distance, anti-reflective lens coatings to reduce glare, blue light filtering lenses, artificial tears or dry eye treatment, ergonomic recommendations for your workstation setup, and adjustments to contact lens type or wearing schedule.
The 20-20-20 Rule
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit can significantly reduce digital eye strain.
Schedule at any of our three locations
- San Jose (Oakridge Mall): 408.281.3381
- Santa Clara (Valley Fair): 408.243.9394
- Sunnyvale: 408.245.5725