Is the Computer Screen bad for your eyes?

Hello,

Please I would like to know if there have been any causative links
between excessive computer use and weak eyes?

Keep the computer screen out of your eyes and you'll be fine.

Hello,

Thank you very much for your replies, spammer and John!

Yes I think that it is not the computer screen themselves which are
directly causing the 'computer vision syndrome' but that reading from
a compouter screen is an unfavourable condition for the eye-mind of an
imperfect sighted person to function comfortably, and that it often
resuts in strain, and sight is always worsened in the abnormal
conditions of the mind that is accompanied with strain.

John I agree that the lighting arragements should be changed. But from
reading the NewScientist magazine I can see that there are many new
technologies which are constantly being developed, and I think we will
soon reach a 'peak' in technological breatkthrough which will be very
difficult to exceed. I hypthesize that this breakthrough technology
would use reflections from the sunlight in order to recharge the
screen, or something really cool like that.

Have you heard of those computers which are being invented for third
world countries, where you can just hold the computer in your hand and
it recharges by using the energy emitted from the hand?! What's
amazing about this is that 5 minutes of holding the computer will
recharge to allow a person to use the computer for another whole hour!
Absolutely incredible things people are coming up with, you know!
Well, this technology is still in developmental stages, but I have
seen a prototype of it on T.V. and it looked brilliant. And at the
basis of things, it's mostly a matter of figuring out new ways to
conserve energy and use it in the most efficient way possible, isn't
it?

In article <(E-Mail Removed) om>, Zetsu
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>Hello,
>
>Please I would like to know if there have been any causative links
>between excessive computer use and weak eyes?
>
There are a lot of health and safety publications about the use of
computer display screens. Most of them suggest that you take short
breaks from using such screens now and then. In the UK I think that
employers are required to take note of the use of screens by their
employees and provide free eye tests, but the response varies between
different employers. However:

1) The studies behind these publications mostly considered reported
eyestrain immediately afterwards, and didn't attempt to measure any long
term effects.
2) The studies were done when computer screens first came into use, and
therefore included e.g. old green-screen CRTs, with dim displays and
obtrusive reflections.

See e.g. http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2003/e03105.htm, http://www.hse.gov
..uk/PUBNS/leaflets.htm, and http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/16-1.htm,
which actually claims no effect as follows:

10 (1) There is good evidence that work with DSE does not cause any
permanent damage to eyes or eye sight, although complaints of temporary
discomfort, eye strain and headaches are common. As with any work that
is visually demanding, users with existing uncorrected vision defects
are more likely to suffer fatigue and stress in DSE work. The eye tests
and corrective appliances provided under reg. 5 are intended to be a
means of alleviating such problems.
(end quote)

I conjecture that modern back-lit LCD displays with a digital feed from
the computer are actually better for you than spending the same amount
of time reading text on paper, because the distance is usually greater,
the contrast is better, and you can adjust text size to suit you.
However, since we don't seem to have 'gold standard' experimental (as
opposed to observational) evidence even for the effects of reading text
on paper, I'm not expecting to be shown correct or otherwise any time
soon. This is a pity, because we now have the option of advising people
to use one or another for large periods of time, e.g. while at school or
college.
--
A.G.McDowell