General Discussions

**CSS4Life** · 10-19-2007, 04:51 PM

My parents have been making a lot of fuss recently about me spending ages on the computer/laptop. They believe (and are probably right) that spending ages of the computer is damaging my eyesight.

I'm wondering how people who spend hours (I'm talking like 5 or 6 at least) a day on a computer cope - do you take regular breaks every hour or something? I'd also be interested to know how many people wear glasses/contact lenses and if you think computer use has contributed to this.

Dan

**Learning Newbie** · 10-19-2007, 05:00 PM

Take breaks for sure, and yes, the computer is hard on your eyes. But LCD screens are a giant leap forward compared to CRT ones.

**CSS4Life** · 10-19-2007, 05:07 PM

I currently don't wear glasses or contact lenses and have fairly good eyesight, but I'm worried that by spending so long on the laptop, my eyesight is going to deteriorate. A recent checkup at the opticians told me I've got a little bit of shortsightedness coming on - something I didn't have before.

**Learning Newbie** · 10-19-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whym

I currently don't wear glasses or contact lenses and have fairly good eyesight, but I'm worried that by spending so long on the laptop, my eyesight is going to deteriorate. A recent checkup at the opticians told me I've got a little bit of shortsightedness coming on - something I didn't have before.

A coworker of mine who's a few years older has had glasses for nearsightedness for the past 4 months. He says it's 90 % from CRT usage over his career, and 75 % age. He says the last part to scare me. But the first part suggests an answer to your question, unless Steve is just trying to get my time machine.

**angele803** · 10-19-2007, 05:20 PM

I don't wear glasses or contacts yet. After I have been on the computer (or even if I read for a long time), I tend to get eye strain. So I probably need reading glasses.
LCD monitors are better for your eyes supposedly because they don't flash light at you all day like CRT monitors.
I take a break every couple of hours and that seems to help.

I wonder if carrots really do help??

**tripy** · 10-19-2007, 05:22 PM

I'm not that sure it's related.
I'm 32 today. I started computing in 1979 (I had 4 years) and I never had any sight problem.

At 14, I used to read a 300 pages book in 2 evening, and still today, I practice competition shooting (at 300 meters) and even if I'm not in the top 10, I'm fairly good and have my share of medals.

I switched to LCD screens 2 years ago, and sure, it's more relaxing for the eyes, but you still have to tone it down, use smooth colors transitions (not a white bg with plain black windows).
I have to admit that when I get back from work (8 hours in front of my screen) and that I have to drive 1 hour in traffic can be hard sometimes, but it's more because of tiredness and bad weather conditions (night+mist = pretty hard to the eyes, with the others cars light) than the screen.

Once at home, I let my eyes relax for an hour and two, and I'm back in front of my screen for a couple more hours.

**Learning Newbie** · 10-19-2007, 05:25 PM

Mind if I ask how old you are, Stephanie? I know it's rude, but eyesight goes with age. Plus they're saying the younger generation that was brought up on laptops and affordable LSD flat screens will have better eyes for longer.

I read (but don't know for sure if it's true) that computer screens trick you into forgetting to blink for longer periods. And that makes them dry out. So when mine start to feel dry, I step away from the PC and get a bite to nibble on, or go tell my wife what I've been reading about, or find some excuse for a break.

Also a friend told me your eyes (or really what moves 'em around) is like any other muscle. If you spend 8 hours a day reading a book you get a headache, just from pointing your eyes at something a foot away. Same goes for computer screens. It's supposed to be good to look away from the screen at the wall, the door, the window, or anything else, even for just a second, and then back at the screen. Some people say that can improve your eye sight for certain problems. Again I don't know if that's true, but it does kind of make sense. And I don't see any harm beyond false expectations.

**CSS4Life** · 10-19-2007, 05:27 PM

I spend most of my time on my Macbook these days rather than the Windows computer which used a CRT screen, so I guess this helps a bit. I think I might go searching around for something else to help too though, whether thats some sort of filter or whatever.

**NullPointer** · 10-19-2007, 05:35 PM

I've used a computer nearly everyday since I was a kid. Every quarter there is one of those days when I end up spending 7 hours in the lab starring at a computer screen trying to fix some problem with a program I'm writing for one of my classes. I still have pretty much perfect vision. Of course every computer at my university has an LCD screen not a CRT.

**clinton** · 10-19-2007, 05:38 PM

Just make sure the screen is adjusted so its not glaring, my moniter is very good and prety dark but I can still see...It's very relaxing accually...you also need a really good moniter thats not pixely, it helps alot.

**CSS4Life** · 05:46 PM

It's obviously better to use a LCD rather than a CRT then. My Macbook obviously has a LCD so I needn't worry about that. I still get eye strain and things though - I've been known to get up and spend nearly all day on the laptop doing things, particularly during the redesign of my site.

@kingdomathand, CRTs are the large chunky monitors, LCDs are the flat screen ones. They've got internal differences too, but that's the noticeable difference.

**Learning Newbie** · 10-19-2007, 06:09 PM

CRT is like a TV, LCD is like a picture frame. I was hoping Wikipedia would have some pictures of them to make it clearer, but they don't. This looks like our culprit, though, some pics from a CRT screen

I don't know if this is much better but here's a LCD

Nobody reads their computer with a magnifying glass but I think after enough time it still affects us.

**Aadriyah** · 10-20-2007, 01:18 AM

I take breaks everytime my eyes hurt.. fortunately I don't use eyeglasses so far

**Galaxian** · 10-20-2007, 09:15 AM

I'm sure I strain my eyes too much, but its what I've lived with.

I don't take breaks breaks, though I do pop up for drink/food/toilet hahaha

**DesignsbyPam** · 10-20-2007, 09:19 AM

I notice my eyes start to get sore when I'm working a lot on the computer. I read somewhere that's it's good to give your eyes a break and focus on something far away. It seems to help my eyes. Or it could be just in my head. LOL

**athand** · 10-21-2007, 01:25 AM

we hope that helped ur eyes...

**ForrestCroce** · 10-21-2007, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Mind if I ask how old you are, Stephanie? I know it's rude, but eyesight goes with age. Plus they're saying the younger generation that was brought up on laptops and affordable LSD flat screens will have better eyes for longer.

Um ... something you want to tell us, John? Freudian slip?

**rogem002** · 10-21-2007, 11:47 AM

I'm on the verge of blindness. Take regular breaks and it should be fine.

**athand** · 10-21-2007, 12:49 PM

AND try to eat healthy ... like carrots etc, i ´ve heard about someone who was healed just by a healthy feeding...

**angele803** · 10-21-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Mind if I ask how old you are, Stephanie?

I'm 25. Kind of young for "old age" eye problems....but I already am getting gray hair...hmmmm....

I think the problems I have with my eyes really is eye strain. I usually only notice a problem after a long day of reading or working on the computer.