Computer Eye Strain
If your job requires prolonged computer use, (more than one hour in duration each day), you should have a complete visual assessment even if you have no complaints or are presently wearing glasses. This is emphasized for the computer user who had bifocals or reading glasses prescribed prior to commencing prolonged use on computers. Remember, it is important to tell your optometrist that you work at a computer.
Computer eyestrain is real. "More PC users suffer
vision woes than wrist injuries. Millions of Americans suffer from
computer-related eye problems that generate $1.15 billion in medical costs
each year. The American Optometric Association say that 12 million Americans
visit eye doctors each year because of computer-related problems or one out
of every five who come in for an eye examination."
The symptoms of eyestrain can include: headaches, dry eyes, blurred or double vision, aching eyes, difficulty in changing focus from near to far, and/or having difficulty seeing when driving at night. Some common causes include: glare, inadequate static vision and poor dynamic vision.
With the proper eye exam, the optometrist can prescribe special glasses with a different power from your regular glasses. These would be used only for working in front of your computer. If you wear contacts, you would wear these glasses on over your contacts!
Learn more about what you can do if you are experience computer eye strain at http://www.aoa.org/x5253.xml.