January 25, 2007 – Many will be surprised to learn that spending long hours in front of a computer screen will not cause permanent vision impairment.
Many parents tell their children that if they spend too much time in front of the computer, they could become nearsighted. “It’s folklore,” says Jocelyn Faubert, professor at the School of Optometry at the University of Montreal. “We said the same thing about television a few decades ago. However, to date, the only activity with which we have been able to establish a correlative link with myopia is reading! He adds.
Jocelyn Faubert maintains that no research has established a link between the computer and myopia, cataracts or other eye conditions. However, an individual who spends nearly twelve hours in front of the screen may experience dry eyes. The rate of blinking of the eyes which ensures tear secretion is then reduced and causes dry eyes.
He says slight visual defects can increase eye strain when working at the computer, especially in those with astigmatism or hyperopia. These people may have the impression that the images are duplicated or blurry. It is not a question of a decrease in acuity, but of visual fatigue, assures Jocelyn Faubert.
Another myth debunked
It would also be wrong to believe that ambient lighting is preferable to semi-darkness when working on the computer, adds Jocelyn Faubert. “Whether it’s light or dark, working with your eyes in front of the screen is neither more nor less difficult. If it was absolutely necessary to make a choice, let’s just say that the more lighting there is, the harder the photoreceptors in our eyes work, ”he explains.
Marie france Coutu – Passeportsanté.net
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