Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Gobi on 15/12/2008 11:17:50

Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: Gobi on 15/12/2008 11:17:50: Gobi asked the Naked Scientists:

Is it true that if you stare too much at a computer screen or television screen your eyesight deteriorates? If yes, why?

What do you think?
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: lyner on 15/12/2008 20:47:54: I guess Porn could make you short sighted?

But, to be serious, there is a lot of possible harm in using computers all day.
RSI from using a mouse and a keyboard.
Back trouble from sitting to long and wrongly.
Pressure sores from bad seating.
Mind damage from reading too much nonsense.

Computer screens aren't very bright so I can't imagine they will harm you in that way.
Your eye muscles (focusing) may get lazy through staring at an image which is always at the same distance. If you are only scanning over a narrow range of angles, compared with 'real life' then, when you move away from the screen, you may notice a problem when you leave the computer station and start looking all around you.

I think that some of the reported damage is identified as originating from computer use because you may notice eye defects for the first time when actually using a computer.
There are health and safety recommendations for computer use. Try to observe them; they make sense.
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: Madidus_Scientia on 16/12/2008 14:48:13: (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howardbloom.net%2Flucifer%2Fevolution%2520of%2520man%2520from%2520chimp%2520to%2520computer.jpg&hash=34cb984d81ffa5b95f5bd40fecfd90e4)
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 16/12/2008 19:01:26: Quote
Back trouble from sitting to long and wrongly.

Ahem (FOG)
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 27/12/2008 05:44:34: The muscle(s) above my right eye (under my eyelids) twitches periodically after staring at the computer screen for too long, or reading for too long.
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: DrN on 27/12/2008 22:52:14: I think when you stare at a computer screen for too long, you blink less, and you certainly move your eyes around less often, so you are not using the muscles involved in focussing and refocussing. As with all muscles, use it or lose it: lack of use means these muscles are less efficient when you come to use them, meaning that your eyesight appears to deteriorate.

You can do eye exercises to strengthen eye muscles and (possibly) improve your eyesight. I don't know if these actually work, but they involve focussing on something far away then bringing it in closer while keeping focussed on it. e.g. moving your finger from arms length right up to your nose.
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 27/12/2008 23:24:10: I did not know that, good explaination, its just that the twitching has been going on for 3-4 days and its really really starting to get up my nose. I'll give what you've suggested a try. Thanks for that!
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: DrN on 27/12/2008 23:32:03: My left eye was twitching constantly for about a week a couple of months ago - it's so annoying! Probably a good idea to relax them for a bit first, cold teaspoons are good! And lack of sleep definately exacerbates it, so get some early nights too. Hope it stops soon.
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/12/2008 01:44:03: I've always thought it was a case of over working the muscles, not under working them!
Title: Does staring at a computer screen damage your eyesight?
Post by: DrN on 28/12/2008 23:05:30: Overworking yes, think of it like only driving your car in first gear - it'll soon wear out, but when it breaks the other gears will be unusable too. If you frequently change up and down the gears they will wear evenly, and the gearbox will last a lot longer.

I'm sure there must be a gaping hole in that analogy, but I'm too tired to notice what it is right now!