Increased Use of Computers, Portable Gadgets Leading to More Visual Fatigue and Discomfort

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 80 percent of American adults own a cell phone and over half (55%) own a desktop or laptop computer.(1)  Studies have found that people who spend many hours a day working or playing games on a computer, and/or texting on their cell phones, can suffer from eye discomfort, headaches, and fatigue.

"The unique characteristics and high visual demands of digital work and play make many individuals susceptible to the development of eye and vision-related problems," according to optometrist and author Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, who appears on the new edition of Healthy Vision^™ with Dr. Val Jones to explain how digital devices affect our eyes and what we can do to help prevent or reduce the development of vision-related problems when using them.

Staring at a computer monitor or the small screens on most devices can lead to a variety of ailments, including headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes, neck and/or backache, and sensitivity to light, according to Dr. Anshel, who has helped companies and government agencies address the eye stress associated with computer monitors.  "Eye stress and strain may be caused by a combination of individual visual problems, improper viewing habits, and poor environmental conditions, such as glare," he says.

Dr. Anshel identifies some of the common problems he sees in how computer work stations are set up and offers advice on how proper monitor placement and lighting can help reduce many potential eye and/or vision problems.  He also explains what happens to our eyes while using these devices (including why we blink less frequently) and offers tips on what we can do to minimize or prevent eye strain discomfort and fatigue from computer or small device use.

Healthy Vision™ with Dr. Val Jones is devoted to educating and improving the eye health of Americans. The program is supported by ACUVUE^® Brand Contact Lenses and is hosted by Val Jones, M.D., CEO of Better Health, LLC, anetwork of popular health bloggers, and author of, "Dr. Val and the Voice of Reason," which won The Best New Medical Blog award in 2007.

Free podcasts of Healthy Vision^™ with Dr. Val Jones can be found in the iTunes^® Store (for best results, search for the show by its complete title.  You will find it in LifeMinute.TV Health) and on BlogTalk Radio (www.blogtalkradio.com/healthyvision).  

Dr. Val Jones is a paid consultant for VISTAKON^® Division Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
ACUVUE^®, Healthy Vision^™ and VISTAKON^® are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
iTunes^® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

(1) The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, April 26-May 2011 Tracking Survey http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP_Social_Life_of_Health_Info.pdf

SOURCE VISTAKON(R) Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.