Originally published January 2 2006
Professor discusses how computer screens can lead to the development of dry eye
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
James Sheedy, professor of optometry at Ohio State University, talks about how looking at a computer screen for a long time can result in dry eye syndrome, if you are not careful to blink and avoid squinting.
A new study shows the more people squint at a computer screen, the less they blink, and the more they reported symptoms like eye strain, dryness, irritation, and tearing.
Researchers found squinting at a computer screen halves the normal number of times a person blinks per minute, which could lead to an irritating but treatable condition called dry eye.
"People tend to squint when they read a book or a computer display, and that squinting makes the blink rate go way down," says researcher James Sheedy, professor of optometry at Ohio State University, in a news release.
In the study, published in Optometry and Vision Science, researchers had 10 college students with normal vision squint at a computer screen placed two feet in front of them while cameras and electrodes recorded how often they blinked.
In five different tests, researchers measured how often the students blinked while at rest or engaged in deliberate squinting at various increments, from barely squinting to eyes closed about halfway.
The results showed even a slight degree of squinting cut blink rates in half, from about 15 blinks a minute to 7.5 blinks a minute.
That rate was cut to just four blinks per minute when the students were squinting at the highest level.
Researchers say squinting serves two purposes: it improves eyesight by defining objects that are out of focus, and it cuts down on brightness from sources of glare.
Squinting often occurs as an involuntary response, and researchers say people working at a computer may not even realize they are squinting.
They say more research is needed to determine if involuntary squinting affects blink rates as drastically as voluntary squinting, as measured by this study.
But these results suggest that squinting may increase the risk of eye strain and dry eye.
Dry eye is usually treatable with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml