Page 90 - Occupational Health & Safety, June 2017

VISION PROTECTION
Safety Eyewear for Computer Vision Syndrome
Computer work is more visually demanding than any other type of office work.
BY BRENT L. MOTCHAN
As providers of safety eyewear, we are often asked about eye health problems of indi- viduals related to computer or tablet usage. In today’s industry, computer use and use of digital devices is not limited to the office worker, but occurs in every shop floor, laboratory, and other production facility.
Manufacturing and industrial operations have computers or other digital screen devices in almost all aspects of their operations. Workers and employ- ers now have to be concerned with the eye injuries traditionally associated with production and also with the effects of computers, which cause Computer Vision Syndrome.
Computer Vision Syndrome—“CVS” or Digital Eye Strain—occurs because the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilities of the individual to comfortably perform them. CVS is a health issue recognized by the American Optometric Associa- tion that can cause eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision, as well as burning, itching, and dry eyes due to prolonged computer, tablet, cell phone, and other digital screen device usage.
Computer work is more visually demanding than any other type of office work. Images on a computer screen differ from the kind of image the eye is used to seeing with printed materials. Unlike printed text, each image or letter on the computer screen is made up of small pixels of light that are brightest in the center and become dimmer toward the edge of the pixel. In addi- tion, when viewing a computer screen, unconsciously the eyes repeatedly attempt to rest by shifting the focus of the eyes to a point somewhere beyond the screen. As a result, the eyes must constantly refocus back to the computer screen. This constant switch between screen and relaxation point creates eyestrain and fatigue.
Other issues with digital screens take a toll, as well,
including screen resolution and contrast, the refresh rate of the image and flicker, screen glare, and the dis- tance and angle of the screen.
The first line of attack should be to make sure that the individual has had an up-to-date eye examination.
Eyewear’s Role in Reducing the Problem
Can eyewear address any of the complaints of CVS? With modern optical lenses and lens treatments, the answer is “yes.” Obviously, the problems associated with CVS are intensified when the individual’s cor- rective lenses are out of date. The first line of attack should be to make sure that the individual has had an up-to-date eye examination.
After an individual renews his eyewear prescrip- tion, there are other ways to help reduce CVS. Spe- cialty lenses are now developed to aid the computer user. These lenses provide the computer user greater convenience than other multifocal lenses. Computer lenses are made to filter out the harshest light, or “blue light.” The more bright blue light that is filtered out, the less eyes have to strain to look at a display. These lenses are available to also give the eyes a comfortable focus- ing distance from 20 to 26 inches away from the face.
Other lenses may also be prescribed to give the user task-specific glasses designed for near and in- termediate work. Another enhancement for the com- puter user is anti-reflective (AR) coating. AR coating reduces ghost images and backside reflections while improving light transmission and providing greater visual comfort. Further options available are HD Dig- ital lenses and lens tints to counteract the effects of intense fluorescent overhead lights.
There is help for CVS. In addition, for the indus- trial setting, there is now available computer eyewear that both satisfies ANSI Z87.1 certification and ad- dresses the user’s need for prescription safety com- puter glasses.
Safety and increased comfort to the individual computer user means increased productivity. Not only is the computer or other digital device user ben- efitted by greater comfort and less stress, but also his or her employer benefits by less downtime and greater productivity.
Brent Motchan is President of SafeVision, LLC (www. safevision.net), a recognized innovator in the safety eyewear industry and a Veteran Owned Business.
86 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2017
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