Ways to keep eyes healthy

Most of the computer users suffer from the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and an expert says that it is important to take breaks and blink regularly.

According to a recent study, prolonged sitting while at your desk can increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

But that's not the only thing at work that poses a risk to our health.

Around 70 percent of computer users regularly leave work suffering from the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome so it is important to follow a few easy steps to ensure sitting at a desk doesn't take its toll on your health:

It is necessary to stay clear of CVS. It's possible, nowadays, to spend most of our waking hours surrounded by screens, from checking your emails and texts first thing in the morning, to working nine to five in an office, and then catching up on some evening TV or computer games before, finally, checking your trusty mobile again as you drift off to sleep.

Although this technology has many positive effects on our professional and social lives, what is it doing to our health? One significant effect of constant screen use is CVS.

"When we use a computer for long periods, we only blink around 4 - 7 times per minute. Our usual rate of blinking is more like 18 - 20 times per minute, so this is a significant reduction - it can cause symptoms such as dry eyes and blurred vision," said professor Dan Reinstein of the London Vision Clinic."

Other common symptoms of CVS include red eyes, eye strain, double vision, headaches and difficulty refocusing the eyes.

Reinstein provides his top tips on how to prevent CVS, and keep our eyes healthy and comfortable.

* Take a short break from your computer screen at least once every hour; ensure that you move and look away from your computer.

* Keep your computer screen clean.

* Be conscious of blinking regularly.

* Optimise the angle, height and distance of your screen. Being the wrong distance away from your screen can increase muscle strain and visual discomfort.

* Be aware of environmental factors. Air-conditioning and fans can worsen the dry-eye symptoms of CVS.

* If contact lenses make your eyes feel dry, avoid wearing them when using a computer. CVS is particularly common in contact lens wearers; at the London Vision Clinic, we often see patients who are choosing to have laser eye surgery because they find they can no longer wear their contact lenses for long periods, especially while using computers.

* Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

* Avoid 'glare' from windows and overhead lights.

* Ensure that your computer screen is not flickering.

* And, most importantly, have an eye examination.