VisionOttica Optical Centers exclusive retailers of Gunnar digital eyewear
Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a repetitive stress condition recognized by the American Optometric Association. It is caused by a combination of factors such as ambient lighting, glare from computer or TV screens, monitor technology and a variety of other factors associated with ergonomics.
Symptoms can be grouped together as vision defects, eye problems and general discomfort, but they can be minimized simply by wearing ‘digital eyeglasses’ whenever we spend a long time in front of the displays of computers, palmtops, cell phones or other portable electronic devices.
Unavailable in Italy until now, these innovative eyeglasses, the lenses of which are made from a material that is also used by NASA, can be bought exclusively at VisionOttica Optical Centers throughout Italy.
The exclusive retailer of the innovative US-made Gunnar eyewear is the network of over 200 Italy-wide family optical centers, which has just launched an eyesight wellbeing campaign supported by Società Italiana di Oftalmologia (SOI) and offers free vision stress tests at its centers.
Developed by Gunnar and made under license by Carl Zeiss Vision, these lenses also offer a micro-correction of +0.12 diopters and will protect eyes from the stress created by digital peripherals like computers and monitors in general.
Unlike paper, which is a static visualization medium, computer monitors continually redraw the images seen by users and this process is a factor that is not taken into consideration. As soon as the screen changes, the eyes must also adapt to perceive the change of image. As a result, the eyes are constantly forced to pay much more attention to the screen than they would in the case of printed paper. According to estimates by the American Optometric Association, about 125 million Americans suffer from CVS and the National Safety Management Society reports that 7 out of 10 Americans claim to have symptoms.
Vision Council of America states also that almost 90 percent of people who spend three hours or more a day in front of a computer suffer from eye strain due to protracted computer use.
The most frequent symptoms include blurred vision (near and distant), difficulty in focusing, double vision, flickering vision and temporary unsynchronized color perception. There may also be discomfort such as redness, burning, soreness, itching, dryness, excessive tears, tiredness, sensitivity or contact lens intolerance. General problems range from a simple headache to stiffness or pain in the neck, shoulders, back, pain in the arms and wrists, excessive tiredness, irritability and drowsiness.
Subjects most at risk are people who spend more than one hour in front of a computer screen or portable electronic device. Unfortunately, we know that there are many of them.
Furthermore, the eyes of men and women in their early forties are more sensitive because of the ageing process and therefore the discomfort is greater. Women of over 40, in particular, have problems of dry eye because lower hormone levels are accompanied by a considerable reduction in the ability to produce tears.
However, according to the American Optometric Association, 75% of the 140 million Americans who work at a computer would benefit from wearing digital eyeglasses. These eliminate the constant refocusing effort the eyes go through when looking at a computer screen. Individuals with no eyesight problems may, however, suffer from loss of concentration and reduced productivity due to eye strain and this is why it is advisable to have your eyes examined by a specialist.
Some recommendations to follow to reduce the symptoms of CVS:
1. Have you eyes examined by a specialist
2. Wear digital eyeglasses when using a computer or portable electronic device.
3. Take a 20-second break every twenty minutes and focus on something in the distance.
4. Position the computer screen slightly lower than the eye level in order to have a correct posture and prevent neck and back pain.
5. Reduce reflections from the computer screen.
6. Adjust ambient lighting to optimize the combination of light and contrast.
