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Presbyopia is a natural aging process, usually amount of eye tissue. This is done using a
beginning around the age of forty, in which our highly focused laser beam on the surface of
eyes lose their ability to focus up close. When the eye. Good candidates for laser surgery are
we notice that we need to hold things further adults in their mid-twenties who have had a
from our eyes to read them better or have more stable prescription for at least one year. Anyone
difficulty seeing in dim light, this is how we interested in laser surgery should talk with an
know we might have presbyopia. People with optometrist or surgeon to learn about available
nearsightedness who develop presbyopia can options and qualifications.
often remove their glasses to read better.

COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME (CVS)

Retina Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)—which
Cornea can cause headache, eye strain, blurry vision, dry
Pupil Image focused
behind the retina eyes, and neck and shoulder pain—is caused by
Lens prolonged computer use. Its symptoms may be
caused by poor lighting, glare on the monitor,
PRESBYOPIA uncorrected vision problems, poor posture, or
a combination of these factors. CVS can be
diagnosed with a proper eye exam. As proper
Usually these conditions are hereditary. computer viewing distance is different from
Sometimes they can worsen over time. Several reading distance, an improper viewing angle or
factors may help prevent these conditions and distance can also contribute to CVS.
keep your prescription stable:
In addition, uncorrected nearsightedness,
• Good posture when reading up close. farsightedness, or presbyopia may cause eye
• Frequent breaks for your eyes. strain. Sometimes a separate pair of computer
• Good lighting, especially while reading. glasses in addition to regular glasses or contacts
will help relieve symptoms. Some people may
Treatment of blurry vision requires a also need visual training and eye exercises to
comprehensive eye exam. Optometrists can improve eye focusing ability and eye muscle
provide prescription eyeglasses or contact movements.
lenses that correct these vision problems by
altering the way light enters your eyes. Several key factors affect CVS symptoms:

Another option for treating astigmatism • Location of computer screen:
or nearsightedness uses a corneal modification Most people find it more comfortable to
procedure called orthokeratology (ortho-k). view a computer when their eyes are looking
It is a painless, non-invasive procedure that downward. Optimally, the center of the
involves wearing a series of specially designed computer screen should be fifteen to twenty
rigid gas permeable contact lenses to gradually degrees (four or five inches) below eye level and
reshape the curvature of the cornea. The lenses about two feet away from the eyes.
are worn overnight while the prescription
decreases gradually. Ortho-k is a method to • Reference materials: Any reference
consider, especially when nearsightedness in a materials should be located above the keyboard
growing child increases dramatically or when and below the monitor, so that you do not
someone with a lower prescription wants to have to move your head to shift between the
avoid wearing glasses or contacts. document and the screen. This can help reduce
neck strain. If this is not possible, a document
Laser surgery is also a possible treatment holder can be set beside the monitor.
option for some types of astigmatism and
nearsightedness. Laser surgery changes the • Lighting: Position the computer
shape of the cornea by removing a small screen to avoid glare, particularly from overhead

4 0 TZU CHI USA SUMMER 2015