Office Routine Should Include Eye Care by Dr. Howard Purcell (NAPSA)—In today’s workplace, much of our time is spent staring at computer screens. And this poses special problems for those of us in thefield of eye care. Computer users may suffer from a number of eyerelated complaints, such as headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision and symptoms of eyestrain. There’s even an ailment Dr. Howard Purcell almost exclusively related to computer use called ComputerVision Syndrome. One problem of extended computer use is that we don’t blink often enough. Normally we blink 15 to 20 times a minute. Because ei we often concentrate or stare at what’s on-screen, we blink less often, which can lead to eye irritation and dryness. Computer users need to take occasional breaks for a brief period—10 minutes for every hour of use—to refresh the eyes. Looking out a windoworat a long distance will help to relax the eyes’ focusing muscle. Give your eyes a rest. Correct lighting is also important in the office. Reducing ambient lighting can help cut glare—as can a screen glare reductionfilter. Another simple fix...clean your screen regularly. Computers are an integral part of our lives. See your Eye Care Professional for a routine eye exam to ensure your vision stays online. You may also visit www. acuvue.com for additional infor- mation about eye care. Howard B. Purcell, O.D., FA.A.O., is Director, Professional Affairs, Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., makers of AcUVUE Brand Contact Lenses. Note to Editors: This is the 6th in a series of 12.
