Advanced computer vision syndrome victime

Hi. It has been 3 months now since I live with painful and tiring condition. 3 months ago, I played computer games a couple of nights with a bad posture, with poor lighting and too much near the cathodic screen. After that, I stopped completely this foolishness. However, I never felt my eye the same again. The upper part of them are constantly burning and numb. It is like having a pain in the back of my eyes. Around my left eye, I feel a big numbness and a itching sensation. My neck was painful but doing physiotherapy with stretching helps my neck feeling better. I feel constantly very tired with this condition. In the left of my left eye I feel on a permanent basis like someone kicked me there.
I have seen two ophthalmologists but they didn't seem to know my condition and said my eyes were fine and I had just a light angular blepharitis. But my life is being ruined by that. This permanent uncomfort and tiredness drains me. From what I have studied, it is called the computer vision syndrome. It seems it has not been very well known. I have corrected my posture, reviewed my lighting around the computer and I stay far from the screen. My life has become a daily struggle despite my efforts..
I don't really know what to do to heal my eyes and get rid of what seem to be an extreme CVS. What should I do? I live in Canada. Are there specialized ressources for me there?

Thank you in advance for any advice you could give me!

Syagrius

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Hello Syagrius,  If playing computer games with bad posture, poor lighting and being too near the computer or game monitor would cause severe problems as you describe there would be a world-wide epidemic involving millions of computer game addicts.This has simply not happened.

Computer Vision Syndrome is a poorly defined group of complaints that people that do a lot of computer work complain of. These are all TEMPORARY and NOT SERIOUS. They go away if you stop using the computer.

Two normal examinations by ophthalmologists (Eye MDs) should exclude any serious eye disease or strong need for glasses.

There is little likelihood that your symptoms are caused by two nights of computer gaming. You need to look elsewhere for the cause. You may need to see a neurologist to be sure you do not have a facial neuralgia (pain) syndrome or cervical neck problem. You may need a MRI and your sinus' evaluated.

For completeness sake I will have to add that tension, anxiety and depression are frequent causes of vague 'undiagnosed' symptoms.

Best of luck.

JCH MD

[Syagrius]

Hi,

I have an appointment to a neurologist on august 2. I will wait until then and describe him all I have live with.

Depression is for sure something that I am near when pain is always attacking me.

Thank you for your advices.

Syagrius

[Herrod]

It sounds like you've started down the path that I did about 2 years ago. I played a computer game excessively until I had horrible upper back pain and bloodshot eyes with headaches. So instead of not using computers at all and letting my body heal I tried various other inneffectual methods. 2 years later I have dark circles, slight bags under my eyes and eyes that are constantly bloodshot, so even if I try to drastically reduce my computer usage or even stay away from the computer for a week or more it doesn't do hardly anything because it's so built up. So take my advice, drop the computer usage completely now while you can until your symptoms are gone and then you'll be able to go back to your normal routine.

[Herrod]

Oh and by the way, don't rub your eyes at all. Even though it gives temporary relief, it messes up your eyes. I don't know why eye doctors don't mention that more.