computer vision syndrome

[tripp399]

Hi, I am 18 years old, and I have played video games most of my life. About 6 moths ago, I began playing a computer game called "World of Warcraft." I played constantly. I started noticing that I would get headaches when I played. Then it seemed like I got headaches faster when I played. Over time, I could only play for about 30 minutes at a time before my headaches got really bad. Then one day while I was playing, my eyes got to killing me, and I had a huge headache. They hurt so badly that I had to stop and go to sleep. The next morning (I work with a computer for work) I got on the computer and after about 3 minutes my eyes started killing me again. I got off for a while, and they quit hurting, but when i got back on, and even watched tv they would begin hurting. After about a week of me not doing much with tv or computer, it went away. I thought it was over, so i started with the computer again, and over time, it came back again. Then i quit with the computer, and it went away, and I did this a few times. Then I went to an opthalmologist, who told me my eyes looked fine. I had 20/20 vision, and nothing was wrong. He told me to just keep puting artificial tears in my eyes. I did, but it did not help, and the problem came back again, but now, I am doing everything to make it go away, but it won't this time. I have no idea what to do. I am planning on going to college for computer science, but now I don't know if i can!

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

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[TanteWaileka]

I'm not a doctor, but I've been working in the computer industry since I graduated from high school at 12 and went to work for Big Blue as a programmer... 53 years ago. This I have learned over the years -- you cannot stare at a computer for hours at a time without taking time out to exercise your eyes (and to walk around, as it is NOT good to sit on one's fanny for hours at a time). I live in a high rise apartment and work from home, so I have setup my computers in a corner with windows on each side of my computer. I don't face direct sun. But I am on the 29th floor so I get to look out at mountains and birds and a big ocean bay. I do that frequently, turning away from the computer and focusing 'out' on some distant object. I am 65 years old now and still have 20/20 vision (although admittedly when I was younger I had better than 20/20 vision). You CAN exercise your eyes as you can exercise the rest of your body, and keep your vision strong until, at least, my age. But you DO have to get plenty of sleep, eat a lot of vegetables (kale is better than spinach), fresh fruit and drink water rather than caffeinated products or sodas. Video games are awful to your eyes, and your body, because you are SITTING all the time too. I have a totalgym and a recumbant exercise bike, and I go for daily hour walks. If you want to have at least the chance of living a long and healthy life you MUST take care of yourself. You can still be a programmer, but you should realize that there are a lot of other good careers that may be better for your mind. Also, you should ensure you BLINK your eyes, and if you are playing a war game, you may NOT be blinking enough. I used to have a stickynote on my monitor that just had 'blink' written on it. It certainly helped. Of course you can use 'drops' for your eyes, but common sense works a lot better than 'dry eye' diagnosis, if you get me.

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

Get a second opinion from another ophthalmologist. Tell them you would like to be checked for:
1. Dry eyes
2. Latent hyperopia (farsightedness) by a "push plus" pre cycloplegic refraction and a post cycloplegic refractions to pick up latent hyperopia.
3. Also ask to be checked for convergence insufficiency and eye muscle disorders "phorias".

Have the ophthalmologist see you before any drops are put in your eye. If you want print this page out and take it in to their office.

John C. Hagan III MD FACS
American Academy of Ophthalmology Eye Forum