Is Your Smartphone Making Your Eyes Tired?

I sometimes feel like the last person on the planet who has a mobile phone that does just that – make phone calls. The rise of the new so-called ‘smartphones has been fast and furious and although we know of the dangers of over use of mobiles, it seems the new technology is throwing up another problem.

Several reports indicate that prolonged viewing of mobiles and other stereo 3D devices leads to visual discomfort, fatigue and even headaches. As more people are using smartphone, ipads, kindle readers and 3D game players this situation is going to get worse, not better. According to a new study reported in the Journal of Vision, the root cause may be the demand on our eyes to focus on the screen and simultaneously adjust to the distance of the content.

This is technically known as vergence-accommodation, and it this conflict and its effect on viewers of stereo 3D displays that the study has reported on.

Martin S. Banks, professor of optometry and vision science, University of California, Berkeley is the lead author of the study and comments: “When watching stereo 3D displays, the eyes must focus — that is, accommodate — to the distance of the screen because that’s where the light comes from. At the same time, the eyes must converge to the distance of the stereo content, which may be in front of or behind the screen.”

Through a series of experiments on 24 adults, the research team observed the interaction between the viewing distance and the direction of the conflict, examining whether placing the content in front of or behind the screen affects viewer discomfort. The results demonstrated that with devices like mobile phones and desktop displays that are viewed at a short distance, stereo content placed in front of the screen — appearing closer to the viewer and into the space of viewer’s room — was less comfortable than content placed behind the screen. Conversely, when viewing at a longer distance such as a movie theater screen, stereo content placed behind the screen — appearing as though the viewer is looking through a window scene behind the screen — was less comfortable.

At the moment we are talking discomfort, and the study was on adults, but presumably long term use and by youngsters will have a more serious impact. My local cinema now offers virtually every film as 2D (or what we used to call just film) and 3D and it is to the latter that the younger audience are drawn as when the new Harry Potter film was launched the 3D showing sold out faster. There has been an explosion of stereo 3D imagery in all areas, not just film and tv, but communication and medical technology as well.

“This is an area of research where basic science meets application and we hope that the science can proceed quickly enough to keep up with the increasingly widespread use of the technology,” added Banks.
The authors also propose guidelines be established for the range of disparities presented on such displays and the positioning of viewers relative to the display but in a world where we want colour, excitement and pzazz from our entertainment it may be that self – or parental – control might be the first step to avoid eyestrain and headaches.

Help for Dry and Gritty Eyes

This is a very common problem that many millions of people suffer from, but a new and highly innovative eye drop formula has been launched to help tackle the problem. Rohto® Dry Eye Relief is a clinically proven eye-drop treatment that uses a natural bi-polymer called HydraMed to rapidly bring relief. Dry eyes mean that the normal tear film production and lubricating of the eye is not functioning adequately, sometimes leading to intense discomfort, as the eyes can no longer wet and lubricate themselves properly. This new product has been shown to improve this condition so that in less than a-month of regular use, the eyes feel more comfortable.

There are many reasons why we can suffer from dry and gritty-feeling eyes: modern lifestyles, an aging population, the contraceptive pill, some underlying illnesses and health conditions, as well as some medication can also trigger the condition. To treat it, you need something that will simulate as closely as possible the composition and effectiveness of the real tear film. This means that eye drops not only stay for as long as possible on the eye, but also have the right dynamic properties to allow proper mimicking of the natural tears during blinking to avoid blurring vision.

In healthy eyes, tears help create a lubricating and cleaning film over the eye, and dry eyes happen when there is not enough fluid to adequately create this film. What is needed is to rehydrate the surface of the eye, to recreate the tear film and relieve symptoms and the key component in Rohto® Dry Eye Relief contains HydraMed. This is an advanced patented formulation of two active ingredients – Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which helps restore and retain hydration, and Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide (TSP), which helps repair the surface of the eye.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occurring polymer found within the human eye which has incredible water attracting properties and can draw 3,000 times its own weight in water. This greatly reduces evaporation, and therefore fluid loss, from the eye. HA mimics the natural tear film in the eye, which is crucial for good eye health.The other key ingredient – Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide (TSP) – is a naturally occurring polymer that produces a visco-elastic solution and has a chemical structure similar to important proteins called mucins on the eye’s surface.

These two key ingredients work together synergistically and the Rohto formulation mimics the behaviour of natural human tears, becoming less viscous and sticky during a blink and more viscous between blinks which allows for easier blinking. Combined with its excellent fluid-retaining properties, this mean that water loss from the tear film is minimised, so the formula stays on the eye for longer.

It’s effectiveness has been proven in a series of clinical trials where it was found to improve eye condition by 56.5% and be up to five times more effective in treating damage than using hyaluronic acid alone. Patients who used it for 60 days had a 35% reduction of stinging and foreign-body sensations, and when compared to other common treatments using Hyaluronic Acid (HA), it was found to be 27% better in the reduction of stinging symptoms.

A user survey carried out at the British Contact Lens Association annual conference found that 82% of practitioners that tried the product agreed that Rohto® Dry Eye Relief provided an immediate soothing and cooling effect and a majority felt it gave longer relief than they expected would offer it to their patients.

Rohto® Dry Eye Relief brings fast and effective relief and its special formulation has been shown in studies to last for a long time on the eye. This greatly reduces the number of applications needed throughout the day to maintain comfort. It is available in a re-sealable and easily carried 0.5ml daily dose vial, which uses a special cap that allows you to quickly and safely re-use the vial two or three times a day – enough to greatly ease regular dry eye discomfort.

Dry Eye Relief

Well who would have thought that dry eyes could be a sexist issue, but it turns out that more women than men suffer from it, though that may be because one of the prime causes is wearing contact lenses which is more common in women than men, particularly at menopause. One factor common to both sexes is that it gets more common as we age, with up to 33% per cent of people aged over 65 suffering from it.

Curiously dry eye can be a result of either not having enough tears, or losing too much of them through evaporation. It is the tear film that normally keeps the eyes moist and lubricated and having a moist, healthy eye surface is essential for normal vision.

Are You Affected?

There are several common symptoms, including:

• Irritation so the eyes may feel gritty or burning, but they don’t turn red unless another eye problem is also present

• Sensitivity to bright lights

• Slight blurring of vision from time to time.

Factors that can result in dry eye include medication, as some have this as a side effect like diuretics, some antidepressants, antihistamines, some anti-anxiety medicines, the contraceptive pill, and beta-blockers. Environmental factors play a part too and at this time of year having the central heating on too high creates a dry atmosphere and the old remedy of having bowls of water in the room is a good one. These days it is less common, but cigarette smoke is an aggravation as are driving or spending a long time in front of a television or computer. These last activities mean fixed vision, which gives you a low blink rate and that can lead to drying out of the tear film.

If you are suffering and have tried other eye drops, then there is a new solution that might help. Rohto® Dry Eye Relief combines Hyaluronic Acid and Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide in a unique clinically proven natural bi-polymer called HydraMed developed by the same Japanese company that brought us Deep Heat,that much loved English favourite remedy for aching muscles. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring polymer found within the human eye that has incredible water attracting properties. It can draw 3,000 times its own weight in water which greatly reduces evaporationand hence fluid loss from the eye. The two ingredients provides effective symptom relief by both lubricating the eye and helping to stabilise the tear film. The combination of the two natural ingredients means more fluid is trapped on the surface of the eye so it improves symptoms of stinging and grittiness as well as reducing damage to the surface of the eye. In a small clinical trial patients found it improved their eye condition by over 56 per cent and as it comes in a daily dose vial it is convenient to carry in your pocket or bag.

You should find it in pharmacies, but if you want more information visit the company’s website at www.rohto.co.uk

Computer vision – A new disease?

We are all spending more and more time in front of a computer; shopping online, checking emails, reading our horoscope (or is t hat just me?). It is easy to forget the time, but your eyes will remind you because hours spent staring at a computer screen means you risk suffering tired, dry eyes, blurred vision, eye strain, headache, and sensitivity to light. This has led to a new ‘disease’ being recognised, collectively those symptoms are becoming known as “computer vision syndrome.”

The American Optometric Association certainly has recognised it as a growing problem with an estimated 10 million people visiting their optometrist annually for computer eye-related difficulties. Apparently, according to the Optometric Association, a computer is a challenging environment for the eyes because the imagery is not as clear as it seems to be, and because of that it’s harder for the eye to focus than it would be on ordinary print on a page.

First step is to get your eyes checked and if you spend more than a couple of hours a day in front of the computer you should mention it to your optician so they can see whether you need separate glasses for that, or a screen filter to help reduce glare and eye discomfort. If you wear bifocals, or varifocals, you can also suffer from neck and shoulder problems because these glasses are often not set for the computer so you end up having to move your head closer to the computer while at the same time tipping your head back to see the screen. That’s an awkward position and if you have been suffering from a stiff neck it could be the reason why.

One simple tip that helps is to blink more often because that lubricates your eyes. When we concentrate, our blink rate goes down, leading to dry eyes. Try adopting the 20/20 rule – every 20 minutes look away from your computer for about 20 seconds; this will minimize the development of eye-focusing problems and eye irritation caused by not blinking enough.

Check the lighting, you don’t want too much bright overhead light or any kind of glare or reflection off your computer screen. Finally, is your monitor at the right height? Experts advise that for maximum ergonomic comfort, the screen should be right in front of you so you don’t have to twist to see it and the monitor should be at eye level, or a little below it.