Today, nearly 70% of all digital device users across the globe have experienced digital eye strain. As stated by the American Optometric Association, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), popularly known as Digital Eye Strain, is a group of eye and vision-related problems which occur as a result of prolonged use of computers and other digital devices. CVS is known to be one of the major causes of reduced work productivity, low job satisfaction, and impaired visual abilities. An estimated 60 million people worldwide suffer from CVS, with a million new cases emerging each year (Sen and Richardson, 2007). In Africa, the overall prevalence of CVS is currently not known, although it was reported that 40% of computer users in Abuja, Nigeria have suffered from at least one symptom of CVS (Akinbinu and Mashalla, 2018).
About 50 - 90% of people who stare at a computer screen for prolonged hours exhibit some symptoms of CVS. The most common symptoms according to the American Optometric Association are eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes and pain in the neck and shoulders. Dry eye can be attributed to the fact that looking at digital screens reduce blinking from 22 to 7 blinks per minute.
To prevent Computer Vision Syndrome in this digital era, what are some of the best practices that can be adopted by you? What are the possible ocular implications of computer visual syndrome to digital device users?