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Computer Vision Syndrome

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Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#111

Post by Bartweiss »

GrumpyYoungMan wrote: post #107
ianai wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like there could be a Kickstarter. I'd want a high resolution external eink display as a secondary monitor. The refresh rate would be hell, but it'd be okay for text work.

There's the Dasung Paperlike e-ink monitor: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/paperlike-world-s-first-e... However, it's only 13.3" in size and, as you noted, it is limited by the refresh rate of e-ink.

This is still pretty appealing - I could stand to put static or near-static text there. I'd probably want to add it to my current pair of monitors, though, instead of subbing one out.

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#112

Post by enigmalord »

elorant wrote: post #109
giberson wrote: post #44

I use to get headaches every day (the kind that seem to originate behind the bridge of the nose). One day in effort to reduce the ache (a desperation move I didn't know would work out not) I reduced the brightness level in my monitor to the lowest possible setting. It slightly helped me cope with the rest of the day at work, but I forgot to reset the monitor. The next day I didn't get a headache. Turning down the bri…

Have you tried flux? It reduces the color temperature making it more mild during afternoon/night hours. It's a life saver. https://justgetflux.com/

yup it's cool and free too

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#113

Post by cmclaughlin »

collyw wrote: post #81

I am thinking my habit of drinking lots of water / tea / yerba mate helps. Means I get up and go for a piss every hour at least. Drinking lots of water is generally seen as a good thing.

My eyes twitched for a couple months and I talked to my optometrist about it. He recommended exactly this - drink lots of water while using computers so I'm forced to take pee breaks.

Also, quinine which is found in tonic water might help... with twitching and relaxing the eye muscles.

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#114

Post by ianai »

GrumpyYoungMan wrote: post #107
ianai wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like there could be a Kickstarter. I'd want a high resolution external eink display as a secondary monitor. The refresh rate would be hell, but it'd be okay for text work.

There's the Dasung Paperlike e-ink monitor: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/paperlike-world-s-first-e... However, it's only 13.3" in size and, as you noted, it is limited by the refresh rate of e-ink.

That's about what I'd expect it to run too. The poorly written marketing material kinda ruins my confidence though.

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#115

Post by kazinator »

One thing I discovered through an ad hoc anecdotal experiment involving only myself, over a quarter century ago, was the effect of font size. As a CS undergrad I was working like crazy in the lab for many hours a day. The display-hardware was B&W X window terminals (cathode ray, of course) with 19" screens. I had this idea: if I make things easier to read even when my eyes are tired, I can boost my endurance, right? So I switched to using large fonts. This had exactly the opposite effect; my fatigue symptoms became worse, because I was able to ignore the status of my eyes and keep going (without even consciously realizing it). If the fonts are big enough, you don't even have to blink any more; you can still read if your eyes dry out, ha! A that point I experienced an "aha" moment, and tried it the opposite way: I used a smaller font than the default. Like magic, my fatigue symptoms soon went away. I hypothesized that this is because small fonts create a negative feedback. When your eyes start to lose focus, you cannot read the screen any more. Firstly, you are forced to blink more often to keep your eyes moist. Second, you have no choice but to relax and not squint or strain. When the feedback mechanism does break, you're forced to take a break simply because you cannot ignore the fact that you're having trouble reading what's on the screen.

Since that time, I have always used small fonts and haven't had any problems. Plus, when CRT's started to disappear around the turn of the century, that was a fantastic change. Solid-state screens are much easier on the eyes.

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#116

Post by c0l0 »

mtone wrote: post #98
sbierwagen wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Basically every monitor with a LED backlight controls brightness by PWM. It only causes problems if the frequency is too low. (Contrast with fluorescent lights: every single fluorescent tube in existance flickers, but only some flicker slowly enough that people can notice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjyhFyUN_zQ Ditto CRT monitors, back when they were still used. Refresh rate of 60hz is flickery and annoying, ref…

According to this recommendation page [0], there are quite a few monitors with "PWM-free (flicker-free) WLED backlight". The list includes many affordable mainstream choices. I heard some monitors may revert to PWM below a certain brightness threshold, but assuming the information on that page is accurate, not getting PWM-free monitor is probably a sub-optimal purchase decision. [0] https://pcmonitors.info/recommenda…

http://geizhals.eu/?cat=monlcd19wide&xf=103_flicker-free#xf_... lists a LOT of displays that are supposed to provide a flicker-free viewing experience, and you can also filter for other technical properties to your heart's content. (Caveat: parts of that site are machine-translated to English - but that doesn't affect the rigor that went into curating the original data).

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#118

Post by atourgates »

Eye Health (not unlike other areas of health) has a lot of FUD around it.

A lot of the recent "awareness" of CVS is based off people who want to sell you blue light blocking glasses.

This infographic is one of my favorite examples: http://vspblog.com/blue-light-infographic/

There's lots of numbers and statistics there, but none of it is actually scientific. The closest you get is that "VSP Optometrists report a 50% increase in digital eye strain and the effects of blue light exposure."

But I can promise you as someone on the receiving end of VSP's marketing to eye care professionals, that they're marketing the bejeezus out of their blue light blocking technology to their eye care professionals.

So, if you're an optometrist and you have a financial incentive to sell blue-light blocking coatings, and you're getting tons of marketing about the epidemic of digital eye strain in your inbox and mailbox and the publications you read, of course you're going to notice an increase of its incidents in your patients.

If you're experiencing discomfort from using your computer for hours every day, you should absolutely do things to alleviate that discomfort. But the thing that all this marketing and FUD leaves out, is that there's no evidence that blue light exposure (from digital devices) or CVS or digital eye strain or whatever they'll be calling it in a week causes any long-term damage to your eyes.

From the American Academy of Ophthalmology[1]: "Staring at your computer screen, smartphone or other digital devices for long periods won’t cause permanent eye damage, but your eyes may feel dry and tired."

[1]: http://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#119

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

giberson wrote: post #44

I use to get headaches every day (the kind that seem to originate behind the bridge of the nose). One day in effort to reduce the ache (a desperation move I didn't know would work out not) I reduced the brightness level in my monitor to the lowest possible setting. It slightly helped me cope with the rest of the day at work, but I forgot to reset the monitor. The next day I didn't get a headache. Turning down the bri…

I'll back this 9000%.

I use Flux on Mac and Windows and Redshift on Linux to adjust the colour temperature of my screens.

And a huge dose of brightness adjustment. All the way down first thing in the morning, especially at work where I have skylights above me.

This combination has completely eliminated all eye related discomfort for me.

Re: Computer Vision Syndrome

#120

Post by abledon »

djb_hackernews wrote: post #14

I have seen a few ophthalmologists seeking treatment for a condition resulting from computer use. I think CVS is a catch all that makes sense on the surface but doesn't really address the damage that has been done. There is some interesting research being done in this area, but it has taken a while for the eye health community to catch up. My story goes back over 4 years ago, one day like the flick of a switch I coul…

Have you tried acupuncture?
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