Don't Glare Me Down
I feel, in a sense, like a West Virginia coal miner trying to fend off black lung disease. For the last two or three years my left eye has been suffering from computer glare -- redness, puffiness, watering, pink eye -- due to prolonged computer-screen exposure. I'm in front of screens for a good 10 hours a day, and that's a lot of eye-blasting -- 70 hours a week, 280 to 300 hours each month.
My initial remedy was to (a) turn down the brightness levels to one-third and (b) wear sunglasses while working, but it's hard to find ones that don't make things look too dark. Then I started being extra-careful about keeping the screen as far away from my eyes as possible. Two days ago I ordered two screen-glare filters. Maybe that'll work. My right eye, oddly, hasn't had any difficulty.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 16, 2012 at 7:58 AM
comment #1
Zach
says ...
Or you could just glance up occasionally.
Posted by Zach
at January 16, 2012 8:57 AM
comment #2
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Thanks, I do that. I walk around outside and take bike rides and sleep from 1 am to 7 am and use eye droppers and all that good stuff. My left eye still suffers.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at January 16, 2012 9:24 AM
comment #3
VoiceOfReason
says ...
Do you wear contacts? If so, start wearing your glasses for computer work and get Theratears drops.
Posted by VoiceOfReason
at January 16, 2012 9:50 AM
comment #4
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
No contacts -- glasses only. With sunglasses on top.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at January 16, 2012 10:10 AM
comment #5
VoiceOfReason
says ...
Jeff- I had a similar condition a few years back. My case got so bad that an optometrist prescribed me a mild steroid to get over it.
It's an infection brought on by excessive dryness. Basically when you stare at a monitor you blink half as much as you normally would. Lots of eyedrops help and wont mess with your regular tear duct functionality, so drop away as much as you need. Also drink lots of water to stay hydrated and think about taking an omega-3 supplement. Don't hesitate because your overall vision is being compromised.
Posted by VoiceOfReason
at January 16, 2012 2:43 PM
comment #6
zumpano
says ...
Wells: I work for an eye doctor. You should have gotten this checked out back when you first mentioned this, what was it, over a year ago? Man up. See a doctor. You WATCH FILM for your living. It's not the computer. IT'S YOUR EYES. VoiceofReason mentioned some good pointers. But, dude. Get them checked out. Seriously.
2nd: I hope you're not using "Visine" or anything that "gets the red out", as those drops are actually constricting your blood vessels and not helping your eyes at all.
Posted by zumpano
at January 16, 2012 5:50 PM