Matatizo yanayosababishwa na kutumia computer muda mrefu

While most Americans have heard of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, not as many have heard of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). This condition most often occurs when the viewing demand of the task exceeds the visual abilities of the computer user. The American Optometric Association defines CVS as that ‘complex of eye and vision problems related to near work which are experience during or related to computer use'. The symptoms can vary but mostly include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision (distance and/or near), dry and irritated eyes, slow refocusing, neck and/or backache, light sensitivity, double vision and color distortion.

The causes for the inefficiencies and the visual symptoms are a combination of individual visual problems and poor office ergonomics. Poor office ergonomics can be further divided into poor workplace conditions and improper work habits. A survey of computer users by NIOSH in 1991 concluded that two-thirds of the complaints were related to vision problems while one-third was due to environmental factors. Many people have marginal vision disorders that do not cause symptoms when performing less demanding visual tasks. However, it has also been shown that computer users also have a higher incidence of complaints than non-computer users in the same environment.

When considering the relationship of CVS to the eyecare industry, consider that there are roughly 85 million eye exams performed every year. Of those, about 17% are initiated due to symptoms related to computer use. That translates into approximately $1.15-2 BILLION cost to the US economy.

Some people whose jobs involve intensive keyboard use have reported experiencing pain in their wrists, arms, and neck. This type of disorder has been variously categorized as regional musculoskeletal disorder (R-MSD), cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), and repetitive stress injury (RSI). These are "catch-all" terms that refer to a variety of soft-tissue ailments in the upper limbs such as tendonitis, tenosynovitis, rheumatism, and carpal tunnel syndrome, and are not specific medical diagnoses. A qualified medical practitioner to define the precise nature of the disorder, institute appropriate treatment, and identify causal or aggravating factors amenable to modification should evaluate pain or discomfort that persists or impairs normal activities. When any of these conditions develop related to work factors, they are collectively known as Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs).

Let's take a look at some of the general definitions of MSDs and compare them to CVS. The symptoms of WRMSDs are work-related and associated with repetitive activity; the problems are related to disorders of muscles, tendons, bones and nerves; problems occur or are aggravated by repeated movements and a lengthy time is required for problems to develop and for the person to recover. All of these conditions exist for MSDs and for CVS as well. Thus, it is logical to say that CVS is a musculoskeletal disorder that deserves special attention and treatment.

The three areas that we'll be discussing regarding CVS are: 1. The computer hardware 2. The computer using environment 3. The computer using patient.

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