Looking at computer screen all day - damaging? Really?

[SunnyD]

Recently worked out how much time I spend in front of a computer. Came to the conclusion that, every week day I spend more than 11 hours looking at a computer screen. Considering I'm only conscious for 16 hours, this ratio isn't great...

I work 8.30am - 5pm, don't take lunch break, the longest time i'm away from my screen is a five minute kitchen visit to make tea. Then between 8pm and 11pm I'm on the comp at home.

So, the question I have is... how bad is it for you? What's the worst that can happen? What are the side effects of spending so long on a computer?

I'm out and about every weekend so it's only during the week, but still, does it really matter? How does my figure compare with everyone elses? It's not like I'm some W.O.W geek or something...

[WorAl]

I worked outside all my life until 21/22, went to Uni at 18 while still building houses, got a degree then started working on a computer at 22, up until then I had perfect eyesight, now 25, I wear glasses and can only be because im sat at a computer all day, I rekon about 10 hours a day, nothing else has changed in my life.

[WelshBoyo]

I've working in the IT industry for the last 12 years and do not need glasses (eye sight checked every year). I think the introduction of LCD screens has helped a lot, because you are now looking at a flat screen rather than looking through the screen (as per tube based designs). Just make sure your screen resolution is at the manufactures preferred setting and you use the highest available screen refresh rate. Also use DVI rather than VGA because I find VGA so much fuzzier than DVI (well that is what I tell my company so I get dual DVI screens and a decent graphics card)!

[Carl_Spackler]

I would think the biggest issue would be the lack of excercise rather than your eyesight, sitting inactive for those number of hours a day whether your overweight or not can't be good for you.

[SunnyD]

Hmm yeah I guess lack of exercise would be the bigger issue. What are you supposed to do about that though?! I can't exactly get up and start running around the office at hourly intervals. I go to the gym most evenings which might help.

I'm 25 now, hopefully I'm not gonna start needing glasses any time soon!

[ShadownINja]

Typical day, currently, looking at screens from about 10am until 2am with the occasional 15-45 minute break. Still damned good eyesight. Been using computers since about 12. Now 37.

Computers are my communication device, entertainment system, games console, work...

Edited by ShadownINja on Friday 16th October 13:50

[Carl_Spackler]

SunnyD said:

Hmm yeah I guess lack of exercise would be the bigger issue. What are you supposed to do about that though?! I can't exactly get up and start running around the office at hourly intervals. I go to the gym most evenings which might help.

I'm 25 now, hopefully I'm not gonna start needing elasticated waisted trousers any time soon!

EFA

[SunnyD]

ShadownINja said:

Computers are my communication device, entertainment system, games console, work...

Exactly, computers are everything, you even read novels on them instead of paper books, so either the whole world are going to be wearing glasses in ten years time, or everyone's worrying unnecessarily.

[Vipers]

Any continuous close work will (I think) damage your eyes, our eyes are not designed to be focused a few inches in front of our faces all day, they are relaxed at infinity.

I didn't wear glasses until I was 30 and had spent the previous 12 months on close up work looking at a depth gauge about 2 ft in front of me.

My brother who wore glasses all his childhood, took up bus driving, where his eyes are focused a distance infront of him for most of his working day, his eyes got better, doesn't wear glasses now, he is 67.

BUT! there will be those who suffer, and those who don't suffer, thats my two pence input. Or maybe the pit babes do it?

[ShadownINja]

SunnyD said:

ShadownINja said:

Computers are my communication device, entertainment system, games console, work...

Exactly, computers are everything, you even read novels on them instead of paper books, so either the whole world are going to be wearing glasses in ten years time, or everyone's worrying unnecessarily.

I should have added, I've been using computers daily for the last 15 years. Still no problems with my eyes. They never ache after a long day staring at screens.

[Vipers]

ShadownINja said:

SunnyD said:

ShadownINja said:

Computers are my communication device, entertainment system, games console, work...

Exactly, computers are everything, you even read novels on them instead of paper books, so either the whole world are going to be wearing glasses in ten years time, or everyone's worrying unnecessarily.

I should have added, I've been using computers daily for the last 15 years. Still no problems with my eyes. They never ache after a long day staring at screens.

I see what you are saying, but there are those who smoke 60 a day until they die at around 90 for some reason not related to smoking, but to the average person, smoking is dangerous, guess you are one of those who are lucky, and good for you,

[rocksteadyeddie]

I spend 10-11 hours a day staring at the screen. My eyesight has very slightly deteriorated over the years, which may or may not be related. Still better than 20:20 but worse than it was. FWIW last optometrist appointment I had she suggested that every 15-20 minutes I look up and refocus on something in the far distance to relax the eyes. This apparently will help with long term eye problems.

[Vipers]

If your WORK involves screens, then you employor should be applying the VDU regulations, which include free eye test and glasses if required for your work, plus other stuff, seating, glare etc etc

[scorp]

Vipers said:

Any continuous close work will (I think) damage your eyes, our eyes are not designed to be focused a few inches in front of our faces all day, they are relaxed at infinity.

I didn't wear glasses until I was 30 and had spent the previous 12 months on close up work looking at a depth gauge about 2 ft in front of me.

Similar story for me, had to start wearing glasses since i turned 30.. used to have pretty good 20:20 vision before. I've worked with computers fulltime for 13 years.

[ShadownINja]

Vipers said:

ShadownINja said:

SunnyD said:

ShadownINja said:

Computers are my communication device, entertainment system, games console, work...

Exactly, computers are everything, you even read novels on them instead of paper books, so either the whole world are going to be wearing glasses in ten years time, or everyone's worrying unnecessarily.

I should have added, I've been using computers daily for the last 15 years. Still no problems with my eyes. They never ache after a long day staring at screens.

I see what you are saying, but there are those who smoke 60 a day until they die at around 90 for some reason not related to smoking, but to the average person, smoking is dangerous, guess you are one of those who are lucky, and good for you,

Good point. A sample of one is not reliable.

[SunnyD]

rocksteadyeddie said:

FWIW last optometrist appointment I had she suggested that every 15-20 minutes I look up and refocus on something in the far distance to relax the eyes. This apparently will help with long term eye problems.

That's all very well but the furthest I can see out of any window is...the wall of the office nextdoor! Not exactly long distance. Would looking at a desktop wallpaper of a mountain range help at all?

[Shinobi]

I work with a computer each day and probably spend 7 hours a day looking at the screen and then usually t.v in the evening and for the first time in my life 24 years young im thinking i could do with glasses as i can't read number plates from 60ft like i used to be able to.

:-(

[onomatopoeia]

I was already at about -4 dioptres by the time I got the ZX81 when I was 13. That worsened to -7.5 by the time I was 18 but has remained stable ever since. Fairly obviously, once I left full time education in 1991 and started programming for a living the amount of time I spend looking at a computer screen went up a lot, yet my eyesight did not get worse at all.

My eyes are now getting better, last test showed -6.75 in both eyes. Age onset long-sightedness here I come.

HAve to admit I thought some sight problems were caused by doing a lot of close up work in poor light. With a computer screen you aren't going to have poor light problems, although back in the days of CRTs reflections were an issue.

[loltolhurst]

SunnyD said:

Recently worked out how much time I spend in front of a computer. Came to the conclusion that, every week day I spend more than 11 hours looking at a computer screen. Considering I'm only conscious for 16 hours, this ratio isn't great...

I work 8.30am - 5pm, don't take lunch break, the longest time i'm away from my screen is a five minute kitchen visit to make tea. Then between 8pm and 11pm I'm on the comp at home.

So, the question I have is... how bad is it for you? What's the worst that can happen? What are the side effects of spending so long on a computer?

I'm out and about every weekend so it's only during the week, but still, does it really matter? How does my figure compare with everyone elses? It's not like I'm some W.O.W geek or something...

why dont u take a lunch break some sort of macho thing?! get a computer near a window and keep looking out in the distance and u'll be fine. working all day without a break and u will not.

[SunnyD]

loltolhurst said:

SunnyD said:

Recently worked out how much time I spend in front of a computer. Came to the conclusion that, every week day I spend more than 11 hours looking at a computer screen. Considering I'm only conscious for 16 hours, this ratio isn't great...

I work 8.30am - 5pm, don't take lunch break, the longest time i'm away from my screen is a five minute kitchen visit to make tea. Then between 8pm and 11pm I'm on the comp at home.

So, the question I have is... how bad is it for you? What's the worst that can happen? What are the side effects of spending so long on a computer?

I'm out and about every weekend so it's only during the week, but still, does it really matter? How does my figure compare with everyone elses? It's not like I'm some W.O.W geek or something...

why dont u take a lunch break some sort of macho thing?! get a computer near a window and keep looking out in the distance and u'll be fine. working all day without a break and u will not.

LOL it's definitely not a macho thing(!)

I work in a business park where there's NOWHERE to go outside the office and nowhere worth driving to in the time I have. The office kitchen doesn't have anywhere to sit, so the only lunchbreak option I have is to stay at my desk, or go sit in my car, but bucket seats are hardly a comfortably dining option!