EYE
CARE SERVICES
The
following explains the various different services
we offer here at Coast Optometric Center.
Please choose a link from the drop-down menu for
further information:
Computer
Vision
Testing & Treatment
It is getting difficult to
avoid working with a computer these days. From
staring at a screen eight hours a day in the
office to surfing the Internet (like you are
doing right now!), we are all asking our eyes to
work harder and longer. What optometrists are
now realizing is that viewing a computer display
is a very different task for our visual systems
than is reading printed text.
The human visual focusing
system uses sharp black-on-white ("high
contrast") edges to lock in on. A computer
display is made up of fine points of light known
as pixels. These pixels do not have
distinct edges, rather are brightest in the
center and become dimmer away from the center.
The pattern of pixels does not give the visual
focusing system the target it needs for accurate
focusing. The indistinct edges allow the focus
of the eye to drift. This requires the brain to
continually work to keep the display in focus.
This focusing effort is a major cause of
eyestrain and what is called Computer Vision
Syndrome.
Common computer eyestrain
symptoms include headaches, irritated eyes and
blurry distance vision. Dr. Blaze commonly
prescribes specialized glasses for his
computer-using patients. Bifocal wearers in
particular require different glasses to
eliminate the need to tip their head up to see
the computer screen. Our office has focused on
computer related vision problems and utilizes
the PRIO Device to test for computer vision
syndrome. The PRIO Device re-creates the pixels
on a computer screen allowing Dr. Blaze to
assess what happens to your visual
focusing system while looking at a computer
display. Very often, the eyeglass prescription
determined by using the PRIO Device is different
and more accurate than could be obtained via
traditional testing techniques. For more details
visit www.prio.com
If you work at a computer,
be certain to let Dr. Blaze know so that he may
properly evaluate your vision. We also suggest
that you visit the Dr.
Ergo website which
has an on-line computer vision survey. The
information you receive from the website can be
very valuable in helping Dr. Blaze completely
understand your workplace visual
demands.
