Posted on 11/15/2004 7:11:56 PM PST by NCjim
Men who spend hours staring at a computer screen may be at increased risk for glaucoma, a disease that can cause blindness, Japanese doctors say.
Researchers studied more than 10,200 workers with an average age of 43 for signs of glaucoma, a gradual disease of the optic nerve leading to loss of peripheral vision.
The workers were randomly selected for testing at their medical check-up. Participants filled out questionnaires about their eye health and use of computers at home and in the office.
Dr. Masayuki Tatemichi of Toho University School of Medicine in Tokyo and his colleagues found one-third of the workers had suspected glaucoma, according to tests.
Those who sat in front of a computer for more than eight hours a day were twice as likely to have glaucoma as those who were light or medium users, the researchers found.
There appeared to be a significant link between workers who were short sighted or myopic and were heavy users of computers.
The optic nerve may be more vulnerable to computer stress in those who are short sighted compared to those with normal eyes, the team speculated.
Since more workers are now using computers, doctors may need to monitor the prevalence of myopia and signs of glaucoma in workers, the researchers said in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, published by the British Medical Association.
The researchers acknowledge the study is limited by its cross-sectional design, adding the results may be skewed since most of the volunteers were male.
They note more research is needed to investigate the suspected link.
Glaucoma may be caused by high pressure inside the eye. It affects one in 100 Canadians over age 40, according to the Canadian Opthamalmological Society.
Ruh-Roh. "You've posted a total of 114 threads and 5,688 replies."
Nice knowing you, Freepers, but I got my health to think about. So long... /s
What does that say? Computer use causes clamydia? It's pretty blurry...
"Men who spend hours staring at a computer screen may be at increased risk blindness..."
Must be what happened to Grandma, playing with the abacus deep into the night.
What? I'm seeing white.....
Men past the age of 43 are at an increased likelihood of death...I'm tired of the 'increased threat of crap.'
Cracks me up.
Figures, just when Half Life 2 comes out I have to quit my job, stop posting here, quit gaming, and stop news surfing forever.
Well, at least I have TV!
Oh jeez. I'm screwed.
There's a joke in here somewhere....
I think they'd find a stronger link if they examined the heavy users' internet history folder.When combined with excessive one-handed typing, its a dead giveaway.
Please repost in 48-point type.
"Men who spend hours staring at a computer screen may be at increased risk blindness..."
Only if they are spending all that time on porn sites. :)
I promised I would only do it till I need glasses.
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