Computer addicts could go blind!

Newkerala ^ | November 16, 2004 | Health India

[LurkedLongEnough]

A new research has found that constant use of computers may be linked to the development of a progressive eye disease, specially in shortsighted people, which eventually leads to blindness, according to a report published in the British Medical Journal.

Glaucoma is a relatively common eye disease that develops very slowly, characterised by progressive sight defects or visual field abnormalities over time. Its exact cause is unknown, although potential risk factors, including smoking and high blood pressure, have been suggested.

Researchers at the Toho University School of Medicine in Tokyo categorized the use of computers in blocks of five years, ranging from less than five years, to more than 20 years, as well as the average amount of time spent at the screen per session, ranging from 1 hour to more than 8 hours at a time.

An in-depth eye test revealed that around a third of the workers had suspected glaucoma, characterised by distinct visual field abnormalities. And there also appeared to be a significant link between these and heavy computer use among workers who were short sighted.

In fact, the most common refractive error was short sightedness, leading the authors to speculate that the optic nerve in short sighted eyes might be more vulnerable to computer stress than it is in normal eyes.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Can someone read this to me?

[funkywbr]

Not me as I have worked using a computer for 25 years now.

[Terpfen]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1280991/posts

Already posted. ClearType mentioned too.

[Wiz]

Is it my monitor or is it my eyes that makes the screen darker everyday?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Now I have 2 reasons I am going to go blind, only my mom never warned me about the computer!

[Conspiracy Guy]

I agree. What does the article say.

[MaryFromMichigan]

...average amount of time spent at the screen per session, ranging from 1 hour to more than 8 hours at a time.

Guess freepers have one more thing to worry about.

[buffyt]

optic nerve in short sighted eyes might be more vulnerable to computer stress than it is in normal eyes.

Leaves me out. I have normal eyes at age 53, not short sighted at all. I was blessed with great eyes. The rest of the body is falling apart. LOL

[buffyt]

They didn't mention the OLD cause of going blind, but there is a lot of PORN on internet.... LOL

[VRWCmember]

I think the hairy palms comes first before the diminished eyesight.

[Core_Conservative]

TMI - LOL

[VRWCmember]

They didn't mention the OLD cause of going blind, but there is a lot of PORN on internet.... LOL

I think THAT is the correlation. However, before the user goes blind, the hair on the palms starts playing havoc with the keyboard.

[Wooly]

I tend to agree with this study as a very heavy user.
I also have noticed another thing that happens to heavy computer users that almost mimics dyslexia in as much as when typing you will start to change the order of letters in a word without noticing it. Example The will be typed as Teh but the user will not notice it.

[spodefly]

Two of my favorite things are making me go blind ...

[TheZMan]

Haha, good call.

Let's see... 8 hours a day at work, 6 hours at night during the weekdays, and about 20 hours over a weekend...

Guess it's time to get into construction.

[End Times Sentinel]

Everytime you FReep, all your dead relatives in heaven cry.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[LurkedLongEnough]

Sorry - I didn't see it.

[Lunatic Fringe]

1950s hysteria:

TV radiation will rot your brain!

[MaryFromMichigan]

The next step for freepers-