By Kathy Sena

More than 60 million Americans suffer from headaches, irritated eyes and focusing problems after using a computer, according to the American Optometric Association. And as more children spend time on computers—often wielding a mouse before they hit preschool—experts worry that kids will start sharing their parents' computer-related eye problems. To make matters worse, young kids are less likely to speak up about vision problems because they aren't able to articulate the symptoms.

The AOA call the problem Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS, and says anyone who spends two or more hours per day at a computer may develop symptoms. "Individuals who spend a prolonged amount of time on the computer tend to over-focus and strain their visual system," says M. Pia Hoenig, O.D., a Santa Rosa, Calif. optometrist who specializes in children's vision.

Hoenig compares CVS with another repetitive-motion injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, and says kids may be more susceptible than adults to CVS because "the unique characteristics of a child's eye functions, combined with the way children use computers, make them more susceptible to computer eyestrain."

The way the computer workstation is set up can add to the problem, according to a recent Cornell University study. If children must strain to see the monitor or reach the keyboard, they can develop poor posture and put stress on the back, neck and hands as well as the eyes.

But how can you test the eyes of a child who can't tell you what's wrong? Hoenig uses a tester that looks like a small computer monitor and simulates the pixels on a video display. (Check it out at the manufacturer's Web site, www.prio.com) The machine allows an optometrist to objectively evaluate a child's focusing mechanism and more accurately determine the need for computer glasses. The new technology beats the standard "E" eye chart, which can't duplicate the conditions of a computer screen, Hoenig says.

Parents should observe their children as they use the computer, "because kids may not complain of any discomfort when asked," Hoenig notes.

"Children assume that the way they see is the way everybody sees. They don't know what an abnormal visual experience is." and with all the fun kids' software available today, children may not want to talk much about boring things like eyestrain. "They may be concerned that they will be told to spend less time on the computer," Hoenig says.

To help protect your child's eyes:

• Adjust the room lighting or position the computer to eliminate reflected glare off the monitor.
• Position the chair and monitor so that the distance between the eyes is between 18 and 26 inches. The monitor height should be just slightly below eye level.
• Encourage your child to blink regularly while at the computer.
• Insist that your child take frequent breaks, and limit total daily computer time.
• Seek regular vision care. According to the Academy of Pediatrics, your pediatrician can check your baby's eyes during routine checkups. If all is well, she should not need further testing until age 3 or 4, when most children can more easily describe what they see during an optometrist's exam. A thorough eye exam is recommended before starting kindergarten.

This Article is also found in the March 2000 issue of the following publications: New York Family • Dallas Family • San Diego Parent • Portland Parent • Colorado Parent • Seattle's Child • Birmingham Family Times

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