# Vision

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 27, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884 "2001-10-27T00:05:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884/1 "2001-10-27T00:05:14Z")

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Does staring at computer monitors for a significant amount of your day, after time, damage your eye sight?

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**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884/2 "2001-10-27T00:21:34Z")

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Well, depending on what pictures are on your screen at the time, you could go blind… 😉  
I’ve heard that spending a lot of time staring at the computer screen will tend to dry out your eyes, primarily because you blink less often. This leaves your eyes red and irritated. I guess over time this _might_ cause permanent damage, but I’m not sure. I’m not a doctor.

The best solution is to properly balance your screen brightness with room light, sit a comfortable distance from the screen, and take frequent breaks.  
By the way, a more descriptive thread title would probably result in a better response from the masses. Just for future reference.

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**Author:** ![Izzardesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a9adbd/32.png) [@Izzardesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Izzardesque)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884/3 "2001-10-27T00:27:12Z")

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I am guessing that yes it can cause damage in the long term This is why if you have to use a computer for work, the compnay must pay for you to have eyetests and if necessary provide you with spectacles. Presumably this wouldn’t be the case if there was no chance of damage

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vision/89884/4 "2001-10-27T01:52:35Z")

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I’m not sure that any type of “normal” visual tasks will do any damage to the eyes. I don’t think strain has any perminent affect on vision. Remember the old maxim about reading in the dark will destroy your vision? It’s not true, it has no affect other than to make your eyes tired.

Here are some links:

[http://www.cvconsulting.com/ergonomic.htm](http://www.cvconsulting.com/ergonomic.htm)  
[http://www.cvconsulting.com/eyestrain.htm](http://www.cvconsulting.com/eyestrain.htm)  
[http://www.doctorergo.com/](http://www.doctorergo.com/)  
[http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing/vdt11.html](http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing/vdt11.html)

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suggests there is possible long term damage for people genetically disposed to myopia, so the jury is still out. After reading all this I think I’ll come down squarely on the “maybe” side of the fence.