JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Studies have found that the majority of people who work at a computer experience some eye or vision problems, and that the level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use. But, increased use of smaller, portable work and recreational gadgets such as Personal Digital Assistants, laptops, and cell phones used for text messaging and Web access may also be contributing factors to the visual fatigue and discomfort experienced by millions, according to a leading expert.

"The unique characteristics and high visual demands of computer work and play make many individuals susceptible to the development of eye and vision- related problems," notes Dr. Jeffrey Anshel, a practicing optometrist and author of "Visual Ergonomics in the Workplace." "With the proliferation of portable electronic devices such as laptops, palm pilots, and video game players, it's no surprise that eye care professionals are seeing more patients who complain of ocular discomfort."

Indeed, a national survey of doctors of optometry found that more than 14 percent of their patients present with eye or vision-related symptoms resulting from computer work. Furthermore, in a survey of more than 2,000 current and former contact lens wearers, time spent in front of a computer (41 percent) was the activity most frequently mentioned as causing discomfort while they were wearing their lenses.

Staring at a computer monitor or the small screens on most devices can lead to a variety of ailments, including headaches, eyestrain, blurred vision, dry and irritated eyes, neck and/or backache, and sensitivity to light. "Eye stress and strain may be caused by a combination of individual visual problems, improper viewing habits, and poor environmental conditions, such as glare, improper workstation set up, dirty screens, poor lighting and viewing angles," explains Dr. Anshel, who has helped companies and government agencies, including Mitsubishi, American Airlines, 3M, and the Department of Labor address the high stress area of vision demands in relation to working with computer monitors.

"Uncorrected or under-corrected vision problems can be major contributing factors to computer-related eye stress, affecting visual performance and comfort," cautions Dr. Anshel. "The good news is that many potential eye and/or vision problems can be reduced or eliminated by appropriate adjustment and placement of computer monitors, lighting control, good preventive vision care habits, and regular professional eye care."

Dr. Anshel offers the following advice to help prevent or reduce the development of vision-related problems. For additional tips, take the "Eye Q's and Views" interactive quiz at http://www.computerquiz.jnjvision.com/ .

* REDUCE GLARE -- Extraneous light, or glare, is the greatest source of eyestrain for computer users. No matter where your computer is relative to a window, adjustable shades, curtains or blinds should be used to effectively control light levels throughout the day. Avoid facing an unshaded window since the difference in brightness between the screen and the area behind it may be cause eye stress and discomfort. Consider using an anti-glare screen to reduce reflections.

* CHECK YOUR CONTACTS -- When working at a computer, people spend a lot of time concentrating and blink less frequently -- about three times less than normally, according to studies. "Computer work is particularly stressful for contact lens wearers," says Dr. Anshel. "Long non-blinking phases may cause the surface of contact lenses to dry out, which can lead to discomfort and a loss of visual clarity." He recommends talking to an eye care professional about ACUVUE OASYS(R) with HYDRACLEARTM Plus. In a clinical study with 335 contact lens wearers, 9 in 10 (89 percent) patients wearing ACUVUE OASYS said that their eyes felt comfortable, even when watching TV or using a computer for a long time.

* ADJUST YOUR MONITOR -- Ideal monitor placement is dependent on several factors, including an individual's physical make-up and visual capabilities, work tasks, and other workstation design elements. For maximum eye comfort, Dr. Anshel recommends placing the center of the screen five to nine inches below your horizontal line of sight. "You should be looking just over the top of the monitor in your straight-ahead gaze," he says.

* TAKE A BREAK -- "Our eyes were not made to see at a close distance for hours at a time without a break," says Dr. Anshel. A preventive approach to reducing visual stress includes occasionally looking away from the screen of your computer, PDA, or portable game player. Dr. Anshel recommends the 20/20/20 rule. "Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes. Focus your eyes on points at least 20 feet from your terminal. Keep your eyes moving while looking at objects at various distances," he says.

* CONSULT YOUR EYE CARE PROFESSIONAL -- The American Optometric Association highly suggests yearly eye exams to ensure ocular health. For individuals whose jobs may require extensive time in front of a monitor, Dr. Anshel suggests a comprehensive eye examination soon after beginning computer work and periodically thereafter. "If, at any time, you experience any vision problems or discomfort, talk to your eye care professional," he adds.

About ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM)PLUS

ACUVUE OASYS is a breakthrough for contact lens wearers when their eyes feel tired and dry in challenging environments, such as long hours of computer use, frequent ground or air travel, or everyday exposure to heated or air conditioned surroundings. It is the first contact lens made from senofilcon A, a new silicone hydrogel material that is 50 percent smoother than currently available silicone hydrogel lenses. In addition to its smooth feel, the new lens also features an improved formulation of the unique HYDRACLEAR(TM) technology that combines high performance base materials with a moisture-rich wetting agent. ACUVUE OASYS block greater than 96 percent of UVA rays and 99 percent of UVB rays, meeting the highest UV-blocking standards for contact lenses. + #

ACUVUE OASYS are indicated for daily wear vision correction and approved by the FDA for up to 6 consecutive nights/7 days of extended wear. As with all contact lenses, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may also experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. Lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. Consult the package insert for complete information. For further information, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit http://www.acuvue.com/ .

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc.

The VISTAKON division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. specializes in disposable and frequent replacement contact lens brands, including ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM) Brand Contact Lenses for ASTIGMATISM for people with astigmatism, ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS, ACUVUE(R) Brand and ACUVUE(R) 2 Brand Contact Lenses, 1-DAY ACUVUE(R) Brand Contact Lenses ACUVUE(R) Brand BIFOCAL Contact Lenses, ACUVUE(R) Brand TORIC, and ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses.

ACUVUE(R), ACUVUE(R) ADVANCE(TM), HYDRACLEAR(TM), ACUVUE(R) OASYS(TM), ACUVUE(R) 2 COLOURS(TM), ULTRA COMFORT SERIES(TM) and VISTAKON(R) are trademarks of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

+ Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye. # WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

CONTACT: Gary Esterow, Vistakon, +1-732-524-3474, or
Gester1@visus.jnj.com; or Lisa Douglas, Fleishman Hillard, +1-404-739-0156, or
douglasl@fleishman.com, for Vistakon

Web site: http://www.jnjvision.com/
http://www.computerquiz.jnjvision.com/
http://www.acuvue.com/