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Jacob Glazebrook Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1102 April 9, 2013

Computer Screen Effects on Eyesight

Have you ever looked at a computer screen for so long that when you looked away, it hurt? Many individuals would answer yes to that question. With technology spreading faster and faster everyday, more and more people are becoming immersed in technology. Computers, iPads, iPhones, all of the devices that are used everyday are becoming everyones best friend. With all of this happeningthese changes, many people are conducting experiments to see if technology will be better for everyone, or if it is hurting our minds and bodies. In this paper, I have written out a few examples that, in my mind, help grow on the argument and topic. My argument is that technology has a negative affect on peoples eyesight,. Affects such as, blurred vision, eyestrain, etc. While doing research I have found evidence of individuals that are against the argument and with the argument.
Comment [JG1]: Good opening question

Research/Experiments

Juanita Collier conducted an experiment that compared the eyestrain of looking at a hardcopy of something compared to a computer screen. Juanita gathered 30 volunteers in

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whom all had normal eyesight and asked them to read something off of a hardcopy and do a questionnaire, then read the same thing off of a computer and complete a questionnaire. Juanita made sure that both reading were exactly the same, and everything was read at the same distance. To ensure that each volunteer read from the same distance, Juanita fabricated a chin rest so she would know that each person was at the same distance. Also the readings from the hard copy and the computer were exactly the same so there would be no skew from the results. The questionnaire that the volunteers had to complete after the readings would consist of a question that would ask to rank the amount of discomfort on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero being no discomfort, and ten being a lot of discomfort. The results from the experiment were distinguished by looking over the questionnaire and evaluation the answers. They found a mean and median of both evaluations and decided which one was better from those results. The experiment concluded that reading off of a computer screen results in more discomfort and blurred vision. The difference in the scores was only 1.25 scale points, so it was a close race. It is not a huge difference in discomfort, but enough to show evidence that a computers are more difficult to read off of (Juanita D. Collier).

My Argument

When I was around the age of 12 years old, I was hit in the eye with a wifflewhiffle ball, which caused me to have a hyphema, or bleeding in front of the eye. Because of that incident I was required to go to a specialist to watch my progress. While going to the specialist I learned a lot about the eye and how it works. When I found out the class got to

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choose what to write about, I automatically thought about how computer screens affect our eyesight. I decided to do this topic because I already knew a lot about the eye and it interested me in a way because of my incident. While thinking about this topic I personally remember always looking at a computer screen and thinking about how much my eyes hurt after the fact. I then thought to myself, I cant be the only person this happens to. So thats when I started to do some research and found out that a lot of other people have done experiments, and research about how computer screens enhance eyestrain. I personally believe that computer screens are worse to read off of compared to hardcopies. I feel like my eyes are working harder while reading off of a computer screen. I hardly ever have the same feeling from reading off of a hardcopy of something. The thing that is interesting to me now is that many schools are submersing their students in technology and it may not be a good thing. In the article AOA Offers Tips To Help Students Meet Visual Demands In The Classroom, it states that most parents say their child is using electronic devices at least four hours a day. With most of the usage hours being at school, the AOA are offering tips to help students stray away from eyestrain. Many schools in the United States are resorting to technology to help boost education into the 21st century. With all of the technological advances coming into education, it is looking to be a huge benefit. However, some are trying to make sure that the students dont hurt their eyes while using the technology. The AOA suggest teaching the students about the 20-20-20 rule. The 20-20-20 rule says the student should take a 20 second break, every 20 minuets, and look at something 20 feet away. Doing that helps the eyes to not lock up in close position and cause eyestrain (AOA). Other useful tips are:

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Make sure the computer is at the correct height. Check for glare on the computer screen. Reduce the amount of lighting in the room. Make sure to keep blinking while using the computer.

End with a type of conclusion

Evidence

Nikki Withers, an author from Optometry Today, wrote about how adults are starting to feel the strain on their eyes from screen-based lives. There are many articles around the UK talking about how many adults have been going to their optician complaining about their eyes hurting from excessive amount of screen usage. The articles say that one in four adults in the UK would go to the optician because of eyestrain. One of the UK eye surgeons was quoted saying, There is no doubt that daily and prolonged use of screens can have detrimental impact on ones eyesight. (Withers, Nikki). Something like that coming from an eye surgeon shows how bad this can be for the young people of this generation. The young people are immersed in the technology and seem to always be looking at a computer screen. It cannot be a good outcome for when the younger generation grows up into their later years (Withers, Nikki). This informative article really opens eyes and shows how many people that are actually struggling with eye strain because of computer screens. It is kind of hard to believe that so many people are actually going to their optician and asking questions about why it is happening. Also the fact that this is only in the UK, and think of the amount of people that

Glazebrook 5 arent going to their optician about it but feel the same way. It makes me think twice before I get on my computer for a long period of time. It also makes you think to crack open a book instead and learn information the old fashion way.

Argument Against

Andrew Dillon, Cliff McKnight and John Richardson all write an article entitled, Reading from Paper Versus Reading from Screens. Their article talks about all of the differences and similarities of reading off a screen and reading off of paper. The article talks about topics from speed all the way to dynamics, it covers the entire basis. In the conclusion of their article they state that, Reading from screens can be as fast and as accurate as reading from paper. This shows similarities between the screens and paper. It opens thoughts of thinking that maybe the eyestrain is all in my head. Maybe reading from screens is the same as reading off of paper (Dillon, Andrew). This article shows the other side of the argument briefly. It makes people think twice about if it is different reading off of a computer screen. To these authors it is no different; you still retain the same material as if you were reading off of paper. They also say the eye strain comes from the amount that is read, so when on a computer, you are always reading which causes more eyestrain.

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Significance

The significance of this paper is to make this concern known. The concern of how computer screens may be affecting eyesight in a negative way. There is a syndrome called Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS, that is diagnosed to people who have complained about eyestrain. When someone has been exposed to too much eyestrain, they can be affected much longer than others. There has to be a way to make reading off a computer screen better for you. Maybe there is a way to correct the problem so it is not worse than reading off of paper. With all of the articles and experiments out there talking about this problem, I believe it wont be long before the computer screen is redesigned to be easier on the users eyesight. Especially with how fast technology is growing and how children of all ages are beginning to be involved with it. The affects of reading off of a computer screen has definitely changed my perspective of things when it comes to being on a computer for long periods of time. I am going to start printing out more things and reading them on paper to make it easier on my eyes.

Conclusion

Have your eyes ever hurt while being on the computer for long periods of time? It may be because the computer screen is straining your eyes. There is a ton of evidence stating that using computer screens for long periods of time can hurt your eyesight. When comparing reading off of a computer to reading off a hardcopy, reading off of the hardcopy is better for you. There is one article I found that says reading off of a screen is no different

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than reading off of paper, however the score against them is way to high for the article to have any say on how it is the same. I believed that looking at a computer screen for too long hurts your eye sigh before, and now I confirmed my thought of it with evidence and experiments that side along with me. I know what my thoughts are, what are yours?

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Works Cited "AOA Offers Tips To Help Students Meet Visual Demands In The Classroom." Optometry Times 4.8 (2012): 5. Academic Search Complete. 08 Apr. 2013. Dillon, Andrew, Cliff McKnight, and John Richardson. "Reading from Paper versus Reading from Screens." Reading from Paper versus Reading from Screens. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013. Juanita D. Collier, et al. "A Comparison Of Symptoms After Viewing Text On A Computer Screen And Hardcopy." Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics 31.1 (2011): 29-32. Academic Search Complete. 08 Apr. 2013. Withers, Nikki. "Adults Feeling The Strain Of Screen-Based Lives." Optometry Today 52.22 (2012): 7. Academic Search Complete. 08 Apr. 2013.

The paper was good however the layout could be changed around. Some of the material can be put together to make it flow better. Also some of the paragraphs could possibly be split up to explain more in detail of some information.