Category Archives: Blog

As computers become part of our everyday life, more and more people are experiencing a variety of ocular symptoms related to computer use. These include eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision, collectively referred to as computer vision syndrome.

The advent of computers has revolutionized the workplace. Office work before now involved a range of activities like typing, filling papers etc that requires movement around the office hence providing the natural break from these activities. With the introduction of computers, these tasks have been combined to where most can be performed without moving from desktop but still producing improved job quality and efficiency. The ownership of personal computers has also soared. Over time, we have all come to be dependent on our desktops, personal laptops, and most recently handheld devices.

However, extensive use of computer comes with concerns for our ocular health and safety. Eye related symptoms are the most frequently occurring health problems amongst video display terminal users.  The main visual symptoms reported by VDT users include eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, burning sensation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision thus termed the phrase “Computer Vision Syndrome”.

To fully understand the causes of computer vision syndrome, the symptoms are divided into two broad categories: The first group, termed external symptoms, included burning, irritation, ocular dryness and tearing, and was related to dry eye. The second group, termed internal symptoms, included eyestrain, headache, eye ache, diplopia, and blur, and is generally caused by refractive, accommodative or vergence anomalies.

Dry eye as the major contributor of CVS can arise from varied factors; Environmental factors producing corneal drying such as low ambient humidity, high forced-air heating or air conditioning settings, reduced blink rate, incomplete blinking, increased corneal exposure, age and gender (prevalence increases with age and is higher in women than men), systemic medications, contact lens wear and ocular conditions.

Computer vision syndrome is also seen in patients with accommodative and vergence anomalies. Reduced accommodative sufficiency and facility has been linked to CVS.

Potential therapeutic interventions for patients with symptoms of CVS involves targeting the refractive or accommodative disorders, vergence anomalies or dry eyes which may have manifested during an eye examination.

It is worth noting that the symptoms of CVS associated with accommodation and vergence disorders do seem, in most cases, to be a result of viewing a visually demanding near target for an extended period and not specific to the electronic monitor. In contrast, symptoms of dry eye do appear to be directly related to computer use due to the position of the monitor (producing increased corneal exposure), reduced blink rate, increased partial blinking and other environmental factors.

The question remains, does your eye care practitioner provide a thorough testing of your CVS symptoms? A comprehensive eye examination is needed to assess CVS which should include the patient’s history of CVS symptoms, general health problems, medication use, or any environmental factors that may contribute to eye strain. In addition, visual acuity, refraction testing, and how well eyes focus, move, and work together are needed.

At Junic Eyecare, your eye optimum eye health is our paramount concern. Our optometrists would provide you with a detailed eye examination and prescribe the necessary glasses or therapeutic interventions for your computer vision syndrome. Call us on 02 6152 8585 or visit our website www.juniceyecare.com.au for more information.

Springtime in Canberra comes with seasonal worries, such as allergic eye conditions. This is due to the body’s immune response to increased pollen and dust. In some cases, these allergies can even play a role in other eye conditions such as conjunctivitis.

Allergic conjunctivitis is IgE mediated hypersensitivity reactions. The allergen causes cross-linkage of membrane-bound IgE that causes mast cells to degranulate. This causes a release and cascade of allergic and inflammatory mediators, such as histamine leading to various symptoms with itching as the primary one whereby the patient is constantly rubbing their eyes with temporary relief. The eyelids and conjunctiva become oedematous and diffusely hyperaemic. Patients may present with bilateral swollen watery eyes because of the systemic nature of the disease.

So, what are the best ways to help manage eye allergies during this season?

• Avoid Allergens
• Artificial tears to dilute allergens
• Cool compresses / ice packs
• Frequent clothes washing and bathing/showering before bedtime
• Visit your optometrist who would confirm your diagnosis and prescribe some topical antihistamine or mast-cell stabilizers medications.
• Your optometrist may refer you for allergy or dermatology consultation for those who are not adequately controlled with topical medications and oral antihistamines.

Contact us Junic Eyecare on 02 6152 8585 to see one of our optometrists with ophthalmic prescribing endorsement or visit of website for more info www.juniceyecare.com.au.

Optometry Australia’s recommendation is to get your kids’ eyes tested with an optometrist before they start school and subsequently every 2 years (if everything is ok) as they progress through primary, middle, and secondary school.

With the school year almost in the second half, it is important for children to have their eyes checked if they haven’t done already at the beginning of the year. This is because early detection means early intervention. It also prevents delays in learning and development. According to the 2020 Vision Index, commissioned by Optometry Australia, 29 per cent of Australian parents do not believe they need to take their children to the optometrist until they are older, with the average age parents believe children need an eye examination being 5-8 years. An additional 30 per cent of parents have never considered taking their children for an eye examination, despite children learning more from their vision than all other senses combined. Only 68 per cent of parents have ever taken their child for an eye examination, with the key motivators being complaints about poor vision (63 per cent) and eye injuries (45 per cent). Whilst 49 per cent of parents said they would be prompted to take their child for an eye check if their child was struggling at school.

Vision is our most important sense, children often think their vision is completely fine without knowing any better. The onus is now on the parents to take an action with their childrens’ eye health.

At Junic eyecare, we offer a comprehensive eye check which encompasses vision check and binocular vision tests which checks how both eyes work together in seeing a unified single image. Also colour vision and checking for depth perception are all part of the detailed eye examinations tailored for our young patients.

I encourage parents to pay attention to their kid’s vision/eye health and look out for:

• Squinting to see things,
• Rubbing their eyes when they are not tired.
• Head turn/Tilting their head to see better.
• Close working distance/Holding books close to their eyes or sitting close to the television.
• Clumsiness
• Avoidance of near activities
• Excessive blinking
• Poor reading and/or writing at school
• Eyes appear to wander or are crossed.
• Avoiding activities conducted close to the face such as colouring and drawing.
• Difficulty reading, such as skipping and confusing words, and holding a book very close while reading

Junic Eye Care, Junic Specialist Centre, Molonglo Health Hub, 110

Woodberry Avenue, Coombs. Visit Junic Eye Care or call (02) 6152 8585.