Some of you may have to find something else to do with some of
your time or, at least loosen your tie while surfing.

Omprem

STARING AT COMPUTERS MAY CAUSE GLAUCOMA
By Charles Arthur
The Independent
November 16, 2004

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...tory.jsp?story
=583244

Spending hours staring at a computer screen may raise the risk
of glaucoma,
a progressive eye disease that can lead to blindness, scientists
believe.

The dramatic discovery contradicts years of advice which
suggested that
gazing at computers did not damage the optic nerve.
Researchers aim to
replicate the study to confirm the findings.

The results emerged from a study in Japan of 10,000 workers
with an average
age of 43. It found a statistical link between heavy computer use
and eye
problems that presage glaucoma. The problems were more
common among staff
with existing vision defects such as short-sight or long-sight.

The team warned that there could be a dramatic rise in the
number of
glaucoma cases, or patients showing the early signs, if action
was not taken
to check people who spend long time in front of screens and
have existing
eye conditions.

"Computer stress is reaching higher levels than have ever been
experienced
before," the team from the Toho University School of Medicine in
Tokyo said.
"In the next decade, therefore, it might be important for public
health
professionals to show more concern about myopia
[short-sightedness] and
visual field abnormalities in heavy computer users." Visual field
abnormalities are distortions or gaps in the field of view.

"Myopic workers with a history of long-term computer using
might have an
increased risk of visual field abnormalities, possibly related to
glaucoma,"
said Dr Masayuki Tatemichi, who led the team. The work was
reported in the
British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Glaucoma is more common in old age, and happens when the
optic nerve in the
eye is damaged, possibly by high pressure inside the eye. The
causes are
unknown, but potential risk factors include smoking and high
blood pressure.

Opticians had discounted the possibility that computer use could
be linked
to glaucoma and several studies had suggested that there was
no connection
between intensive computer use and glaucoma. Although poor
computer screens
can cause eye strain, that was not believed to be a precursor to
the
problem.

For male office workers, the work is a second alarm bell over
glaucoma; last
year a study suggested wearing a tie too tightly could also lead
to the
disorder.

The investigation by the Toho University researchers found that
522, or 5.1
per cent, of the workers had "visual field abnormalities", which
can be a
precursor to the full-blown condition - which normally affects 0.74
per cent
of the population. Further tests on the 522 subjects found that
165 (32 per
cent) had suspected glaucoma.

The researchers also found a significant statistical link with
heavy
computer use among short-sighted workers. They suggested
that the optic
nerve in short-sighted people might have a structural condition
that renders
it more susceptible to computer stress than non-myopic eyes.

Thank you for notifying me of the risks concerning being at the computer for
so long. Luckily I do not stare at the computer screen for too long when I
am around, but I now know not to do so. Speaking of glaucoma - my kitty has
it in one eye now. The doctor did not notify us about the risk a while
back and now it is probably too late to fix it. Our best bet is the main
campus of my college...we are working on making that appointment as soon as
possible.

I am not sure if this goes for humans, but catching glaucoma in animals
early increases the chance of treatment. At the moment, my cat only has a
10% chance. For those with pets, be sure to check your pets for this at
each "full-fledge check-up." I am not sure if any other doctors will report
this; hence I am telling you all to make sure they check for this disease.

Blessings,
Anya


>From: "omprem" <omprem@...>
>Reply-To: Shakti_Sadhana (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>To: Shakti_Sadhana (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
>Subject: [Shakti_Sadhana] Staring at computers may cause glaucoma
>Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 19:19:39 -0000
>
>
>Some of you may have to find something else to do with some of
>your time or, at least loosen your tie while surfing.
>
>Omprem
>
>STARING AT COMPUTERS MAY CAUSE GLAUCOMA
>By Charles Arthur
>The Independent
>November 16, 2004
>
>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/hea...tory.jsp?story
>=583244
>
>Spending hours staring at a computer screen may raise the risk
>of glaucoma,
>a progressive eye disease that can lead to blindness, scientists
>believe.
>
>The dramatic discovery contradicts years of advice which
>suggested that
>gazing at computers did not damage the optic nerve.
>Researchers aim to
>replicate the study to confirm the findings.
>
>The results emerged from a study in Japan of 10,000 workers
>with an average
>age of 43. It found a statistical link between heavy computer use
>and eye
>problems that presage glaucoma. The problems were more
>common among staff
>with existing vision defects such as short-sight or long-sight.
>
>The team warned that there could be a dramatic rise in the
>number of
>glaucoma cases, or patients showing the early signs, if action
>was not taken
>to check people who spend long time in front of screens and
>have existing
>eye conditions.
>
>"Computer stress is reaching higher levels than have ever been
>experienced
>before," the team from the Toho University School of Medicine in
>Tokyo said.
>"In the next decade, therefore, it might be important for public
>health
>professionals to show more concern about myopia
>[short-sightedness] and
>visual field abnormalities in heavy computer users." Visual field
>abnormalities are distortions or gaps in the field of view.
>
>"Myopic workers with a history of long-term computer using
>might have an
>increased risk of visual field abnormalities, possibly related to
>glaucoma,"
>said Dr Masayuki Tatemichi, who led the team. The work was
>reported in the
>British Journal of Ophthalmology.
>
>Glaucoma is more common in old age, and happens when the
>optic nerve in the
>eye is damaged, possibly by high pressure inside the eye. The
>causes are
>unknown, but potential risk factors include smoking and high
>blood pressure.
>
>Opticians had discounted the possibility that computer use could
>be linked
>to glaucoma and several studies had suggested that there was
>no connection
>between intensive computer use and glaucoma. Although poor
>computer screens
>can cause eye strain, that was not believed to be a precursor to
>the
>problem.
>
>For male office workers, the work is a second alarm bell over
>glaucoma; last
>year a study suggested wearing a tie too tightly could also lead
>to the
>disorder.
>
>The investigation by the Toho University researchers found that
>522, or 5.1
>per cent, of the workers had "visual field abnormalities", which
>can be a
>precursor to the full-blown condition - which normally affects 0.74
>per cent
>of the population. Further tests on the 522 subjects found that
>165 (32 per
>cent) had suspected glaucoma.
>
>The researchers also found a significant statistical link with
>heavy
>computer use among short-sighted workers. They suggested
>that the optic
>nerve in short-sighted people might have a structural condition
>that renders
>it more susceptible to computer stress than non-myopic eyes.
>
>
>
>