I'm not an M.D. or similar, but this is good advice:
Q: What's the 20-20-20 rule?
A: People get on the screen and they don't take their eyes off for way too long. We recommend that every 20 minutes, they look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. We're taking the eyes from this turned-in contracted muscle position and stretching them out for a short period of time.
Is there anything beside intuition that makes you think this would help anything? It seems plausible to me too, but I have zero evidence that it would help anyone's eyes.
Agreed. Unless you're in a state of flow that would be disrupted by 20 seconds of staring into space. This probably isn't always the case—when I'm working, I sometimes look out and think—but much of the time it probably is.
I used to have ridiculous eye strain when staring at the computer screen for hours, but after getting a pair it's all but gone away. Like many here, I spend all day in front of a computer programming. Now I can't go anywhere I'll be using a computer for a prolonged period of time without them. When I bought them I thought they were a bit of a gimmick that worked mostly on the placebo effect, but after using them for close to a year, I can honestly say they have made a great impact on my ability to do work. I'd highly recommend that anyone who hasn't and has issues with eye strain give them a try.
Note, I do not work with Gunnar, nor am I associated with them in any way shape or form other than being a happy consumer.
Agree on Gunnars - ever since I started using them (about 2 months ago) my eyes are not nearly as much tired at the end of the day as they used to be. Also, no more headaches.
I was also very skeptical about them, however something had to be done about all the pain I had after using computer for 8-10 hours.
I don't know anything about Gunnar, but last week I was at my yearly eye exam and asked about computer monitors and eye strain (I only ever wear contacts). The optometrist told me that any pair of glasses with anti-reflective coating will reduce eye strain caused by looking at a monitor all day.
I used to experience "weird vision", which was diagnosed as ocular migraines. I was prescribed reading glasses but was skeptical - my vision has always been perfect. I bought a cheap $20 pair of glasses to disprove that theory, and have been wearing them for over a year now with none of the symptoms I used to have.
The optometrist's theory was the same as stated in this interview - that I had a bit of trouble focusing at book/monitor distance, which was magnified by the amount of time I spent working. The reading glasses take the strain off of my eyes = no more migraines. It's been awesome.
[+] [-] ableal|16 years ago|reply
Q: What's the 20-20-20 rule?
A: People get on the screen and they don't take their eyes off for way too long. We recommend that every 20 minutes, they look at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. We're taking the eyes from this turned-in contracted muscle position and stretching them out for a short period of time.
[+] [-] jessriedel|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jseliger|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vaporstun|16 years ago|reply
I used to have ridiculous eye strain when staring at the computer screen for hours, but after getting a pair it's all but gone away. Like many here, I spend all day in front of a computer programming. Now I can't go anywhere I'll be using a computer for a prolonged period of time without them. When I bought them I thought they were a bit of a gimmick that worked mostly on the placebo effect, but after using them for close to a year, I can honestly say they have made a great impact on my ability to do work. I'd highly recommend that anyone who hasn't and has issues with eye strain give them a try.
Note, I do not work with Gunnar, nor am I associated with them in any way shape or form other than being a happy consumer.
[+] [-] FluidDjango|16 years ago|reply
What are supposed to be the mechanisms by which their products might possibly reduce eye strain?
[+] [-] TY|16 years ago|reply
I was also very skeptical about them, however something had to be done about all the pain I had after using computer for 8-10 hours.
Based on a couple of reviews (including one from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/gaming/reviews/2009/10/leveling-up-yo...) I took the plunge and bought them from a local optometrist. The plan was to return them if they did not work.
The results were evident within first several days and I kept the glasses. See for yourself - buy and return them if they don't work for you...
[+] [-] thrdOriginal|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Psyonic|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] MattF|16 years ago|reply
The optometrist's theory was the same as stated in this interview - that I had a bit of trouble focusing at book/monitor distance, which was magnified by the amount of time I spent working. The reading glasses take the strain off of my eyes = no more migraines. It's been awesome.
[+] [-] FlorinAndrei|16 years ago|reply
Nowadays, I don't care that much, the currently available LCDs are pretty good.