Meet the Experts

Dr. Richard Simon

Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services

Videos

Treating Computer Vision Syndrome

Some of the treatments for Computer Vision Syndrome, or CVS, are cutting the glare, rearranging your desk, giving your eyes a break, and tweaking your settings. Dr. Richard Simon, Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services, says you can adjust your monitor, getting your working length from the computer to a point where it is comfortable: "Don't get too close on it, don't get too far away, get your settings right, but the main thing is just take a break."

The Most Common Vision Problems

Dr. Richard Simon, Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services, says common vision problems would be based on age and common things, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. "Those are really commonly affecting at least half of our public and even larger in certain segments. Asians, for example, particularly Chinese, there is a lot of myopia in that racial group. But, in general, glasses, contact lenses, early diagnosis, and you'll be pretty good," he points out.

Eye Exam Importance

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevenvtion, about 11 million Americans over age 12 need vision correction. Dr. Richard Simon, Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services, says at any age you should get at least your eyes checked once. "Over other ages, if we take over 45 to 50, you're guaranteed to have something wrong, and blindness is the second biggest fears in the surveys, after cancer. And blindness is not rare, unfortunately. It's real and it's sad, but having an eye exam can get you there first, and we can do things," he explains.

Kids And Computer Vision Syndrome

Dr. Richard Simon, Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services, explains if you don't blink as much, the tear film on your eye is going to evaporate a little bit and you will get dry eyes. He also says there is screen time for adults and there is screen time for children: "Adults sometimes have to have screen time forgetting that they're reading the newspaper, children seem to be transfixed and loved screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics came out with what is called blackbox warning parents about this; for example, a child under three years old should get one hour per day in front of the computer.

Age-Related Eye Diseases

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), cataract, diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, dry eye and low vision are age-related eye diseases. Dr. Richard Simon, Ophthalmologist with Baptist Outpatient Services, says cataract is going to happen to everybody: "You will never escape that, if you're over 59 you're going to have some degree of cataract. It means that the lens is getting darker." He also explains glaucoma means high pressure in the eye. "That is never normal, it's progressive and it doesn't produce symptoms until very late. And it can lead to blindness eventually," he points out.

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