My main question is: can extensive computer or television use harm your eyes? I am pretty certain that they can temporarily, or perhaps in the long term if used in the dark. But I am wondering if they could curtail my vision in the long term.

Also, can wearing glasses everyday gradually increase my eyesight?

Prolonged use can cause eyestrain if you're too close or in the dark due to the extra stress put on the muscles and light sensors, but it's easily rectified. I haven't heard of any permanent damage caused by it apart from maybe a loss in the refraction capabilites of the lenses or tics.

Just don't sit too close to the screen or in a poorly lit room. You'll be fine.

I've always thought that normal glasses actually quicken the decrease of sight. I know they have corrective lenses, but I don't need glasses so I've never looked into it.

In the short-run: yes, through eyestrain, dry eyes, and whatnot. Long-term there is no scientific evidence of any conditions forming from it AFAIK.


Wearing glasses every day can actually worsen your eyesight --- IF NOT WEARING A PRESCRIPTION PRESCRIBED TO YOU BY A DOCTOR. Wearing an incorrect prescription causes your eyes to try and re-adjust to make the incorrect prescription work, which can cause your eyesight to become worse.

glasses just correct your vision, they can't fix your eyes. However, for certain eye problems there are tests/exercises you can do to make your eyes "stronger", which can greatly help your ability to focus in school.

I doubt it. I've worn glasses most of my life and my eyes have gotten progressively worse every year, until I was an advlt when they stopped getting worse. (but don't get any better either)

I never really use technology in a poorly lit room, considering I am horrified of going blind.

I'd say yes to the first question. I had perfect 20/20 vision right up until last year sometime when I had nearly a year doing nothing, resulting in roughly 10 hours a day on the PC. Now I have glasses.


And I got told something about glasses increasing your eyesight, but I've not seen any proof of it.

FYI: eyes, like every part of your body, get worse over time. Generally people get more far-sighted with age (and of course there are people that buck the trend and get near-sighted with age).

Maintaining perfect vision is a thing only a very few are capable of doing without corrective lenses.

Yes if you sit too close to a TV or PC Monitor it can degrade your vision to where you need glasses. I've been told different theories, ideas, and proposed facts as to why this happens, but its still really up in the air. However it does happen so yes it can harm your eyes to the point you may require glasses. As for "Curtailing" your vision I don't think that's possible however you maybe able to prolong your not needing glasses/eye harm. Just make sure to sit about arms length away from the monitor and take breaks every so often looking at something else.

For the second question no I don't believe that is at all possible. Over time your vision does change and you may go from near sighted to far sighted or vice versa. However I have been told wearing glasses at a computer monitor can help out cause it reduces like glare or something.

When I was small the eye doctors told me I needed glasses cuz my vision svcked. My mom droped a few hundred bucks on some glasses. I put em on, they gave me a headace, I never wore em.

Been playing video games my whole life, no play habit change since I was a child, playing in the dark, in the day, up close and far away.

I sit in the back of the lecture hall and when I write down notes everyone around me copies what I have because apparently they can't as well.

Mabey its luck?



Worse as in, worse while wearing glasses, or worse without the glasses.

Worse without them, but a stronger prescription over the years to compensate.

I already do wear glasses, but I am worried about my vision deteriorating.

I'm only 20 :unsure:

It's not as unusual as it sounds. I've seen people in their twenties, no trouble at all, suddenly have some problems and decide to get laser eye surgery JUST because they don't want to have to wear glasses/get contacts.

I then like to snicker, because I know that it means they will have to get many repeat surgeries for what is a futile effort: they're gonna have to get glasses in the end no matter what.


I'd love to see the studies to back this up. I've never heard one of the doctors at work say this, but they do make me take periodic "eye" breaks for eyestrain (I also have an infinite supply of eyedrops ).

Don't get me wrong: everything you said is stuff I'd consider very good advice, but that's because it mitigates Computer Vision Syndrome, not because it decreases the chances of permanently damaging your vision.


Wearing computer glasses can help out very much with Computer Vision Syndrome, as it helps keep your eyes from drying out quite as fast as well as cut out the glare/extreme contrast, however, thise doesn't help out your vision, just reduces eyestrain.

Go see an optometrist or opthamologist. And for crying out loud, don't wear glasses that aren't custom prescribed for you. It will mess up your vision.
My vison is whacked becuase of childhood eye injuries, and age. I get an eye exam each year and a new pair of glasses. It's nice, because each lens is customised to the particular needs of each eye. I am not a candidate for Lasik, unfortunately. I have found that I really like bifocals, and bifocal sunglasses are the bomb.

If you work on the computer all day, then it certainly helps if you step outside for a minute and focus on something far away.

At any rate, I have been working on a computer screen most of the day and night for the past 10-15 years and my vision has not changed since around the year 1990 when I got my first pair of glasses and contacts.

I don't think it will hurt your vision in the long run.

And no, wearing glasses everyday will not increase your eyesight. I have been wearing them since I was in the 3rd grade, and it hasn't gotten any better.

My eyesight stopped getting worse once I stopped reading novels under the bad lighting.

I'll have to disagree on that point. My step sister had corrective eye surgery done almost 10 years ago(back when it was just getting out of it's infant stages). Her eyes are still testing 20/20 with no signs of deteriation(sp?) thus far. Please note, her vision was as bad as mine, if not worse(I have 20/100 or so), and was so for many years. So, I don't necessarily believe that people who get eye surgery when they are young will have to get repeat surgeries.

Everyone has to get repeat surgeries eventually, the younger you are, the more you are likely to need. Either that or you compromise and wear glasses.

The main problem with young laser surgery, though, is your eyes don't really "mature" until around your mid-twenties. Though obviously not in extreme cases like yours, it is possible that a young person's eye condition may be beneficial in the long-run, whereas getting laser surgery too soon will just lead to more surgeries.

Ahh, maybe that's why she hasn't had any issues since. She's just about to turn 40, so she had her eye surgery right around when she was 30.

I do every so often. He said that my vision has gotten slightly worse since the 5th grade. And my glasses are prescription.

Vision getting worse over the years is completely normal :shrug:

You should go every year, your eye changes shape, the muscles compensate not only for physical changes but visual conditions. There are also medical conditions that can cause vision problems, which is whty yearly visits are important. Data about each eye is recorded, changes or patterns noted, and if necesscary, diagnosis made.


pls excuse typos, injured hand, in splints and brace.