Monday, 31 October 2016

A Better Choice


“When you make a choice, you change the future.” 


I would like to share the most important things we must consider before choosing a programme/course any in University or College. As we all know, getting ourselves a job is tough nowadays. This is due to the fact that many employers are seeking for more experienced candidates. But not to worry, some of the employers prefer fresh graduates because they want to enhance the learning process rather than giving “hands-on” tasks.  

Malaysians today believe that students who graduated from public institutions have a better future ahead. This is not true. Graduates need to understand that finding a job is not easy and quite challenging at times. Therefore, it is very important to choose a programme that you intend to study wisely including the market aspects. 

         Potential employers also seek graduates who possessed the top five qualities and skills such as:
  • Communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Strong work ethic
  • Teamwork skills (work well with others)
  • Initiative, and
  • Analytical skills

         As a conclusion, I concur that choosing courses wisely and having the fundamental drive to portray a positive image can determine our road to success.




Prepared by,

Cyprian Taimin

Course Counselor
Vision College

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

Advise for the Eyes

Time flies as fast as a blink; I have been working in Vision College for more than a year now. Still remember for the first two months when I was based in the office (Yes! the same office that you are sitting and reading this) that was when eye care is still under renovation, and I experienced being an office lady. During those days, I saw everyone staring at their laptop and committed to their work.
At the same time, I also noticed staffs looking at the screen closely; almost kissing the screen and some will lift up the laptop using books to adjust their eye level. 

As an optometrist, I am happy to share some tips for an ideal computer use or you will have Computer Vision Syndrome later. Oops!

Computer Vision Syndrome, also referred to as Digital Eye Strain, describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and cell phone use. Many individuals experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for extended periods. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of digital screen use.


The most common symptoms associated with Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) or Digital Eye Strain are:
·        eyestrain
·        headaches
·        blurred vision
·        dry eyes
·        neck and shoulder pain
These symptoms may be caused by:

  1. poor lighting
  2. glare on a digital screen
  3. improper viewing distances
  4. poor seating posture
  5. uncorrected vision problems
  6. a combination of these factors


How can this treated?

Solutions to digital screen-related vision problems are varied. However, they can usually be alleviated by obtaining regular eye care and making changes in how you view the screen.

Eye Care

In some cases, individuals who do not require the use of eyeglasses for other daily activities may benefit from glasses prescribed specifically for computer use. In addition, persons already wearing glasses may find their current prescription does not provide optimal vision for viewing a computer.


Eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed for general use may not be adequate for computer work. Lenses prescribed to meet the unique visual demands of computer viewing may be needed. Special lens designs, lens powers or lens tints or coatings may help to maximize visual abilities and comfort.
Blue filter lens help to filter out harmful blue light. It help to avoid damages to macular and relieve eye fatigue by reduce transmission of blue light.

Some computer users experience problems with eye focusing or eye coordination that can't be adequately corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. A program of vision therapy may be needed to treat these specific problems. Vision therapy, also called visual training, is a structured program of visual activities prescribed to improve visual abilities. It trains the eyes and brain to work together more effectively. These eye exercises help re-mediate deficiencies in eye movement, eye focusing and eye teaming and reinforce the eye-brain connection. Treatment may include office-based as well as home training procedures.

Viewing the Computer

Proper body positioning for computer use.

Some important factors in preventing or reducing the symptoms of CVS have to do with the computer and how it is used. This includes lighting conditions, chair comfort, location of reference materials, position of the monitor, and the use of rest breaks.


Location of computer screen- Most people find it more comfortable to view a computer when the eyes are looking downward. Optimally, the computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye level (about 4 or 5 inches) as measured from the center of the screen and 20 to 28 inches from the eyes.

Reference materials- These materials should be located above the keyboard and below the monitor. If this is not possible, a document holder can be used beside the monitor. The goal is to position the documents so you do not need to move your head to look from the document to the screen.
 

Seating position- Chairs should be comfortably padded and conform to the body. Chair height should be adjusted so your feet rest flat on the floor. If your chair has arms, they should be adjusted to provide arm support while you are typing. Your wrists shouldn't rest on the keyboard when typing.

Lighting- Position the computer screen to avoid glare, particularly from overhead lighting or windows. Use blinds or drapes on windows and replace the light bulbs in desk lamps with bulbs of lower wattage.

Anti-glare screens- If there is no way to minimize glare from light sources, consider using a screen glare filter. These filters decrease the amount of light reflected from the screen.

Rest breaks- To prevent eyestrain, try to rest your eyes when using the computer for long periods. Rest your eyes for 15 minutes after two hours of continuous computer use. Also, for every 20 minutes of computer viewing, look into the distance for 20 seconds to allow your eyes a chance to refocus.
Blinking- To minimize your chances of developing dry eye when using a computer, make an effort to blink frequently. Blinking keeps the front surface of your eye moist. 

After reading this, I hope it helps improving on your pc-looking style. Let’s make work more fun!




Reference:
1. American Optometric Association:
http://www.aoa.org/patients-and-public/caring-for-your-vision/protecting-your-vision/computer-vision-syndrome

Prepared by,

Zoey Tee Ru Fang

Optometrist/Lecturer
Vision College