Poker Software and Your Eyes

Most people who play online poker seriously will eventually run into some sort of eye problems. Headaches, blurred vision, eye fatigue, or eyes that are physically irritated can all be signs that you are developing computer-related eyestrain. The good news is that eyestrain usually goes away once you remove its causes. The bad news is that everything that online poker players do in the pursuit of the next big pot or the next final table is probably bad for your eyes.

When I started to notice eye fatigue and minor vision problems myself, I did a little research into the subject and solved most of my problems on my own. If you have serious vision issues, you need to forget about this article and see an eye doctor, especially if they include double vision, a significant change in your vision away from the computer, or pain in the front of your eyes. For less serious problems like redness, dry eyes, a minor increase in sensitivity to light, or headaches, you may want to try a few things before visiting an eye doctor.

The most common cause of eye problems in computer users is dryness, which is caused by a lower blink rate. If you aren’t blinking enough, your eyes get dry and irritated, which can cause all sorts of temporary problems. Studies have shown that people blink far less when they are in front of a computer than they do in most other situations. Concentrating on a task makes the drop in blink rate even more drastic. Playing online poker, especially if you play lots of tables, is a very focus-intensive activity, so it’s not a surprise that so many players encounter eye trouble.

Eye drops can fix the problem temporarily if you remember to use them, but most of us won’t and your eyes can become dependent on them. It’s not a bad idea to keep some around, but they aren’t the perfect solution. Wearing glasses, like the Gunnar Optiks ones I reviewed recently, will definitely help. If you don’t want to spring for a pair of Gunnars, a cheap pair of amber tinted glasses from your local pharmacy can do the job, although probably not as well and not with as much style. Glasses cut down airflow over your eyes, helping them stay moist, especially in dry climates. This is why I always wear sunglasses at the tables in Las Vegas, but rarely wear them here in Minnesota. The dry air in Las Vegas tears my eyes up and keeping them moist helps a lot. 

The second most common eye problem for computer users is fatigue. Eye fatigue can have a host of potential causes, but most are easily dealt with. If your eyes hurt, you get headaches while you are on the computer, your vision seems to diminish in sharpness after time spent on the computer, or you have pain in the back of your eyes, checking for the following culprits will probably lead you to the cause and a simple solution.

Glare caused either by lights shining directly in to your eyes or light bouncing off the monitor is a common problem. Find a way to provide less direct lighting and get that light out of your eyes. The same is true for indirect glare from your monitor. The better your monitor is, the less glare you will have to deal with, but repositioning a light source so that it doesn’t bounce of your monitor may solve your problems immediately. If you aren’t using a flat screen plasma or LCD monitor yet, then you are probably dealing with glare form the glass CRT screen and it may be causing problems.

Lack of contrast, usually from a background that is too bright, makes it more difficult to see the screen and makes your eyes work harder than they should. Making certain that the area behind your computer isn’t too bright will usually solve the problem. Too much contrast can also be a problem; a room that is dark with a bright monitor as its only light source usually causes this.  This results in your pupils dilating more than they should, letting too much light into your eyes.

Focusing at one distance for too long, especially if it’s a short distance, causes many people problems. Many people with computer-related eyestrain find a significant reduction in symptoms by just following the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This gives your eyes a break from the constant focus at one distance.

Speaking of distance, the further away the screen is, the better your eyes will feel. As long as you can easily see whatever you are looking for, more distance is better. Eyes focused on something a foot or two away get tired much faster. Some good general advice for your eyes can also help you get rid of symptoms or prevent them altogether:

1. Set your monitor’s refresh rate to the highest possible setting. On most computers, you can right click on the desktop and select “Properties.” Then click on the “Settings” tab and on “Advanced,” where you will be able to find the monitor and its refresh rate settings. If you can’t find your monitor’s settings, then try selecting the monitor from Control Panel and adjusting the settings that way. If your monitor doesn’t support at least a 60 hertz refresh rate, then it is probably time for an upgrade.

2. A nice monitor is not just for impressing your friends; it can also be a medical necessity. You can show this article to your spouse when the credit card bill comes, tell them it was a job expense and a medical necessity, and was prescribed by Dr. Fox. I just bought a 29” display that sits further away from me, has a better contrast ratio and refresh rate, and looks great, for $400.

3. Set your monitor up to be lower in your line of sight. A lower monitor causes your eyelids to be lower when you are looking at it, keeping your eyes moist and increasing your blink rate. A single monitor setup also puts less strain on the eyes.

4. Keep the brightness down on your monitor. Most people set their monitor up to be too bright because it looks a little better at first glance. If your monitor appears to be much brighter than a white piece of paper held up next to it, then either the room is too dark or the monitor is too bright. 

5. Get some glasses. Whether you go to your eye doctor, buy some Gunnars, or get an off the rack pair from a pharmacy or office supply store, computer glasses may be a big help to you.