Feb. 20, 2019
To combat the adverse effects of electronic device usage on a person’s eyesight and vision, the University of Alabama School of Optometry has launched a new specialty clinic.
The Vision in the Environment and Workplace (ViEW) Clinic, located in UAB Eye Care, is intended to help those who work in front of a computer with vision wellness, ergonomics and overall eye safety, according to Savannah Koplon, who posted a report about the new clinic on the school’s web site.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found one-in-four U.S. adults sits for more than eight hours a day, taking a toll on a person’s overall body, including their eyesight and vision health.
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“What we’re hoping to achieve through the ViEW Clinic is to work directly with a person to assess their workspace and vision needs and identify ways that we can improve their visual experience,” Bob Kleinstein, OD, professor in the UAB School of Optometry and optometrist with UAB Eye Care, told Koplon.“By assessing that person’s specific computer vision tasks, vision needs and lighting, we can design a unique ophthalmic treatment that helps the person more comfortably complete their tasks. That, in turn, helps them do their job to the best of their abilities.”
The ViEW Clinic’s on-site services are available on the UAB campus to employees of all professional backgrounds, including administrators, professors, physicians, nurses and others.
The clinic provides several services. One is specialty testing to assess and maximize vision effectiveness and reduce eyestrain when completing tasks on a computer or other tech-based equipment relative to their position. Another is determining the necessary modifications of a person’s immediate work environment and recommendations on how to utilize computers and laboratory equipment more effectively and ergonomically.
