Video: Protect your eyes from computer vision syndrome

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Tens of millions of people spend 4 to 8 hours in front of a computer every day, and it's only going to get worse. All that time can have an impact on your eyesight. Chances are you suffer from a syndrome you don't even realize you have.

You work and play, but all that screen time close up staring and focusing on a computer could bring you to tears.

"I just knew my eyes were bothering me," said Tina Paddock, real estate agent.

When real estate agent Paddock isn't out showing homes, she's looking for homes on the Web which left her eyes burning, red and irritated.

"I really didn't want to read. I didn't want to watch television. They were just tired," said Paddock.

Like millions, Paddock suffers from computer vision syndrome.

"Sometimes, they feel like there's sand in their eyes," said Dr. Richard W. Yee, ophthalmologist.

Yee hears it every day, complaints of dry eyes, light sensitivity and difficulty focusing at the computer. That's why he created these glasses.

"So basically, your eyes are in sauna but the temperature goes up a little bit, so that the eyes are much more comfortable," said Yee.

"It screens out the wind, the drafts from air conditioners. Anything in the environment that would irritate my eyes," said Yee.

Yee says when you stare at a computer, blinking decreases by as much as 60 percent.

"We should be blinking somewhere between10 to 20 times a minute," said Yee.

Other tips: Try warm compresses daily to help unblock oil glands in the eyelids and use artificial tears every 30 minutes.

"That seems frequent, but again if you're staring and not blinking, the tears that you naturally make don't spread across, and there's going to be dry spots on your cornea," said Yee.

For Paddock, following these steps and wearing Yee's glasses has kept her on the computer and in business.

"It's not just computer use that causes of dry eyes. Also to blame: aging, menopause, a deficiency in vitamin A, diabetes and some medications.

The glasses are available online for about $250.