The amount of time people spend staring at screens daily has obviously shot though the roof in the last half-century. It rapidly went from families gathering around their TVs a few times a week to watch their favorite programs, to being the central and most accessible way for people of all ages to communicate, get their information and be entertained.

The Internet has replaced libraries for many people, elementary schools are introducing Smartboards instead of blackboards into classrooms and more and more jobs are centered around computer operation. Even people taking a stroll down the street tend to spend more time staring at their Blackberries and tripping over each other than paying attention to such trivial real-life concerns as oncoming traffic.

Since your eyes need to work much harder to read from a screen than from a piece of paper, it’s time we paid closer attention to the possible repercussions.

First off, it’s worth mentioning that surveys are currently showing that a substantial portion of baby-boomers in North America are spending approximately 7 ½ hours a day in front of a digital screen. Now, keep in mind these are the people who didn’t necessarily grow up with an abundance of technology, but adapted to it over time. The hours that the younger generation spends using the same technology they’ve relied on their whole lives is even higher.

Chances are, since you’re reading this article on your computer and I’m writing it on mine, we’re both relatively familiar with the symptoms of CVS. Dry or watery eyes that come from blinking less while looking at your screen, blurry vision, double vision, redness of the eyes, headaches and sensitivity to light, are all things you may have experienced.

It pays to take CVS seriously, experts suggest, because studies are still being done to determine what the long-term permanent effects may be. Luckily, protecting your eyes from this particular affliction is a relatively easy thing to do.

The glare that comes off whatever screen you’re watching can affect the eyes over time. For this reason, people should do their best to try and purchase screens with an anti-glare feature if they have the option. If not, at least make a point to diffuse light sources so they don’t directly reflect if into your eyes.

Don’t type or read with your nose pressed to the screen. Always try to keep it at least an arm’s length from your face.

Keep your eyes moist by using drops. Just make sure the ones you buy are specifically classified as moisturizers, and not for reducing redness or allergy symptoms.

Always keep your computer screen at or below eye level. Looking down instead of up allows you to work with your eyes less open, making things easier on them.

Finally, as your employers may have already suggested to you if you work in an office, employ the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you work, take a 20 second break, and look away from your computer to focus on something 20 feet away. In other words, let your eyes enjoy the real world for a while. They’ll probably thank you for it one day by not going blind.