If you or your patients use a computer and find that your cervical spine problems continue to recur, please listen to what Ira Kostman, a New Jersey optometrist, has to say. Dr Kostman recently pointed out a major issue that impacts us all, and provides an answer as to why our subluxation and muscle problems keep returning.

Anyone who wears glasses is a candidate for cervical spine difficulties, just by wearing glasses. This is most prevalent in those persons who wear progressive lenses. The progressive eyeglass lens is designed to allow a person to be able to focus close, such as for reading, by looking through the lower portion of the lens while simultaneously providing the ability to see into the distance from the center of the lens. Dr Kostman notes that this is the source of eyeglasses causing spinal problems in computer users.

Many computer users center their computer screens so that their eyes are level with the middle of the computer screen. The screen is placed 2 to 3 feet away from its user, but the center of the eyeglass lens is designed to focus much farther away. The computer user tilts his/her head backward in order to bring the screen into focus, using the lower portion of the progressive lens to see the relatively near computer screen. After a day of holding the head in an awkward posture to see the computer screen, the cervical muscles are irritated. And with more hours spent on computer work, the worse the computer user's neck and upper back will be.

There are a couple of easy solutions to fix this situation. The most simple is to lower the height of the computer screen so that the user will be looking out the lower portion of the progressive lens. Another fix is for the computer user to get special "occupational" glasses, where the focus in the center of the lens is made ideal for the computer screen. Occupational glasses would not be for driving or any other distance vision, but would be great for the computer and reading.

Each of us is well aware of the importance of good posture. It is imperative that we pay attention to the eyeglasses that our patients wear, and advise them accordingly. We must also be sure that we note the posture of our own heads when we use a computer. It may save all of us from suffering.

Paul B. Bindell, DC, a 1975 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, has practiced in Rockaway, NJ, since 1976 and has lectured on chiropractic in Brazil and Israel. Bindell is a past chairman of public relations for the Northern (NJ) Counties Chiropractic Society. The Chiropractic Answer, produced by Bindell in the 1980s, was a cable television program, a newsletter, and a newspaper column.

In 1991, Bindell and his family began Life Systems Software so that the profession would have reliable computer programs based on real chiropractic practice. For the past 4 years, Bindell's son Avi has assumed the role of senior programmer, and supervises the staff of programmers and technicians. The challenges and benefits of a family business are rewarding. Bindell can be reached by e-mail at , or by calling Life Systems Software at (800) 543-3001.