Minds Eye Radio Information Service - Radio Reader - January 2009

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Think ‘n’ Drink Trivia Night

Think ‘n’ Drink Trivia Night raised nearly $2,000 to support the work of Minds Eye. As a result of a fun and successful evening, nearly 40 Minds Eye listeners will be supported for one year. Additionally, Think ‘n’ Drink Trivia Night enabled a large and diverse group of people to come together and learn about the work of Minds Eye.

Think ‘n’ Drink Trivia Night featured a two-hour open bar, ten rounds of questions, a cash prize drawing, and door prizes. Attendees enjoyed an evening of entertainment while contributing to the success of Minds Eye – it was a win-win evening for all.

Education Corner: Computer Vision Syndrome

by Troy Bedinghaus, O.D

If you spend a lot of time each day in front of a computer, you are likely to experience symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS is a term used to describe a collection of symptoms caused by prolonged computer use. Symptoms appear because the eyes and brain react differently to words on a computer screen than they do to printed text. With more and more adults and children using computers on a daily basis, CVS has become a common vision complication. An increasing number of people are seeking relief from eyestrain and irritation caused by CVS.

What causes CVS?
The eyes respond well to most printed material. Most text consists of bold, black letters on a bright, white background. The eyes can easily focus on images with well-defined edges that are strongly contrasted against their backgrounds. However, words and images on a computer screen do not have well-defined edges. Characters displayed on a computer screen are made up of several
small dots, or pixels. The eyes cannot easily focus on pixels, so they must work harder to see the computer screen clearly. The constant struggle to focus leads to fatigue and tired, burning eyes. Many people try to compensate for uncomfortable vision symptoms by leaning forward or by tipping their head to look through the bottom portion of their glasses. These actions can result in a sore
neck, sore shoulders, and a sore back.

Coping with computer vision syndrome:
If you are having trouble with your eyes while using a computer, the following tips are worth a try.

  • Consider a pair of computer glasses.
  • Blink, breathe and break. Blink more often, take frequent deep breaths, and take a short break every hour.
  • Use artificial tears for dry or irritated eyes.
  • Reduce screen glare by adjusting light levels.
  • Increase font size on your computer screen.

Volunteer SPOTLIGHT

Have you ever wondered who the creative genius is behind Minds Eye’s artwork? Have you ever enjoyed perusing through the programs at trivia nights, Beepball tournaments and the Soiree or admired Minds Eye’s event invitations or flyers? We decided it was time to introduce you to the volunteer graphic designer behind Minds Eye’s artwork: Todd Young.

Todd came to Minds Eye more than two years ago after finding our organization on volunteermatch.com. A graphic designer by trade, Todd found a volunteer opportunity that has allowed him to develop his own skills while making a contribution to the community. “The projects are fun, and I get to explore whatever is interesting me at the time and try to use it in a meaningful way. There's a sense of satisfaction knowing that by helping Minds Eye I'm also helping myself,” Todd said. “Helping [Minds Eye] with the graphics gives me that much more experience and helps me to push my skills that much further.”

In addition to bringing a great deal of creativity and vision to Minds Eye’s graphics projects, one of
Todd’s greatest attributes is his humor and professionalism. “Todd’s projects ooze an enthusiasm
for trying new things and taking our ideas to the next level,” said Kathleen Gutting, Minds Eye’s Community Resource Specialist. “Working with Volunteer SpotlightTodd is fun because he keeps me laughing and produces work that is both fun and professional.”

When he is not enveloped with graphic design work, Todd is always busy doing something creative, whether it is drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, multimedia, filmmaking, animation… and the list goes on. “If I can find a way to create with it, I’m up for trying.”

mindsEye...bringing printed words to life

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