Total Health at the Computer: A How-To Guide to Saving Your Eyes and Body at the Vdt Screen in 3 Minutes a Day

As might be expected from authors who are vision specialists (Sussman is executive director of the Cambridge Institute for Better Vision in Massachusetts; Loewenstein is an optometrist and professor of optics at Boston's New England College of Optometry), the main focus of their book is remedying optic problems caused by computer use. Part One emphasizes the importance of a proper computer set-up (to eliminate visual stress) and posture, and offers a series of ``3-minute routines''--stretches, deep breathing, eye exercises--designed to alleviate symptoms of what the authors call Computer Stress Syndrome. Part Two covers vision enhancement training. Carpal Tunnel and Repetitive Stress Syndromes (both widely reported by computer users) are mentioned only briefly, and there is a short section on electromagnetic radiation. Although it's not the comprehensive guide to computer health that it's billed to be, for those suffering from the specific vision problems discussed, this simple manual may provide help. (Nov.)