If I moved my computer monitor close enough to see the screen clearly, it was nearly in my lap. If I left the monitor where it should be, I had to lean forward awkwardly. During my annual eye exam, I told my optometrist about my workstation discomfort and the strain it was causing my eyes, neck and back.

Eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain are common complaints of someone experiencing computer vision syndrome, according to the American Optometric Association.

If you optimize your work environment for comfort and still have problems, the solution may be another pair of glasses, the association says. Normally, I’d be skeptical of a trade association suggesting that I buy more of their wares. But studies have found that a majority of people who work on computers or hand-held devices experience some vision problems, the association said.

With 31 percent of those over 18 saying that, on average, they now spend at least five hours a day on a computer, tablet or smartphone, it appears that these symptoms will only become more common.