NBC NEWS- How many hours each day do you spend in front of a computer? If you're like most Americans it's quite a few.

The machines that are so important in our lives could be wreaking havoc on our eyes.

Computer vision syndrome, or CVS, is a relatively new medically defined ailment and it's growing.

Opthamologist Dr. Kathleen Digre says "I have seen some data to suggest that 90 percent of the people who just stare at a computer all day long will have some part of it."

Dr. Digre says focusing continually on a computer screen triggers a whole host of complaints, including double and blurry vision and headaches.

Cari Megeath says her symptoms began as a sandy, grainy feeling in the eyes.

Cari says "my eyes would feel tired and then I felt a burning sensation in my eyes, so I would have to keep blinking to try and get rid of the burning sensation."

People with dry eyes are more vulnerable to CVS. One helpful tip is to lubricate the eyes with artificial tears.

"With this computer screen business, just looking away, looking in the distance, relaxing your eyes for a while blinking consciously blinking frequently," Dr. Digre said.

In some cases, for people who are really sensitive, you can actually look at your own world through a pair of rose colored glasses.

Optician Patrick Shaw says "it blocks out or filters out a certain wavelength of light, blue or green, that can be bothersome to some people."

Rose colored blockers also work for eyes that are sensitive to fluorescent lights.

This five part "office lens" as it's called relieves CVS by giving the eye a lot of focal diversity.

You see the computer up close, then refocus on a clock not too far away, then refocus again as someone walks through the door.