WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3.2002
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Computer screens increase strain on eyesight
By Summer Lewis Kansan staff writer
At home and at school, students spend a lot of their time peering into computer screens, which can cause vision problems.
Sharon Green, optometrist at Lawrence Family Vision Clinic, 3111 W. 6th St., said excessive computer use could lead to various temporary eye problems, such as dry, tired, aching eyes, difficulty focusing and headaches. It could also lead to long-term injuries, such as near-sightedness.
She said she saw people with eye problems from computer screens a lot. Anytime a person's eyes are focused on a screen that is closer than two feet, then the eyes become tired, she said.
"People tend to concentrate their focus more on computer screens, and they blink less," Green said. "This dries out the eyes."
The eyes have to work harder with computer use than when reading a book.
"Font sizes are different than what we are used to in books," Green said. "Eyes are jumping all over the screen and having to make more extreme changes in focus. When they jump to different parts of the screen, they have to refocus."
There are studies being done on an eye syndrome, computer vision syndrome, that has developed because of computers, she said.
"It's the eye fatigue that comes from constantly switching focus on different areas of the computer
screen," Green said. "Studies are trying to figure out what it is about computer screens that cause eye problems for people."
As they find out more about this syndrome in the next few years, then a method of protecting the eyes could be developed, but she said there was nothing on the horizon vet.
She advised people to take short breaks every half hour to keep them from drying out and to not sit too close to the screen — the closer the screen, the more stress that is put on the eyes.
She said having the screen below eye level helped with glare and allowed the eyes to focus more accurately. People who wear glasses can get anti-reflective lenses to offer protection
Carrie Ippensen, Quincy, Ill., freshman, said she had to use computers a lot because she was a journalism student. Between working at the computer lab and working on papers that have to be typed, she has to spend many hours looking at a computer screen.
from glare.
She said she could feel when her eyes were becoming fatigued from computer use.
"My eyes will start to feel tired and dry, especially when I am working on a paper for class," Ippensen said. "Finally I will have to quit because my eyes are so tired."
Contact Lewis at slewis@kansan. com. This story was edited by Anne Mergenmeier.
Tips to protect your eyes
Computer screens cause eye fatigue that could lead to near sightedness.
Don't sit too close to the screen. Two feet away is best.
Ways to protect your eyes from developing eye strain and nearsightedness:
Sit up straight.
Make sure the screen is below eye level, so eyes will focus accurately.
Take a five-minute break
every hour to rest your eyes.
Adjust computer settings for background color.
Source: WebMD at www.webmd.com.
JILLIAN TH08PE/KANSAN
Elizabeth Keppel, Chesterfield, Mo., graduate student, lays out the final choices for her master's thesis exhibit. Keppel's work will be on display on the 3rd floor gallery of the Art and Design Building beginning today.
Art student sees red in pursuit of master's
By Melissa Shuman Kansan staff writer
Elizabeth Keppel, a graduate student from Chesterfield, Mo., sees artistic opportunity in the color red.
Next week, panels of red grids will decorate the gallery on the third floor of the Art and Design building as part of Keppel's master's thesis show entitled "Red Grid Manipulations."
Each panel in her project uses the color red and has a grid-based design. The panels, which she has worked on for nearly a year, are about 3 inches wide and 15 inches tall. Keppel chose red grids because they enable her to display different techniques without complication.
"Red is a versatile color. There's so many different cultural contexts," she said, "And I chose a simple rectangle and grid so I could focus on different techniques."
Keppel said she was inspired to use the color red from her studies abroad in Xi'an, China. Keppel used different materials, from sheer fabric to toothpicks and masking tape. In one piece, she painted the
masking tape red before carefully cutting it into squares. In another, she glued together red toothpicks to create a three-dimensional design.
"This is labor-intensive work. I put in lots of effort gluing and taping together, but it's not expensive," Keppel said.
Keppel said she spent about five hours every night creating artwork.
Jessica Poteete, Lake Tapapingo, Mo., sophomore, met the artist last year when Keppel was a resident assistant for Hashinger Hall.
"I think it is representative of Libby's personality. There's so many levels, and she has a lot of detail and levels to her," she said.
Keppel said she didn't know what kind of job she would have with her master's degree in fine arts, but that she would enjoy creating art in any profession.
Her project will be on display April 4-12. Keppel will have a reception April 6 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Former child model recalls moments as celebrity
Every face in the crowd and everyname in the phonebook has a story behind it. Every week, Kansan staff writer Adam Pracht picks a student at random and tells his or her story.
By Adam Pracht
Kansan staff writer
A crowd of fans gathered around a blonde-haired, wideeyed little girl in a white Victorian dress. Everyone held a doll that was a miniature of the 4-year-old.
AABON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
"Is she somebody?" one woman asked the girl's mother.
Jill jepson said her daughter, Laurel, was somebody, she was a girl from small-town Kansas who had a rare opportunity as a child to be a model for artist Ian Hagara. Faces in the Crowd
Harveyville senior Laurel Jepson displays a painting and doll that she modeled for when she was young. "I kind of thought I was a princess when I was little." Jepson said, referring to her childhood stardom in the world of arts and collectibles.
Hagara is known for her art work of young children in Victorian clothing.
LaurelJepson, Harveyville senior, said that her moment of celebrity at that doll conference in California was an interesting experience.
"People would just come up to me and want to touch me and get pictures done with me. So, that's what's wrong with me," she said, laughing. "I enjoyed it actually."
She was young enough that she didn't understand why she was suddenly a celebrity.
"I remember not knowing how to sign my name," she said. "I had to sign 'L.J.', and I kept doing 'J.L.' or my letters were backwards."
Hagara, based in Georgetown Texas, has made dolls, watercolors and other artwork of young children for 25 years.
Jepson was discovered by Hagara's husband at an art show, where he noticed her "Gerber baby" look. Jepson's father, Barry, is a potter and often travels to art shows to sell his work.
Jepson was offered a chance to model on the spot.
Texas where she modeled for a photo shoot. From those pictures, Jan Hagara created a watercolor painting. That painting was made into a variety of products including prints, collectible plates, mugs, bookmarks and dolls.
The Hagaras flew Jepson to
Jepson said that her brief moment in the spotlight was fun, but she never let it be a source of pride for her.
"It's not something that I really talk about because I didn't want to make people think that I was superior in any way because I didn't feel that way," she said.
Jepson's father, Barry, said that the entire family was excited, but didn't make a big deal out of the opportunity.
"It's one of those things that kind of falls into her lap and is exciting," he said. "So be it. But it doesn't make her any better than anyone else."
Jepson said that growing up in a family of artists influenced her more than being a subject for artwork.
She said she had an appreciation for both the performing and visual arts and still helped her family with artwork.
She has traveled with her father to art shows across the United States and in Europe.
Jepson said that travel gave her a larger perspective on the world and she encouraged other University students to investigate other cultures.
"Isn't that why we go to college?" she said. "It's not just to get an education. It's to discover more about ourselves. What we have to offer the world and what the world has to offer us."
For examples of Jan Hagara's work, go to www.janhagara.com.
Contact Pracht at apracht@ kansan.com.
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