A study of over 10,000 computer users has suggested a link between heavy computer use and glaucoma, a disease that can cause blindness.

The study from the Toho University School of Medicine found that over five per cent of those tested reported vision difficulties, and these were most serious among heavy computer users.

Those who use their computers for more than eight hours a day, and those who suffer from short-sightedness, were found to be worst affected.

"Myopic workers with a history of long term computer use might have an increased risk of visual field anomalies, possibly related to glaucoma," the report's authors stated.

Glaucoma can cause blindness if untreated and currently afflicts 500,000 people in the UK. It is treatable if caught early enough, either with eye drops or surgery.

The research suggested that the optic nerve in short-sighted people might be more susceptible to computer stress than in normal eyes.