A Clockwork Orange Protagonist Suffering From Screen Fatigue
Dry Eyes, Headaches Among the Symptoms
The conviction of a known thief, rapist, and murderer has led him to undergo the experimental Ludovico technique as part of his sentence. However, human rights activists are criticizing the punishment, saying that the sheer amount of screen time is cruel and unjust.
The Ludovico technique is a therapy approved by the UK Minister of the Interior for trials on disturbed and violent individuals. The hope is to reduce prison overcrowding and cut down on street violence by effectively re-wiring people’s brains against violent thoughts.
It's been two months since "Alex" began his aversion therapy, staring for hours at graphically violent films. Critics of the controversial Lodovico method are not concerned that the prisoner is restrained, dehumanized, and robbed of his free will while his brain is rewritten. No, that part is fine.
Alex is now suffering from "screen fatigue," or "computer vision syndrome," where the prisoner is not able to look at a TV screen without feeling violently ill.
What has them most concerned is that Alex is now suffering from "screen fatigue," or "computer vision syndrome," where the prisoner is not able to look at a TV screen without feeling violently ill.
Eye-experts contacted about the case say viewers should adhere to a 20-20 rule, where one could look away from the screen every 20 minutes or so, and then look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
Since Alex is unable to adhere to the 20-20 rule (due to his head being harnessed and eyelids held open with specula), he routinely succumbs to nausea, dizziness, and becomes ill.
"Every few hours or so, a nurse regularly applies eye drops and he's all good," said one prison doctor.
But a prison chaplain who is close to the situation and has served as a mentor to Alex is critical of the process. "For most of us, eye strain can be a minor annoyance and we can take steps to reduce discomfort. But because Alex is tied down with his eyes open while he is forced to watch depraved films, he now has sleep problems, focus and attention problems, and headaches."
Asked if he has a problem with the content shown to Alex each day for hours on end (torture films, porn, and Nazi propaganda}, the chaplain said, "No, absolutely not. I'm worried more about the long-term effects of this much screen time."
He added with consternation, "In the future, he's probably going to need glasses now."
One of the lead behavior scientists involved in the research that led to Ludovico, Dr. Liam Leadbottom, commented on the patient's condition and expressed no concern for the long-term effects of the treatment.
"Sure, Alex has developed headaches, vertigo, and double-vision, but we think this is a direct result of the type of material that we are showing him. Let's not forget he is also being pumped up with fear-inducing chemicals...."
"There is just not enough research right now that says 17-straight hours of telly without rest is bad for you."