Q: Is working with computers as harmful as watching TV for long periods of time? How harmful are the radiations from the computer as compared to that caused by TV?

A:Modern computer screens emit very little radiation and are very safe. Issues with regards to eye strain because of computer usage (Computer Vision Syndrome) are mostly due to bad contrast/excessive or poorly illuminated screens / background illuminations / posture / positioning of the monitor and ocular conditions such as dry eyes / allergic conjunctivitis, uncorrected refraction errors esp. astigmatism & convergence insufficiency.
If these aspects are looked at carefully, computer usage & TV viewing, even over long periods, is not harmful. The screens should be flicker free with high refresh rates (Hz). It is also recommended that a few minutes of rest be taken after 30-40 minutes of use.