Heavy users of microscopes

A regional survey of cytotechnologists (heavy users of microscopes) found that slightly over 70 percent reported having neck, shoulder, or upper back symptoms, while 56 percent had an increased incidence of hand and wrist symptoms. Other studies have revealed that approximately 80 percent of microscopists in all fields have experienced job related musculoskeletal pain and that 20 percent have missed work because of medical problems related to microscope use. The rather high 5 to 10 year dropout rate for cytotechnologists is attributed, in part, to physical discomfort associated with long hours examining specimens through the microscope. A majority of reported problems occur with the neck, back, shoulders, and arms, but there is also a percentage of microscopists reporting discomfort with their eyes.