Saving Your Sight: The Eye and How To Protect It

As humans, we often forget the importance of our most prized and under-appreciated possessions – our eyes. Each of our eyes are like a 4k smartphone camera, giving us the ability to envision a pristine, beautiful world. Today, however, many of us take our eyes for granted, staring at screens for hours on end without a break and reading fine-print textbooks under dim lighting. We often fail to realize that we constantly deal irreversible damage to the pearls that grant us vision, especially in this digital age where screens are widespread. The results of our carelessness are common conditions such as eye strain and myopia, both of which hurt the eyes and impair its functions. Within this blog will be a rundown of what causes your vision to slowly falter, and what you can do to impede the constant deterioration of your eyesight. 

Eye Strain and Myopia

When you don’t give your eyes a break, many complications with the eye will head your way. Two fairly common results of poor eye management are eye strain and myopia, which is also called nearsightedness.

Eye strain, also known as asthenopia, is a common condition where the eyes become fatigued after strenuous and intense use. Eye strain is primarily caused by prolonged periods of eye focus and staring. Instances that would require this includes usage of electronic devices like computer screens, reading, and even driving.

While eye strain simply causes discomfort, the same actions that render an individual prone to eye strain can also contribute to a condition called myopia, or nearsightedness. A myopic eye is oval shaped and “stretched out” compared to a normal one, which causes light to be reflected in front of the retina (a layer of the eye responsible for turning light into images we understand), instead of directly on it. The result is blurred vision while looking at objects far away. While myopia can be genetic and inherited, it can also develop when one holds objects too close to the eyes while working on them, stares at items under poor lighting, and overuses digital devices. Failure to protect the eyes at younger ages can lead to myopia and eye strain.

Symptoms

Eye strain can be a pesky malady for your day-to-day activities, with symptoms including blurred vision, sensitivity to light, burning, itching, and dryness. It can persist to the point where it becomes difficult to keep your eyes open, in which eye drops or lubricants may be needed. The good news is, eye strain is only a temporary struggle, as it can be thought of as your eyes getting tired after working too hard.

Myopia, on the other hand, is a more severe condition. Not only can it lead to chronic eye strain, it can also cause headaches, distorted vision, and constant squinting. Myopia can severely impair someone’s ability to perform everyday tasks, as objects just feet in front of them could seem hazy or indistinguishable. Most myopic individuals require glasses or other forms of vision aids like contacts.

How To Keep Your Eyes Healthy

Given all the afflictions resulting from the unhealthy usages of the eyes, there are many things you can do to reduce the risk of eye strain and myopia. Moreover, many of these tips can help improve your eye health in general, allowing you to perform eye-exhausting tasks more effectively and efficiently, without discomfort:

1. 20-20-20 rule

The 20-20-20 rule is an easy-to-remember technique that instructs you to look at any object 20 feet away for 20 seconds after staring at a screen for 20 minutes. The method is certified by many health institutes, and can help reduce the fatigue caused by eye strain.

2. Eat Healthier

Foods rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as those rich in omega-3, keep eye cells healthy and reduces risk for developing eye diseases. These foods include various citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, and fish. Beans and meat high in zinc can also keep the retina healthy.

3. Wear sunglasses

The large amount of UV rays emitted by the sun can cause irreversible damage to the eyes, so wearing sunglasses when it is sunny is critical for the protection of your vision.

4. Curved Monitors

Curved monitors present your screen wider to mimic a natural field of view, giving your eyes less-straining angles of view and increased visibility. Once in effect, these types of monitors eliminate the need for constant eye movement, minimizing the stress placed on the eyes during screen usage.

Blue Light Glasses – Do they work?

Blue light is a high energy ray given off by the sun, fluorescent lighting, and LED from digital screens. Blue light glasses help block and filter these beams, preserving eye health during prolonged digital screen exposure. While many believe that wearing blue light glasses while watching TV will greatly reduce eye strain, the reality is that these glasses are largely a myth. Scientific studies have found that blue light glasses have little, if not no effect in combating eye strain and other conditions, meaning that it will not ease the stress placed on your eyes when staring at a screen.

Conclusion

The reality of how poorly we treat our eyes this age is unfortunate to say the least. In our daily lives, we must constantly use our eyes in an unhealthy manner, whether it be working on our computers or scrolling on our phones. But, there are tips and tricks you can try that help your eyes feel better, while performing tasks that are strenuous for your eyes. Understanding eye strain and myopia is key to developing a healthy lifestyle that will keep your vision comfortable and clear, saving your sight and giving you the ability to see another day. 

References:

1. Eyestrain. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eyestrain
2. Eye Strain: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21059-eye-strain
3. Healthy Vision Tips. (2023, August 1). National Eye Institute. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/nei-for-kids/healthy-vision-tips
4. Nearsightedness – Symptoms and causes. (2024, April 19). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nearsightedness/symptoms-causes/syc-20375556
5. Preventing Vision Loss | Vision and Eye Health. (2024, May 15). CDC. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/vision-health/prevention/index.html
6. Vimont, C. (2023, April 7). 36 Fabulous Foods to Boost Eye Health. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Retrieved July 24, 2024, from https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/fabulous-foods-your-eyes