Ways to protect your eyes
the new york times, the most famous newspaper in the world, published a report on eye health, and here are some of the guidelines for healthy eyes in the article, related to nine common beliefs people have about the eye, and the response of senior doctors to them:
■ does reading a book or looking at an electronic device closely harm your eyes?
that’s true, says dr. chu, associate clinical professor of optometry at the state university of new york college of optometry, because our eyes aren’t meant to focus on objects close to our face for long periods of time, and when we do, especially when we’re children, it encourages eyeballing. the eye is to lengthen, which may, over time, cause myopia.
therefore, we must follow the 20-20- 20 rule, that is, we read for 20 minutes, shift our gaze to something that is at least 20 feet away, and look at that thing for at least twenty seconds.
■ does reading in the dark lead to a decline in vision?
this is wrong, however, if the lighting is so dim that you need to hold your book or electronic device close to your face, it can increase the risks mentioned above, and lead to eyestrain, headaches, and difficulty concentrating, which are often temporary symptoms.
■ does spending more time outside help vision?
yes, spending time outdoors can reduce the risk of myopia. it is thought that sunlight may encourage the retina to produce dopamine.
■ can too much ultraviolet light damage eyesight?
this is real. there’s a reason experts don’t stare at the sun. dr. ehrlich said that overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet a and ultraviolet b rays can cause irreversible damage to the retina. wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays can provide the necessary protection.
– does taking a break from wearing eyeglasses slow down the deterioration of vision?
a terrible mistake, whoever needs glasses, must wear them.
■ is the blue light emitted from screens harmful to the eyes?
wrong, and there is no strong evidence that this will happen with exposure to screen light. but constantly staring at a screen makes us not blink enough, and that can cause eye strain and temporary blurred vision.
■ is smoking harmful to eye health? inevitably, there is a relationship between smoking and eye diseases, including cataracts and age-related optic degeneration. the toxic chemicals in cigarettes also enter the bloodstream and damage delicate tissues in the eye, including the retina, lens, and macula.
■ are carrots good for the eye? this is true, although a diet full of carrots will not give you perfect vision.
– is the deterioration of eyesight part of old age, and is it inevitable?
big mistake, most causes of vision impairment in adulthood, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, are preventable or treatable if detected early. in addition, if your vision begins to diminish, do not consider it “just aging”, but a visit to an optometrist or ophthalmologist can help avoid these conditions.
