Download 1 CARING FOR YOUR EYES Like all other major organs in our body

CARING FOR YOUR EYES
Like all other major organs in our body, the eye needs proper nutrition and protection from
injury. Although we are well acquainted with the need to wear eye protection when taking part in
sports activity that could result in accidental eye injury, we should also be aware of what may be
a less obvious risk, yet one with great implications to eye health: eye stress and fatigue. Among
young adults today, stress and fatigue have been found to be contributors to the development of
acquired myopia which is the refractive error more commonly known as near sightedness.
A significant contributor to ocular fatigue and stress is the extensive use of video games and
other hand held devices. Improper reading distance, poor posture, poor lighting, restless sleeping
habits, prolonged computer work, emotional stress, living and studying in a small space are all
additional factors.
Consider the time you spend at your desk, likely a computer station. Your eye is constantly
focusing on reading materials, typing and viewing the computer monitor (sometimes documents
with small fonts), all of which are within 2 feet. When eyes are working at near ranges for a
prolonged period of time without rest, eye muscles tighten to exert accommodation in order to
maintain a clear, near focus. Excess accommodation will eventually cause eye fatigue. As fatigue
become chronic, vision is impaired. The only way to allow eyes to see in a relaxed state is by
regularly changing their focus to distances exceeding 20 feet (the distance you stand from a
standard eye test chart).
Another problem related to ocular fatigue is that it we try to adapt to it. Our blink rates drop and
our eyes become dry, blurry and irritated. As a result, we set the monitor contrast and brightness
to their maximum to overcome the blurry vision. This kind of change puts further burden on the
already stressed eyes. While eyes are pushed to their physical limit for a prolonged period of
time, ocular fatigue further leads to headaches, and dry eye irritation turns into profuse tearing
and an interruption to the coordination of separate images by two eyes into one single image
(binocular fusion). Depth of perception is also affected. Most people will still choose to squint
or move back and forth from the monitor to read rather than taking a short break. Unless this
vicious cycle is stopped, nearsightedness is bound to result.
We might not have control over our workload or the amount of work that demands near vision,
but there are many simple ways to protect your eyes and ocular health. Here are a few of them.
Replace your computer monitor with a larger LCD screen that has higher resolution features or
simply change the display font size and type. Adjust the contrast and brightness ratio of your
monitor to match the manufacturer’s recommendations. Increase your computer working
distance and do not focus on the screen for more than 15 minutes at one time. Purchase a simple
pair of computer eyeglasses or proper prescribed bifocals to alleviate the burden on the ocular
muscles. A good anti-glare coating will help to increase clarity by increasing light transmissions
through the lenses and reducing glare reflected from behind the lenses to the eye. Since wear and
tear is common in reading glasses, ask for a stable scratch resistance coating on the lens surface.
Do not compromise your needs for computer eyeglasses with simple readers because a reading
prescription is based on 16-18 inches distance from the eyes to the reading material; working
distance for computer work varies from 20-30 inches. Also keep in mind that your right eye
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might very well be functioning differently than the left. A proper eye examination will reveal
what your needs are in each eye. Have your eyes examined at least once every two years.
Last but not least, keep a healthy diet. Your eyes, as well as all the other organs in your body,
need proper nutrition through a balanced diet. Get regular exercise and appropriate rest. If you
reduce the causes of stress and fatigue, you can reduce the risk of advancing refractive errors.
If you have any questions about your eye health, drop by Seneca’s Vision Clinic (Newnham
campus, next to the bookstore). Philip Lui, a licensed optician, will answer your questions and
make the needed referrals. If you already have a prescription, Philip can help you to choose the
proper corrective device – eyeglasses, contact lenses or a low vision aid. Philip can be reached
at 416-491-5050 ext. 2773 or [email protected]
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