EyePost.

I feel like my eye-sight has significantly worsened in the last month. Maybe I'm just doing too much homework, or maybe I'm just getting old... It seems like I can't even stare at my computer for more than 2 minutes without needing to put on my reading glasses!

Therefore, I have decided to dedicate today's post to EYES.

The eye is in fact a bodily organ, and I feel like it is sometimes forgotten about or ignored in many health instances. There are many deformities of the eye than can occur biologically, as well as many environmentally caused illnesses or problems.  There are also many ways to protect your eyes, as you would the skin, heart, or any other organ that is important in your daily life (e.g. ALL OF THEM).

Alfred Buice, the author of Health Science and Health Education has a few pointers on how to protect your eyes.  I compared some of his tips to Eye Care America's Facts & Myths and also some articles found in the popular press to see what was true and what was false.

Apparently, there is a difference between eye fatigue and eye damage.  Eye fatigue, or eyestrain, is characterized by a heaviness of the eyelids or forehead, blurred and double vision, or headaches. Eye damage, however, is more permanent damage, like cataracts, blindness, and myopia (i.e. nearsightedness).  

Many of the complaints from working with computers and video display screens apparently do not result in permanent eye damage. According to the Eye Care Facts & Myths, when using a computer or staring at a screen, users tend to blink less which makes their eyes dry and results in feelings of eyestrain or fatigue.  A Japanese study found that people blink about 22 times per minute in conversation, but only about 10 times while reading and 7 times while using the computer.

However, some studies have found an increase in myopia in children who use computers frequently, which maybe because their vision systems are not fully developed. Although there is little evidence of long-term damage from computer screens, it must also be noted that computers haven't been around for all that long, so these studies may come out in the near future as the first generation of full-time computer users ages. I think the evidence of eyestrain and eye fatigue should be enough to behaviorally confirm that using computers for a long time can have some detrimental effects on the eyes, even if they aren't permanent.

Buice provides a useful tip for reducing eye fatigue and dry eyes: taking a few seconds during intense or close eye work to look out in the distance or outside. This is also supported in Eye Care Facts, and is definitely a good idea when working on a computer for a long time. Buice also mentions that reading, sewing, or similar fine word should happen in bright light, however numerous studies are inconclusive on the fact that dim light can cause permanent eye damage. Good light isn't necessary for this work in terms of preventing eye damage (or so the studies say), but it may help in terms of making the task easier and preventing eye fatigue.

There is a slight mention in Buice's section to "tinted glasses" as "advantageous for use in bright sunlight or while snow is upon the ground." These tinted-, or sun-glasses, I conclude are actually the most important tool for preventing permanent eye damage.  A recent survey found that only 63% of people realize that UV rays are harmful to their eyes. So, wear sunglasses to not only prevent squinting (which causes eye fatigue), but to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays which can cause cumulative damage to the eyes (you'll also look cool too!)

Keep an EYE out for more posts next week!