Save your eyesight in 7 simple steps
No, it’s not your imagination. That menu is getting harder to read and the writing on that medicine label has indeed become impossible to see. Fact is there is a good chance your eyesight is failing. The real kicker is that what you are doing at this very moment might be making it worse.
Since misery loves company you’ll be relieved to know you are not alone. The National Eye Institute just released a report confirming that American’s eyesight is actually getting worse. Researchers compared data from a survey from 1971 to 1972 to one from 1999 to 2004. They found that incidents of myopia or nearsightedness (the terms used for the condition in which eyes don’t focus correctly making distant objects appear blurry) had taken a huge leap from 25% up to 42%.
A spokesperson for the National Eye Institute Dr. Susan Vitale, said that researchers don’t know exactly why more Americans are myopic now. But experts agree that our modern-day lifestyle is the most likely culprit.
We spend long periods of time in front of computers for both work and entertainment. We watch more TV than we ever have in the past. We spend lots of time looking at the tiny screens on our iPods and smartphones. The bottom line is that we are our eyes’ own worst enemy.
Getting away from the glowing computer screens more often would certainly give our eyes a welcome rest. But many of us aren’t going to be able to, or be willing to, cut down our computer usage enough to make a real difference. So here are some things you can do right away to relieve the strain and discomfort and perhaps offset future problems with your eyes:
- Get the right lighting. Poor lighting conditions are a major cause of eyestrain. If you are seeing a reflection of light on your screen from a window or lamp adjust the position of your monitor and window coverings in the room. If possible switch to a flat screen monitor, which can also help reduce glare.
- Buy a pair of computer glasses. They reduce glare and eyestrain.
- Adjust the position of your monitor so that you can easily see the whole screen without straining your eyes or neck.
- Try to take frequent short breaks. Every 30 minutes or so step away from your monitor or switch to some offscreen work. You can relax your eye muscles during breaks by looking at something in the far distance.
- Switch to a larger font (resolution) on your screen. The larger the font, the less work your eyes have to do.
- Get regular exams from an eye care professional.
- Modify your diet. Remember how mom insisted you eat your carrots? She was right. Make sure your diet includes plenty of carotenoid, lutein, and zeaxanthin rich foods, like green leafy vegetables and colored fruits, you can actually improve your vision and may even be able to prevent future age related eye problems.
Source:
Increased Prevalence of Myopia in the United States Between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004, Archives of Ophthalmology 2009;127(12):1632-1639.
About the author:
An enthusiastic believer in the power of natural healing, Alice has spent virtually her entire 15-year career in the natural-health publishing field helping to spread the word.
She is an advocate of self-education and is passionate about the power of group knowledge sharing, like the kind found right here on Healthier Talk. Alice loves to share her views on holistic and natural healing as well as her, sometimes contentious, thoughts on the profit-driven inner workings of traditional medicine.
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Comments
Anonymous
I have been into natural remedies for over 20 years and beginning to become just as skeptical of "natural,wholistic, organic," and other natupathic terms used to describe remedies taken from nature. It asppears that the individuals, media, and other forms of hype are no different from the pharmaceutical Industry and their political interest groups money interests. Generally, there are a torrent of daily media (electronic, written, commerical) saturation of products promising often quick, and lasting results while holding the infomation back unless some "No Risk Information is gotten to see how it works) . I get it, you have to make money to be able to produce the remedies, do, or review the research and get it to the public. What is missing is a Guide tlo say :if you're taking this formula, you should't take this combination. There has to be some cancelling-out effect from taking certain "natural herbs, or formulae" since a great many of the pharaceuticals are "mimicking" many of the God-given natureprovided Garden. Ther impression is given that one can take hundreds of these items with beneficial effect and with little or no side effects. I DON'T LIKE PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICINE WHILE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS SOMETIMES NECCESSARY WHEN CONFORNTED WITH AN ACUTE SITUATION! I don't like they feeling of skepticism I am beginning to feel about the approach that these individuals and companies are taking.
From A Home Where Natural Remedies were Used
Alice Wessendorf
Thanks so much for your insightful comments Anonymous. I can understand, and yes even share, your frustrations. It is a balancing act and, I think as nature teaches us, it is all about moderation and thoughtful and mindful use.
I personally read and learn as much as I can (often from places like HealthierTalk where people share their experiences and knowledge) and then I choose to try certain natural approaches. Just like with pharmaceuticals some work for me and some don't. I also do have a doctor who I see when I have not found a natural approach that works for me. Luckily he is an open minded doctor who supports me including natural remedies in my wellness plan.
After 20 years of being into natural remedies I am sure you have a lot of experiences and knowledge to share. I encourage you to become a frequent visitor here and let us know your thoughts on what you read.
Thanks again for your comments!
PS - I come from a home with a parent who has a medical background AND where natural approaches were used. How's that for some nice balance? :-)
Anonymous
As I said before, NATURE is very jealous and will not let copying in anyway, there is lots of junk vitamins and minerals, well supplements all together, but there is some good sources available and we need to support these ones, we must realize that the supplements we are to take have to be absorbed well by our system, some supplements are not, therefore we may take tons of these without any benefits, yes indeed we need to be careful of these, just as ( Willow Bark) was essential for ASPIRIN so are many others, short translation one plant growing wild in the jungle called (SOUR CANE) about ½ in square, talk about blood-thinner and also to increase the acid which is good for proper digestion support, all of these are there for our health, unfortunately most of us tend to blame Natural Remedies all together and Big Pharma enjoys this, but keep in mind when you buy supplements from good sources your system will thank you and you will enjoy healing, not just treating a symptom as most all medications are designed for and with toooooo mannnnny side effects, natural no side effects, unless you are taking medications this is the only time you need to be careful. JAM
Andrea
I agree with Anonymous in that the Natural Remedies trend is getting rather commercial and to be honest I think we need to study more about diet and herbs. Food for prevention and then herbs for the transition period. Not enough or actually I have not yet been to a doctor who knows anything about proper eating - they are so influenced too by what we have been told in the past about the food pyramid and how we should eat a third of carbs in our diet. Weston Price proved a long time ago and also in the Diet Delusion by Gary Taubes that our diet is driven by the large food companies and going back to native diets without all this sugar and flour/starchy products gives us pretty much great health, immune systems and great teeth!! I get very sad and frustrated that we are not being told the truth and have been brainwashed into believing that low fat high carb is good for us - who are they trying to fool? They got it wrong, but who is going to stand up now and go back on what has been taught all these years. Medicine is trying to bandaid these illnesses but the government and media is supporting the causes for all the obesity and illness.....it is a sad situation. I am not a scientist or health care professional, but doing enough reading over the last nearly 30 years has brought me to where I am now and I feel sorry for people who don't have the time to question what is happening. I am studying Organic Agriculture and it's the same in this area....the soil is depleted because of chemicals and bad farming practices - even R. Steiner knew that in 1924, but with industry making lots of $$$s the farmers continue to be blind and do more of the same....
Alice Wessendorf
Andrea thanks for your well said comments! They reminded me of one of my pet peeves.
So often you you hear from people that you can get everything you need from the the foods you eat and that supplementing is bunk. But the fact is with the over-farming and poor farming practices it is nearly impossible to get what we need from foods grown in depleted and chemical ridden soils and from animals raised on diets of poor quality food and chemicals. We could indeed get what we needed from our diet if the food were mindfully grown and there were huge changes made in today's farming practices. But that is not yet a reality.
And yes these same naysayers who see no value in natural living or supplements are the same ones who regularly line up at the pharmacy to get their prescribed meds blindly taking them without regard to alternatives or consequences.
Thanks again for your comments!
Andrea
What can we do as an individual, to change the way the media and even so called nutritionists are still promoting the diet that has been proven so damaging to our health.
I am trying in a small way in Australia to grow grass fed goats, free ranging chickens, milk cows and free ranging pigs for our meat at home...
The problem is stuck in the system, with the promotion of the cheap badly grown carbs and still the notion that low fat diets are the way to go. Even the doctors and some naturopaths are still sucked in with this...
What can I do ....??
Any ideas?
Anonymous
What we can do is doing what we are doing now, writing and a word of mouth is helpful also, just like the media and pharmaceutical industry approach us in a negative way, well we can do the same in a positive way, we ca write our representatives in office for starters, I know it is a bit difficult because as always money is involved, but surly we need to wake up and as I said before natural medicine should PREVAIL. JAM
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