Protect Yourself Against Vision Loss

Biologically, you eyes are designed to adjust from close to distant focus, back and forth, continually. But, in reality, you focus your eyes for a long span of time at close distance when you read. This is one of the main causes of nearsightedness.

Reading causes eyestrain, which results in the constriction of eye muscles. Prolonged eye muscle constriction distorts the shape of the eye. Eyestrain is due to the following conditions:

• Reading material being too close (less than 20 inches), and not parallel to the eye

• Insufficient lighting or too bright artificial lights (fluorescent lights)

• Poor posture in reading, such as slumping or neck-bending-downward position, leading to lengthening of the eyeball

• Reading while eating: digestion drawing blood to the digestive system, thereby temporarily depriving the eye of nutrients

To overcome eyestrain during reading, do the following:

• Breathe naturally; do not hold your breath.

• Take a meaningful break every 20 minutes or so, and blink your eyes repeatedly.

• Make sure the lighting is sufficient. Inadequate light is the first factor that tires the eye.

• Make sure the print is large enough.

It should be pointed out that speed reading may be damaging to the eye, because in speed reading the eye tends to take in a large visual field without focusing on any specific word. Remember, the macula can see small details only one at a time, that is, moving from one point to another. If the macula cannot focus, it does less work, leading to more blurry vision, which ultimately increases eyestrain—and thus a vicious circle of eyestrain and weak vision.

To enhance vision in reading, do the following to focus on the physical aspect of reading:

• Occasionally read a page upside down, one letter at a time, moving from one point to another.

• Increase your peripheral vision and stimulate your macula by wearing black cardboard paper to partially cover the eyes.

Do take good care of your vision health; after all, your eyes are one of the most important organs of your body.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© 2018 by Stephen Lau

Vision Self-Healing Self-Help

Eye exercises, diet, and stress-free living can significantly improve your vision. 

Do you know that your eyes are connected with your mind? You see not just through your eyes, but also through your mind!

Take care of your vision health!

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