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.
The fact is there’s a good chance your eyesight is failing. It happens to the best of us as we age. But the real kicker is that what you’re doing at this very moment might be making it worse.
However, since misery loves company you’ll be relieved to know you’re not alone.
The National Eye Institute just released a report confirming that American’s eyesight is actually getting worse.
Cases of nearsightedness have skyrocketed 17%!
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 percent up to 42 percent.
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 tablets 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.
7 simple steps to reduce eyestrain & save your eyesight
So here are seven simple and practical steps you can take right now to relieve eyestrain and discomfort and help head off t future problems with your eyesight:
1. 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.
2. Buy a pair of computer glasses:
Computer glasses are worth the investment. They effectively reduce glare and eyestrain.
3. Adjust your monitor:
Adjust the position of your computer monitor so that you can easily see the whole screen without straining your eyes or neck.
4. Take a break:
Try taking frequent short breaks. Every 30 minutes or so you should 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.
Lots of folks find relaxing and simple Eye Yoga exercises are helpful when they start feeling the strain from overworking their eyes. Try this short video to get you started…
5. Fix your font:
Switch to a larger font (resolution) on your screen. The larger the font, the less work your eyes have to do.
6. Go see your eye doc:
Get regular exams from an eye care professional.
7. 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.
Reference:
Increased Prevalence of Myopia in the United States Between 1971-1972 and 1999-2004, Archives of Ophthalmology 2009;127(12):1632-1639.
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