Healthy Eye and Vision

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• QWhat are common myths about eye health?

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  A Dr. Monica R. Khitri, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  There are a number of common myths about eye health.

  • Myth 1. Sitting too close to the TV can cause eye problems. However, watching TV and doing indoor activities instead of being outdoors may cause an increased risk for nearsightedness.
  • Myth 2. If you cross your eyes, they will stay that way. However, if the child is consistently crossing one eye and not on purpose, he should be evaluated for a condition called strabismus.
  • Myth 3. Wearing eyeglasses too often can make your eyes “dependent” on them. Eyeglass prescriptions change as children get older due to the eye growth and your genes, not from wearing glasses too often.
• QWhat can I do to prevent computer vision syndrome (CVS)?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  To prevent computer vision syndrome (CVS) it is recommended that every 20 minutes you focus your eyes on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

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• QWhat are three important things I can do to protect my eye health?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Your eyes do a lot for you. They help you enjoy scenic routes, admire Monet, and read gossip columns. So it's payback time-time to thank your eyes for all the good things they've done. I recommend you reward your eyes with this optical spa package.
  
  

  • Drink water. The tear ducts in your eyes aren't just active during onion-cutting, Meg Ryan movies, and when the Cubs lose. As you know, they're also responsible for keeping your eyes lubricated. Dry eyes-a very common problem-comes from an inadequate amount of fluid coming out of those ducts. The best treatment isn't to keep your eyes wet with another viewing of Titanic, but by drinking enough water throughout the day.
    
    
  • Snooze. As you know, sleep re-charges your whole system-including your eyes. And it's the best answer for tired eyes. Sleep helps retinal membranes by allowing them to recharge from a hard day of seeing. You need at least five hours of sleep to help your eyes.
    
    
  • Take a walk. If you sit in front of a computer all day, it's important to take a 10-minute break from it about every two hours. The light energy that comes from your computer can make your eyes ache.
• QAre carrots really good for your eyes?

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  A Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  "Eat your carrots, they're good for your eyes!" This oft-heard advice is rooted in truth: carrots and other colorful fruits and vegetables are rich in pigments known as carotenoids. Some carotenoids, such as beta carotene and alpha carotene, are known as provitamin A carotenoids, because they can be converted to vitamin A in the body. The most usable form of vitamin A, retinol, is essential to the proper function of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye.

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• QHow does working on a computer all day affect my eyes?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  Looking at computer monitors will not harm your eyes. Often, when using a computer for long periods of time, just as when reading or doing other close work, you blink less often than normal. This reduced rate of blinking makes your eyes dry, which may lead to the feeling of eyestrain or fatigue.

  Try to take regular breaks to look up or across the room. Looking at objects farther away often relieves the feeling of strain on your eyes. Keep the monitor between 18 to 24 inches from your face and at a slight downward angle. Also consider the use of artificial tears. If your vision blurs or your eyes tire easily, you should have your eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.

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• QHow should I care for my vision as I grow older?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Colin McCannel, M.D., a retina specialist and medical director of the Jules Stein Eye Center, Santa Monica, and D. Rex Hamilton, M.D., director of the UCLA Laser Refractive Center, urge people to protect their eyes from bright sunlight as a way to reduce the progression of cataracts and the risk of macular degeneration. It also is important for patients with diabetes to have an annual eye exam and immediately ask their doctor to assess any vision complaints.

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• QHow can I prevent eye problems?

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  A RealAge answered

  Follow these 10 steps to prevent vision problems and keep your eyes healthy:

  1. Know your family's eye health history - Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It's important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition that affects vision since many eye problems are hereditary.
  2. Schedule an eye exam - A visual acuity test will help your optometrist determine if you need eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction. A dilated-eye exam should also be done to check your eyes for any damage or signs of disease, such as glaucoma, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration.
  3. Eat these healthy foods for your eyes - Fill up on oranges, strawberries, and leafy greens for vitamin C. Add turkey and chicken to your diet for zinc. Eat almonds and peanut butter for vitamin E, and cook up salmon, tuna, or halibut for omega-3s.
  4. Wear sunglasses for eye protection - To protect your eyes from damaging UVB and UVA rays, wear sunglasses with large lenses -- or even wraparound lenses -- that offer 99% to 100% UVA and UVB radiation protection.
  5. Exercise daily to improve vision - Vigorous exercise, such as running, can protect your eyes from the two leading eye problems that occur over time: cataracts and macular degeneration.
  6. Prevent eye infections with contact lenses care - Contact lenses are great for vision correction if you don't like wearing eyeglasses, but it's important to take special care of them to reduce your risk of eye infections.
  7. Treat dry, irritated eyes - To prevent dry eyes, eat more foods with vitamin A (e.g., cantaloupe, carrots, and mangoes), use a humidifier to moisten dry air, and be sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes on bright or windy days.
  8. Take a break from the computer to prevent eyestrain - Follow the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eyestrain: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.
  9. Check your eyes for signs of other health problems - Blood vessels in your eyes that look stiff, form kinks or loops, or look bronze or gray instead of red, could be a sign of high blood pressure or diabetes, which can harm your eyesight. Blocked blood vessels or inflammation in your eyes may signal autoimmune disease that can cause vision problems, pain, sensitivity to light, and red, itchy eyes.
  10. Protect your eyes to prevent eye injuries - Whether playing sports or doing chores around the house, it's a good idea to protect your eyes to reduce your chance of eye injury.

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• QHow is UV radiation bad for your eyes?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  The cornea is the clear portion of your eye that covers the iris. The iris is the colored portion of your eye. If you spend a lot of time outdoors without eye protection, your cornea is exposed to UV light. This can cause a burn to your cornea called ultraviolet keratitis. Corneal burns can be painful and can cause blurry vision and, if severe, even loss of vision. Since your cornea acts as a protective barrier for your eyes, you should avoid or protect against UV light by wearing sunglasses and other protective eye gear when needed.

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• QWhat should I look for in a pair of sunglasses?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  While sunglasses are definitely a good idea when it comes to eye protection, not all sunglasses are created equal. Choose sunglasses that limit transmission to no more than 1% UVB and 1% UVA rays. Sometimes the information on the glasses will say they block at least 99% of the UV rays. That’s okay. Other things to look for:
  

  • Lenses large enough to completely cover the eye and prevent as much light as possible from entering through the edges of the glasses. Wraparound sunglasses are best.
  • Darker lenses, particularly if you are more light sensitive.
  • Gray lenses provide the least color distortion, but are not any better protection than other colored lenses.

  While most sunglasses can help block UV rays from entering through the lenses, most frame styles do not prevent rays from reaching the sides, top, and bottom of the glasses.

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• QWhy should I use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescents?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  We all know you're supposed to turn lights off when you're not using them. But you can also help by using compact fluorescent light bulbs. A 23-watt compact fluorescent will give you as much light as a 100-watt incandescent - and last ten times longer and use a quarter of the energy. The downside: They contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, so they need to be recycled properly. Check with your municipality for drop-offs for items containing mercury. (Different states have different regs; you can get more info on your state's recycling laws by checking www.lamprecycle.org.)