Healthy Eye and Vision

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• QWhy should I limit my intake of high glycemic foods?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Limit your intake of carbohydrates that are quickly digested and absorbed, such as white bread, corn chips, and other refined grains. Diets rich in these “high-glycemic” foods have been shown to increase a key risk factor for the development of macular degeneration.

  
  
• QWhich nutrients improve night vision and eye health?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Get currants:  Black currants contain the compound anthocyanosides, which may be helpful for promoting night vision. Also called cassis, they can be found in jams, jellies, scones, and pies.

  Be green:  Two other nutrients that show promise in improving eye health are lutein and zeaxanthin. They sound exotic but are easy to find.

      •Good lutein sources: spinach, peas, and green bell peppers

      •Good sources of zeaxanthin: corn, spinach, orange bell peppers, and tangerines

   

   

   

   

  
  This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com

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• QHow can I protect my eyes while using a computer?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Set your computer on a low table, or use a portable computer so your eyes look down when you work. This keeps the eyelid opening smaller, which reduces your chance of developing the condition dry eye. Also change your computer’s flicker rate to 70 or above to help reduce irritation.
  
  Look up from the screen every 20 minutes or so and stare 20 feet ahead for 20 seconds. If you sit at a computer all day, take a 10-minute break every two hours and go for a walk.

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• 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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• QCan using computers damage 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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• 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.)

  

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• QWhat made me see bright wavy lines while using my computer?

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

  You may be seeing bright wavy lines while using your computer due to floaters in your eyes. Floaters are tiny bits of debris that float around in the eye and are usually harmless. It is more common to see floaters when you are staring at something bright and light colored, like a computer screen (especially if the screen has a white background), if you are looking at a white wall in a brightly lit room, or if you go outside at noon and stare off into a cloudless sky. 

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• QCan sitting close to the television damage my child’s eyes?

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  A American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart answered

  Children can focus at close distance without eyestrain better than adults. They often develop the habit of holding reading materials close to their eyes or sitting right in front of the television.

  There is no evidence that this damages their eyes, and the habit usually diminishes as children grow older. However, children with nearsightedness (myopia) sometimes sit very close to the television in order to see the images more clearly, so they should have an eye examination.

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

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  A Dr. Aaron P. Weingeist, MD , Ophthalmology, answered on behalf of American Academy of Ophthalmology's EyeSmart

  Working on computers or video display terminals (VDTs) will not permanently harm your eyes. However, when using a VDT for long periods of time, just as reading or doing other close work, you blink less than you normally would. This reduced rate of blinking makes your eyes dry, which may lead to the feeling of eyestrain or fatigue. It's worth reminding yourself to look away from the computer every 20 minutes or so to give your eyes a break. The target should be more than 10 feet away, and your break should last at least 20 seconds.
  
  
• QWhat are the symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS)?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  How you know if you have computer vision syndrome (CVS)? See if you experience the following symptoms:

  • dry eyes
  • neck and shoulder pain
  • blurry vision
  • headaches
  • eyestrain

  CVS comes from prolonged use of any digital technology, like computers, tablets, e-readers and cell phones. It occurs because your eyes have to work harder when you look at a screen, which is so very different than looking at a printed page. It won't cause permanent eye damage, but your eyes will feel damaged -- dry and tired.
  
  This content originally appeared on HealthyWomen.org.