Thursday, August 1, 2024

Reducing Aging Eye Fatigue Update


Eye fatigue is a common compliant in many older adults. Symptoms may include
    Fatigue
    Eye Pain
    Blurred Vision
    Double Vision
    Burning
    Watery Eyes
    Dry Eyes
    Sore Neck
    Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
    Concentration difficulties
    Headaches
Excessive and intense computer usage can also cause additional symptoms such as:
    Difficulty focusing when looking from paper to monitor screen
    Afterimages when looking away from monitor screen

Understanding Age-related Vision Changes

As part of aging, your eyes and vision change over time. While not everyone will experience the same symptoms, the following are common age-related vision changes:
  • Need for more light. As you age, you need more light to see as well as you used to. Brighter lights in your work area or next to your reading chair will help make reading and other close-up tasks easier.
  • Difficulty reading and doing close work. Printed materials can become less clear, in part because the lens in your eye becomes less flexible over time. This makes it harder for your eyes to focus on near objects than when you were younger.
  • Problems with glare. When driving, you may notice additional glare from headlights at night or sun reflecting off windshields or pavement during the day. Changes in your lenses in your eyes cause light entering the eye to be scattered rather than focused precisely on the retina. This creates more glare.
  • Changes in color perception. The normally clear lens located inside your eye may start to discolor. This makes it harder to see and distinguish between certain color shades.
  • Reduced tear production. With age, the tear glands in your eyes will produce fewer tears. This is particularly true for women experiencing hormone changes. As a result, your eyes may feel dry and irritated. Having an adequate amount of tears is essential for keeping your eyes healthy and for maintaining clear sight.
  • Go to Aging Eye Facts to learn more.

How to prevent eye fatigue?
  1. Take a break - Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. Take a longer walk in nature to extend far vision in green landscapes will benefit more. 
  2. Blink frequently - Do not forget to blink periodically. Staring at computer screens can dry our eyes and cause redness and irritation.
  3. Use proper lighting - Use incandescent lighting and avoid high-intensity lamps, which cast shadows and create glare. Place a dim light on either side of your workstation to create equal brightness without dark, shadowed areas.
  4. Use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry.
  5. Use an air cleaner to filter dust and a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air.
  6. Reduce contact lens wear: If you wear contact lens, do not leave them in for more than 12 hours a day. Let your eyes well rest for a good night sleep.
  7. Eye protection: wearing sunglasses to prevent sunlight damage.
  8. Good nutrition and sufficient quality sleep.
 Home Remedies for relieve eye strain 
  1. Massage and eye cupping - Massaging the area around the eyes (manually or use an eye massager) will help relax the muscles and stimulate the tear glands. Also try rub your hands together to create friction and warmth, then gently cup your palms over your closed eyes, may also put a gentle pressure on the eye balls and rest them in the dark for 30 seconds. Slowly open and look around.
  2. Eye exercises – regular eye exercises can alleviate eye strain, improve circulation, focus, and concentration. Roll your eyes in both clockwise and counter-clockwise for a few seconds. Then take a break and blink, repeat few times.
  3. Cold compresses: Apply a cold water soaked washcloth to tired, dry eyes (keep your eyes closed).  Other alternatives are cold rose water or whole milk soaked cotton balls, refrigerated cucumber or potato slices.
  4. Warm compresses are also effective in reducing pain and swelling: use warm water soaked clean towels or warm tea bags.   
Tips for Eliminating Screen time/Computer Eye Strain
  1. Use quality glasses or consider computer glasses - Computer glasses are prescription eyewear that are specifically designed for computer work. They allow you to focus your eyes on the distance of a computer screen, which is generally farther away than reading material. Computer glasses optimize your eyesight when you're looking at digital screens and help to reduce glare.
  2. Keep your screen bright - This reduces the flicker rate of the computer and reduces fatigue. Flickering can lead to eyestrain and headaches. Also, a bright monitor causes your pupil to constrict, which results in a greater range of focus. This reduces the need for your eye to accommodate and enables you to work longer and with more comfort.
  3. Check your monitor’s position - The position of your computer monitor can add to your eyestrain. It is important that it be positioned at the proper distance away from your eyes. Optimally, your computer screen should be 15 to 20 degrees below eye level (about 4 or 5 inches) as measured from the center of the screen and 20 to 28 inches from the eyes.
  4. Adjust your screen resolution - Make sure your monitor has a high-resolution display. A higher resolution produces sharper type and crisper images, reducing eye strain.
  5. Minimize glare - Clean your monitor regularly to remove dust and consider installing an anti-glare screen. It also helps to keep shades drawn to prevent glare from outside sources.
  6. Eliminate overall computer, tablet, and smart phone usage time. Block time to turn your personal electronics off, i.e., on evenings and Saturdays.
Schedule a comprehensive eye exam

You should get your eyes checked at least once a year, especially as you grow older. Be aware of cataracts development, when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up your eye's lens. At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms, such as
    •    Clouded, blurred or dim vision
    •     Increasing difficulty with vision at night
    •     Sensitivity to light and glare
    •     Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
    •     Seeing "halos" around lights
    •     Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
    •     Fading or yellowing of colors
    •     Double vision in a single eye
Routine eye exams give you the opportunity to discuss with your eye-care professional any issues you may be having, and they may enable you to catch any problems in their early stages.

Ask your doctor about vitamins and supplements - Getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals is important for overall as well as eye health. Vitamins that contain antioxidants and ingredients may benefit the health of the eye and reduce eyestrain, such as Lutein, vitamins A, C and E with a B complex and Zinc.
 
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