I do an exercise each day where I try to (for at least 10 minutes) look at very distant objects like the horizon or a tree in the distance. I do this because it relaxes the eye especially if you work with screens all day (which I do).
Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
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Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#42I do an exercise each day where I try to (for at least 10 minutes) look at very distant objects like the horizon or a tree in the distance. I do this because it relaxes the eye especially if you work with screens all day (which I do).
I've heard the rule that it should be like at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes or so. Of course, it's all just heuristics, though.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#43I do an exercise each day where I try to (for at least 10 minutes) look at very distant objects like the horizon or a tree in the distance. I do this because it relaxes the eye especially if you work with screens all day (which I do).
I've heard the rule that it should be like at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes or so. Of course, it's all just heuristics, though.
None of these eye exercises have any benefit for myopia prevention. They might reduce eyestrain, but that is not related to the article.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#44"Increased risk of wetness linked to reduced distance from water, studies suggest." Human bodies autocalibrate for their environment to a remarkable degree on virtually every axis, moreso during childhood and adolescence and to a lesser degree after reaching maturity. I can't fathom why anyone would doubt that spending all of your time staring at nearby objects causes your eyes to adapt to staring at nearby objects.
This article specifically says the near work hypothesis does not fit the data.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#45I moved to a ground floor place, and basically get no direct light. Sort of a shock after years of a sunny place.
I have some studio lights around for recording. Would these benefit the eye the way the sun does? I had considered using them while working for seasonal affective disorder.
It's hard to be sure but my eyes feel a little weaker since moving in.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#46I do an exercise each day where I try to (for at least 10 minutes) look at very distant objects like the horizon or a tree in the distance. I do this because it relaxes the eye especially if you work with screens all day (which I do).
I've heard the rule that it should be like at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes or so. Of course, it's all just heuristics, though.
The rule is every 20 minutes look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. They say to keep 20/20, follow 20/20/20.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#47This is a real issue in South Korea and many other Asian countries, where it's prevalent. In these countries, having a "fair/light" skin signifies social prestige. Which is why most parents do not let their children go out to play and explore while the sun is out. This mentality is primarily rooted from imperial times, where tan skin was associated with lower-class field or farm work. I personally experienced this, g…
In northern Europe it's the exact opposite. Youths go out of their way to get tanned skin as is signifies social prestige on Instagram and IRL, as in you can afford to go often on vacations in sunny places year round as opposed to the poor wage slaves who are at their desks most of the year.
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#48[deleted]
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#49I believe it. While I was in university, my eyes strained a lot to the point where they'd start to tear uncontrollably for days on end, I'd get headaches and my vision literally got worse. But every summer I'd spend weeks on end outdoors, camping, hiking, etc... It got better, all the eye strain went away. My mother used to have 20/20 vision, until a decade into her career as an accountant (it could have been age, but eye problems aren't prevalent in her family).
That's part of the reason I decided to do something outside of my degree path (that and the fact economics is depressing AF). I still enjoy computers, economics, all the things I studied, but working with my hands, stints in the outdoors, not staring at a screen makes me happier (and healthier).
Re: Increased rates of myopia linked to reduced time outside, studies suggest (2015)
#50I've needed glasses for myopia since my early teens. As the inevitable decline in eye focusing ability set in (I'm now 52), I've taken to keeping a pair of glasses with weakened prescription (-1, 1.25, 1.5 diopter all seem to work equally well, just affects posture i.e. ideal distance to screen) near every computer workstation I use. With cheap mail-order outfits like Zenni cost is not an issue.
With these on, my eyes' comfortable (and nearly only remaining) "infinity focus" is used to work at a computer. One wonders, if myopia is, in fact, caused by long-term eye strain from excessive near focus time during developing years, whether a disciplined approach of using normal reading glasses designed for older folks, while doing all paper/computer work, might help against developing myopia.
I'm aware of bifocals and contact lenses/laser surgery (with these, ordinary cheap reading glasses would suffice) but I've always been most comfortable just wearing normal eyeglasses, so switching to weakened glasses as necessary works for me.