Daily tips for maintaining eye health
A QUEENSLAND University of Technology (QUT) eye health researcher and optometrist in Australia has advised taking a break from modern technology and heading outdoors as one of the best ways to maintain eye health. Brisbane-based Assoc Prof Scott Read puts spending more time in natural light – and less time in front of a screen – as one of his top five everyday tips for keeping your eyes healthy. “There’s two known benefits to being outside in today’s world,” explains Read. “It gives your eyes a chance to focus on things further away and have a rest from close-up work, and it also exposes our eyes to brighter outdoor light which appears to reduce our risks of developing shortsightedness.”
The professor, who is director of research at QUT’s School of Optometry and Vision Science, led a study into children’s light exposure and eye growth last year which showed a link between increased exposure to outdoor light and preventing or reducing short-sightedness, also known as myopia, in children.
The results showed that less than 60 minutes of outdoor light exposure per day is a risk factor for myopia, with Read recommending that ideally, children spend at least two hours a day outside to help prevent myopia from developing and progressing.
However, it is not yet known why outdoor light has this beneficial affect on eyesight.
As well as heading outdoors, here are five more top tips from Read for good eye health: Take regular breaks from close work and screen time Try shifting your focus and looking at something in the distance every 20 minutes or so when doing close work.
Don’t smoke This increases the risks of cataracts, macular degeneration and damage to your optic nerve. Know your family’s eye health history Get regular check-ups (adults and children), especially if there are hereditary eye conditions.
Get plenty of sleep A bad night’s sleep contributes to eye fatigue. Eat more dark leafy greens and egg yolks They contain lutein and zeaxanthin which are important nutrients for eye health. – AFPRelaxnews