Does a computer harm your eyesight? Smartphone damages vision: how to protect your eyes. “Reading in poor lighting damages your eyesight.”

Not all vision problems can be prevented: many of them are inherited or are simply a feature of your body. But some things are worth paying attention to. We tell you why severe dry eyes appear after a working day and how to properly care for contact lenses.

1. You forget to wear sunglasses

Glasses are needed in sunny weather not for beauty or for convenience. Ultraviolet radiation can damage the retina and cause temporary but serious burns to the surface of the eyes. Therefore, you need to wear glasses every time you go outside, even if it seems that you can easily do without them. If you wear contact lenses, try to choose a model with UV protection - this will help protect your eyes even better. And of course, never look at the sun: this leads to irreversible eye damage.

Light reflected from snow, sand, concrete and water, as well as artificial lighting in a solarium, is especially dangerous. Being in a solarium is not only undesirable in general, but also much more dangerous than being under the scorching sun, since the exposure to ultraviolet rays is even stronger there. Trying to tan can lead to skin cancer, premature aging, burns and eye irritation.

Long reading, studying at a desk, and finally embroidery and other crafts lead to deterioration of vision. And indeed it is. But such activity is not the only reason. According to a large study by doctors from Cambridge, it is not the reading and embroidery itself that is more risky, but the general lifestyle. People spend too little time outdoors in nature and open spaces. Thus, the world record was set by Singapore, where 82% are myopic. The main enemy of myopia is walking. And an extra hour of fresh air reduces the risk of myopia by 26 percent. “Firstly, natural light, which is brighter than artificial light, promotes the production of dopamine in the retina (dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which also limits the growth of the eyeball); secondly, outdoors our eyes naturally focus on the most distant objects, even the horizon line if we are outside the city.” The British study involved 10,400 adults and children. Apart from the relationship between eye health and outdoor exposure, there has been no evidence that the risk of developing myopia is directly related to the amount of time spent working at a computer, watching television, or engaging in other activities that involve focusing vision at a distance of 30 cm.

There is an opinion that reading in poor lighting and looking at your phone in the dark is harmful to your eyesight. Doctors say that regularly creating such conditions for the eyes negatively affects their functionality and provokes myopia. In the short term, the darkened area does not have a negative impact, as they adapt to this amount of lighting and normalize their work. Vitamins, proper nutrition and periodic unloading of the organ help maintain good vision.

When is darkness harmful?

Conditions in which low light or darkness harms vision:

• Using a phone or computer, or watching TV with a strong screen light:
• prolonged eye strain in poor lighting, including reading, sewing, assembling small parts;
• sharp and frequent changes from darkness to bright light.

The fact that vision deteriorates from reading in the dark is an absolute myth, which has been refuted by medical scientists.

Insufficient lighting affects the eyes, increasing the load on this organ. Lack of light and close proximity of a book or monitor creates additional strain on vision. But the eyes are characterized by the property of adapting to low or strong lighting. When there is a lack of light, the pupil dilates and transmits more light to the retina. In this regard, a person is able to distinguish objects in the dark when he gets used to the lighting.

Why is this happening?

If you use the phone in a room without light, bringing it close to your eyes, you can provoke myopia.

If you consistently read or look at your phone close to your eyesight and in a poorly lit room, you may develop myopia (nearsightedness). Since the eye will begin to strain intensely and adapt to the perception of objects at close range, while losing the skills of focusing on objects in the distance. In harsh light, a person may instantly feel a headache and a cutting sensation in the eyes. Swelling of the eyelid and tearfulness are also possible. When reading steadily in poor lighting, the cones get used to receiving more light and the eye muscles continue to tense due to the proximity of the object. This impairs vision and prevents you from further focusing on distant images. Violation occurs only with daily long reading in the dark.

The total amount of time spent watching TV, tablet, phone or computer is increasing. All age groups are susceptible to the effects of the listed electronic devices. In order not to worsen your health, it is worth knowing whether a computer spoils your eyesight and how you can preserve it.

Can a computer harm your eyesight?

Disputes on this matter have not subsided since the appearance of the first monitors. The discussion has been going on for many years, although it is difficult to imagine a person who does not interact with monitors at all. Each side has reason to consider its opinion correct.

The first monitors released had built-in electroray tubes. The radiation from such a device had a negative effect on a person, affecting the eyes in a negative way. Modern monitors are made using a different technology; they are equipped with a liquid crystal screen that does not emit anything.

But it is worth understanding that the influence of a computer on vision is noticeable not only because of the design of the monitor.

Why does a computer harm your eyesight?

Vision deteriorates for several reasons:

• Incorrect monitor setting. In preparation for work, it is necessary to correctly adjust the image characteristics. The lack of a clear picture, hard-to-read font and poor-quality text design lead to unnecessary eye strain. It is necessary to set the correct resolution on the monitor. Ideally, you need to achieve a clear picture that will be easier for the eyes to perceive.
• Excessive time spent at the computer. Long-term work can lead to deterioration of vision from the monitor (whether it permanently deteriorates or there is a chance to preserve it, we will consider in preventive measures). Office workers, after a day of intense computer work, experience discomfort in their eyes. There is a feeling of dryness, redness and fatigue of the eyes.
• Lack of lighting. If you have to work in a dark room, there is a serious impact on the optic nerve. It is difficult for the eye to quickly adjust from a light screen to a dark room.
• Computer location. According to the standards, it is necessary to install the computer and monitor at a distance of 60 centimeters from the eyes.

Symptoms of visual impairment

Each person's vision deteriorates at a different rate. Some people sit at the computer for days without getting tired, while others find it difficult to spend even half the day in front of a monitor. The main symptoms by which one can determine that vision is being impaired by a computer are as follows:

1. Unpleasant sensation in the eyes. The main indicators of eye fatigue: dryness, burning, tearing. Such symptoms appear because a person, concentrating on the monitor, blinks less often.
2. Blurred vision. This is the next stage after fatigue. If you work in a room with smoke or insufficient lighting, your eyes will tire faster.
3. The appearance of pain in the neck, shoulders and back indicates that the body is in an uncomfortable position, which leads to insufficient saturation of organs with oxygen and blood, including the eyes.
4. Dizziness and pain in the head. It is considered the most dangerous symptom that occurs when working at a computer for a long time.

Here the question immediately arises: does a computer spoil your eyesight? With a fair degree of confidence we can say that it spoils. But this process takes place individually for each person. To prevent this situation, you need to give your eyes time to rest.

Possible complications

All of the above symptoms appear in connection with long work at the computer. But these signs can also refer to serious eye diseases. In order not to confuse the symptoms, it is necessary to visit an ophthalmologist several times a year.

Prevention measures

A person will no longer be able to give up computers and all kinds of gadgets, so it is necessary to reduce the risk of damaging his eyes. To do this, you need to follow simple rules that will make your eyes comfortable to work with. The basic rule is to use high-quality computer monitors that are safe for eyesight. Experts give the following recommendations for maintaining visual function at the proper level:

• For painless work, it is recommended to set the monitor to the lowest resolution with a frequency of 80 Hz.
• The monitor contrast is adjusted to maximum, the picture should be clear.
• The optimal distance of the eyes from the monitor is considered to be 60-70 cm, and its tilt should not exceed 15°. It should be unfolded so that there are no unnecessary glares.
• When reading any information or watching a video, it is not recommended to look too closely at the object.
• The eyes need rest: preferably every hour for five minutes.
• Try to blink more often, this will prevent your eyes from drying out.
• If you have to spend a lot of time at the computer every day, you need to add foods to your diet that can have a positive effect on your vision (carrots, celery, blueberries, nuts).
• For work, special glasses are also worn that can
• You should visit an ophthalmologist regularly.
• Do eye exercises at any free time.

Eye drops

To preserve vision, a person who spends a lot of time looking at a monitor needs eye drops for eye fatigue. The following categories of drugs can help against the computer, namely, against its harm to the body:

1. Acting on the restoration of the mucous membrane of the eye.
2. Providing hydration.
3. Anti-edema drops.

The table below will help you understand this.

Gymnastics for the eyes

With the help of eye exercises, you can not only restore vision lost at work, but also achieve optimal performance. They are carried out twice a day: morning and evening. At the same time, the head should be motionless, and all exercises should be performed with the eyes alone. Their movements should be as amplitude as possible. The following course is performed:

• Move your eyes up and then down in a vertical direction.
• Move your eyes horizontally to the right and left.
• Movements diagonally from right to left and back.
• Next, a figure eight is performed in a vertical position.
• Figure eight in a horizontal position.
• Make a large circle with your eyes, making stops like on a dial at each number. Then we repeat the exercise, stopping only at marks 6 and 12.

The entire complex consists of 8 repetitions for each exercise. Having completed the execution, the eyes need to be given a rest (blinking quickly). After completing general gymnastics, you can cover your eyes with your hands and rest for at least 10 minutes.

To make the task more difficult for yourself, exercises are carried out with closed eyelids, this additionally massages the lens of the eye.

Whether it spoils or falls for other reasons, the above exercises can help restore it if the case does not fall into the category of neglected ones.

How to relax after working at the computer for a long time?

After a long day of work, your eyes need proper rest. You won't be able to do this while playing computer games or watching TV shows. The following are considered useful:

• walks in the fresh air, as sunlight has a positive effect on the retina of the eye;

• warming up all the muscles of the back and neck;
• Don’t forget about eye exercises;
• It is recommended to drink plain water and eat fruits;
• wear glasses for vision;
• drink tea to improve vision, which can be purchased at the pharmacy.

An important point is the consumption of vitamin A, it is beneficial for the retina. It is recommended to drink it in courses; continuous use is prohibited.

So, does a computer ruin your eyesight? Yes, it’s clear to everyone what’s spoiling it. But it is also clear that by following simple rules of prevention and giving your eyes rest after hard work, you can not complain about their deterioration for many years.