Basic Eye Care
Life Style and Eyes
For Athletes
Keep in mind that an
athlete may still require protection against injuries during contact
sports, no matter which type of vision correction he chooses. If there
is any risk of being hit by a fast-moving ball or other object (as in
racquetball, squash, hockey, etc.), eye protection is
highly-recommended, whether you are wearing contacts or not. A
polycarbonate eyeguard will not distort vision.
While
some manufacturers have develSoped contact lenses that offer protection
from ultraviolet rays, many lenses do not. In any case, sunglasses or
dark goggles should be worn to protect the eyes in sunlight outdoors,
particularly in such sports as swimming, skiing or ice-skating where
they may be a lot of glare.
Performers&Actors: contactlenses on stage
Contact
lenses provide a double benefit to the active lifestyles of performers,
who may need to change or enhance their appearance while dancing,
acting or participating in dramatic activities that may be as vigorous
as a major league baseball game.
Before colored
contact lenses were available to the public, movie stars were using
them to change their eye color. Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award for
Wait Until Dark in 1967, in which she played a blind woman, wearing
lenses specially designed to make her appear so.
Computer Use and Eyes
Instead
of starring on the silver screen, or slugging home runs out of Fenway
Park , a great number of people spend the majority of their workday in
front of a computer screen. By one estimate, nearly 90 percent of those
people working at a video display terminal (VDT) experienced some form
of vision problem as a result.
How do you tell if your symptoms are related to your computer use?
VDT-related
symptoms occur some time after you start work. As the workday
progresses, your symptoms will become more acute. What are the symptoms
that are related to computer use?
- Difficulty focusing after working at a computer, with blurry or double vision
- Eyestrain or eye fatigue
- Headaches or backaches
- Dry and/or irritated eyes
- Neck stiffness or discomfort
- After-images when looking away from the screen
- Sensitivity to lighting
- Muscle spasms
Are there environmental factors that could affect your symptoms?
- Bright lights in your peripheral field of vision could add to discomfort or reduced visual performance.
- Reflected
light on your computer screen can decrease the contrast of screen
characters and possibly force you to assume an awkward position to see
around the glare.
The location of your screen could cause awkward positioning.
To determine the cause of your symptoms, you should visit your eye care
professional. Before going to your appointment, however, take note of
the environment in which your symptoms occur and at what times they are
greatest. This will aid your doctor greatly in the diagnosis.
If computer eyestrain is the diagnosis, there are simple methods to ease the discomfort:
- don't focus on a single object for a prolonged period of time;
- improve the lighting around your monitor;
- blink often;
- frequently close your eyes, then look far into the distance (down a hallway or out a
- window) every 15-20 minutes to relax them;
- sit at least 18-28 inches away from the screen;
- tilt the monitor slightly below eye level; and
- keep your screen dust-free to minimize visual interference.
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