Google Eyes

[Catwoman]

I used to have 20-20 vision but now my eyes are completely fucked (ok - notably short sighted) and I'm peripherally blind to anything more than a few feet away from me. I think it's because I stare at a computer screen all bloody day. Has anyone else's eyesight been ruined by our flickering friend or am I just making a pc out of a calculator? Would quite like to know so I can aportion blame.

[glatt]

Yes, computers cause eyestrain, which ruins your vision. But if you go on vacation and get lots of rest with no reading or computer work, your eyes will improve again.

Practice 20/20, which means every twenty minutes, stare off into space or out a window for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a rest. This will help somewhat.

Mostly though, your eyes are getting worse because they are changing shape as you get older. The visual image in your eyes is focused in front of your retina intead of on your retina. It's because your retina has moved back as your eye changed shape.

As you get older, your lens will get rigid, and it will be difficult to focus on close things by flexing that lens. Then you won't be able to see far away or close up.

Becoming short-sighted happens to many folks as they get older. People can begin becoming short-sighted as young as 30. The loss of peripheral vision is something else again. I don't mean to worry you, but loss of peripheral vision can be an early sign of glaucoma. If you haven't had your vision tested in the last year, you might want to go into an optomertist or doctor and have the pressure in your eyes checked.

[jaguar]

Yes is the short answer. My vision is a mess, massive amounts of reading and computer use are largely to blame.

[Beestie]

Same here. My eye doc told me its because I'm getting old. Not really but he said that deterioration starts at 40. Apparently, he wasn't kidding. My eyesight is going downhill fast.

I've been staring at computer screens for 20 years. My vision only recently started going bad and only after I crossed 40. I'm not sure computer screens have anything to do with it but that's just an opinion based on my own experience.

I think the key to working on computers a lot is to not have the monitor up against a wall - i.e., have some distant objects in the background right behind it and look away and focus on those objects frequently. If your computer screen has to be against a wall, put a mirror on your desk, aim it at something interesting that' s a long way off and focus on it frequently.

I don't see why computer screens are any more detrimental than reading a lot. I think the key is to vary the distance at which your eyes are focused a lot. Again, personal opinion.

But it seemsthat our eyesight goes bad at 40 no matter what we do or don't do.

[Catwoman]

Hmm... interesting. I am early 20s so reluctant to blame age. Glad to hear it's not just me (well, obviously not glad, that would be nasty). I have to wear glasses for driving etc - does it help if I wear these while looking at the computer? (My untrained medical view is: it presents a layer of protection against flickering/radiating/poisoning screen ergo preventative action against further damage). I will also try all exercises.

I also hold the view that the eye like any other muscle can be trained, and therefore we can improve (even fully recover) our vision if so inclined and with enough determination. I have talked myself out of many minor 'illnesses' before, so why not this one? Know anyone who has recovered their eyesight without medication/optical assistance?

[Lady Sidhe]

I do know that the older you get, the longer your vision becomes. My grandmother can read a sign across the street, no problem, but has to hold a piece of paper at arm's length, and squint...lol.

I'm nearsighted with an astigmatism, and though I had RK about ten years ago, my eyesight is getting to the point where I'm going to need glasses again soon, at least for night vision. I figure by the time I'm 45 or so, (what with vision getting longer as one gets older) that I should have perfect eyesight, at least for a while...*grin*

[jaguar]

I'm 19. Without contacts or glasses everything beyond the end of my nose is a big blur. I had 20/20 at age 10.

Now I just live with contacts in and barely notice.

[DanaC]

Know anyone who has recovered their eyesight without medication/optical assistance?

A few years ago my mum had a great deal of tyrouble with her eyes. She was in pain and her vision was blurred quite badly. She sought the advice of a doctor and he sent her to an eyespecialist and he very helpfully told her she had a deteriorating eye condition ( macular deneration) that would continue to get worse and possibly one day her vision would either o tunnel or cut out entirely....this was after two weeks of being scared to death because she'd been told it might be a tumour....

Anyways...She got the impression she had only a little while left with sight and was very depressed. The backs of her eyes were ulcerated through dry eye and the future looked bleak ( if you'll pardon the pun)

Then she did some reading online and discovered that menopausal women often have this problem. Lots of sites and forums all pointe dher the same way, a series of food supplements which were extremely beneficial to reasserting the body's balances after menopause and also more generally to improve eye health.

She didnt cure herself but her vision is much better and most of the symptoms cleared up after a fairly short time on the supplements. These days it isnt much of a factor in her life

I cant recall exactly which ones are best for eyes. I know bilberry/blueberry is one which contains anti oxidants which promote eye health. also Orange bell peppers and some of the other brightly coloured veg.

There are supplements which can be bought from most healthfood stores which combine the various eye friendly ingredients into a single mix and there are many brands of bilberry extract supplements.

Some people feel the Bates Method of eye exercises have helped them. Here's one link of many that you can find on Google
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/health/ghe...182664,00.html

I tried the Bates technique and the exercises did nothing for me. I've been near-sighted since I was about 8. My Dad blamed me being such a book worm on my need for glasses. I DID read a lot - probably 4 or 5 books a week, but I also had two aunts and an uncle whose vision was as bad as mine, so I blame genetics and wear my contacts and thank God for them.

I'm serious about the glaucoma thing. People can develop it in their early 20's. My ex-husband was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of 23 and what alerted the optometrist was my ex's loss of peripheral vision. Untreated glaucoma can cause a person to go blind, but there are simple treatments available that will stop this from happening. If you really feel you have lost peripheral vision, check with your doctor.

[DanaC]

I have a friend who has glaucoma and swears by pot for relief.

[Catwoman]

OK you're scaring me now with this whole glaucoma thing. I've always thought my lack of peripheral awareness was down to my absent-mindedness/lack of general observation skills. Even my friends have picked it up and find it presents great opportunity for piss-taking. I never considered it might be something more serious. Do you think I should go to the doctor? It's not that bad but I guess that's what everyone thinks.

[DanaC]

Dont be scared Catwoman. Thts just the way the thread went. Someone used the word glaucoma next thing ye know thats what the threads about.

If its something thats been there for a long time its probably nothing. If its a recently new phenomenon it might be worth checking out. There are a great deal more likely and less serious things which could cause that. If you have any reason to think you may have something wrong with your health you should seek medical advice . Go see your GP. He'll be able to reassure you.

[Catwoman]

Go see your GP. He'll be able to reassure you

Was that intentionally ironic?

[tomthejunglecat]

Don't feel bad, my vision is 20/800. :p