It’s easy for us to blame just about everything on aging – age means more wrinkles, age means frail bones, and age is stealing our hearing abilities. Sure, getting older has many downsides and is a large contributor to changes in the body, but other factors can contribute to changes as well.
You may have begun to notice that you aren’t quite seeing the world the same way – and we’re talking literally. Maybe you’re seeing the eye doctor more frequently and changing your prescription more often – heck, maybe you’ve started wearing glasses after going your whole life without them. Although a large part has to do with age – the condition is known as age-related macular degeneration – there are other factors you need to consider which can temporarily be affecting your vision.
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Reasons for your changing vision
You went to graduate school
In order to better yourself and get your ideal career, you probably spent many years attending school. Although this served you well in regards to an occupation, you may be finding your vision isn’t quite the same.
Studies have shown that hours of reading are linked with nearsightedness. Because you kept your nose in the books your eyes had to adjust more to keep focus. Some research suggests that children and young adults who spend a lot of time reading are at higher risk of developing myopia – a condition that leads to blindness.
In order to protect your eyes, ensure you are spending equal durations looking at things in the distance as you are at things close up.
You skip out on berries
Our eyes can become vulnerable to oxidative stress, which berries can help combat. Much research supports the consumption of berries for improved vision – that includes night vision as well. Berries are packed with antioxidants, which work to fight free radicals that can cause damage and steal your vision.
If you want to maintain healthy vision, incorporate more antioxidant-rich berries into your diet.
You’re cooped up inside
Another factor often linked with aging is an increase in pain and a reduction in the ability to move. Many seniors are living a sedentary lifestyle, which is just as bad for overall health as it is for vision.
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Being kept inside all day has been linked to nearsightedness, but by stepping outside you’ll be able to combat this. Researchers from the University of Sydney, in Australia, found that by heading outside into the sunlight our eyes can become stronger as more dopamine becomes released.
Even if your movement abilities are limited, you could move your rocking chair to the porch or deck instead of sitting indoors.
You suffer from “computer vision syndrome”
We’re living in a more technical world, with smartphones, tablets and computer screens; each day we stare at some sort of screen shining artificial light at us. Computer vision syndrome is a temporary condition where our vision may become blurry and we may experience nausea or headaches. To combat computer vision syndrome practice the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you look at a screen spend at least 20 seconds focusing on something 20 feet away.
