If you’re looking at the good side of self-isolation, you might say that COVID-19 has provided a little more time to catch up on your reading. But after a couple of weeks, you may notice your eyes aren’t what they used to be.
At some point, practically everybody will need reading glasses. It doesn’t mean you’ve got a major eye emergency or health condition, however. It’s just that over time, your eyes naturally lose their ability to focus. It’s called presbyopia.
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So, if you find yourself needing to hold your book a little further from your face, blurred vision, or your eyes getting tired when holding reading materials close, it could be affecting you.
Eye lubricants are one quick way to deal with it. Eye lubricants mimic the effect of tears, your eye’s natural moisturizer. Tear glands slow down production over time, leading to dryer eyes that can make it harder to focus. Saline-based lubricants can take care of it.
If your eyes aren’t feeling dry, you might just need to improve the lighting in your reading area. Ordering some 100-watt lightbulbs for your reading lamp or positioning your chair by a window may be all you need to fix your focus issues.
Lastly, if you’re catching up on a lot of reading, perhaps spending hours per day curled up with a book, you may just need to give your eyes a bit of a break. Just like other parts of your body, your eyes get tired with overuse. Divert your focus occasionally to offer a rest.
Just because the issues are normal with age and use, it doesn’t mean you should abandon your other eye-health measures. There are several factors at play that can influence eye health in different ways.
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Maintaining a healthy diet featuring leafy green vegetables, featuring antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, is great for protecting eye health. Fatty fish, nuts, animal proteins, and citrus fruits are also great to optimize eye health.
Managing blood pressure and blood sugar are also essential to preventing more severe eye disease, so taking a break from reading for some exercise and healthy meal prep is also recommended!
Get the most out of your reading by taking care of your eyes and taking steps to maintain eye strength and healthy vision.
Devon Andre has been involved in the health and dietary supplement industry for a number of years. Devon has written extensively for Bel Marra Health. He has a Bachelor of Forensic Science from the University of Windsor, and went on to complete a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh. Devon is keenly aware of trends and new developments in the area of health and wellness. He embraces an active lifestyle combining diet, exercise and healthy choices. By working to inform readers of the options available to them, he hopes to improve their health and quality of life.
