The problem of reducing visual acuity in our age of computer technology is particularly acute. PCs, laptops, tablets and other achievements of our time are undoubtedly useful and necessary, but they are the main cause of eye fatigue and visual impairment.
How much time does a person spend every day at a computer? The answers may be different, but it is perhaps difficult to find at least one who would not use modern technology at all. The vast majority of people spend every day from several tens of minutes to several hours, working at a computer, playing games, communicating on social networks, watching favorite TV shows, etc. And this is a significant strain on the eyes. Everyone knows about this, but they continue to spoil their vision, forgetting not only to do special exercises to relieve stress, but even not observing the recommended breaks in work.
Why is vision impaired?
- Excessive eye strain. Long-term action of bright sunlight on the organs of vision; daily, non-stop work at the computer; reading in low light - all this leads to overloads that are extremely harmful to the retina. Neglect of basic rules of visual hygiene ultimately ends in failure.
- Lack of training for the muscles involved in focusing the gaze. We are talking about the ciliary muscles, the contraction of which affects the curvature of the lens. If a person looks for a long time at the computer monitor screen, at the page of a book or at the TV screen, these muscles practically do not work. And in our body, elements that do not perform their functions for a long time, atrophy. The decrease in strength and endurance of the ciliary muscles leads to a decrease in visual acuity.
- The destruction of visual pigment. Retinal cells, which are responsible for the perception of visual information and the formation of a signal for the centers of the brain, contain a special substance, rhodopsin, which is extremely important for the normal functioning of the eyes. In conditions of lack of vitamin A, as well as with age, the visual pigment decays, which leads to visual impairment.
- Circulatory problems. For example, atherosclerosis of the vessels that feed the retina often causes a drop in visual acuity. Another disease in which the vessels of the eyes are affected is diabetes mellitus and its complication, such as retinopathy (pathological changes in the walls of the retinal vessels, as a result of which trophism is disturbed and retinal cells begin to experience ischemia).
- Dry eyes. The insufficient functioning of the lacrimal glands leads to the fact that the eyes dry, and this affects the visual acuity.
- Deteriorating eye function may be a symptom of the disease. Examples are not only pathologies of the organs of vision (cataract, glaucoma, keratitis), but also some other diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, pituitary adenoma).
What to do?
Are there effective methods for preventing visual acuity reduction or adjustments if the latter still happened?
Everyone knows about gymnastics for the eyes, but for some reason far from all do it. But these simple exercises are a very effective way to relieve fatigue during visual overload.
Glasses are already a correction method. For prevention, no one wears them, it is not necessary and even harmful. By itself, wearing glasses gradually reduces visual acuity, however, for those who already see poorly, there is simply no other way than to use glasses permanently.
However, at present, glasses for vision correction (perforation glasses) are gaining popularity. Unlike ordinary ones, they do not contribute to a drop in vision when they are constantly worn; act mainly as a means of prevention, rather than correction.
What are exercise glasses and how do they work?
Perforation glasses look as follows: the place of glass lenses is occupied by dark plates with many small holes. The principle of their operation is based on the principle of aperture, that is, through these holes on the retina, many focused beams of light fall, which significantly increases the clarity of the image.
Perforating training glasses increase visual acuity and help relieve tension from the muscles involved in accommodation.
Advantages and disadvantages
Perforation glasses improve vision only temporarily. Their action is based on the aperture effect described above, but after stopping the use of glasses, vision problems return again. So, despite the assurances of advertising, training glasses are not a therapeutic tool. They are good, first of all, for prevention, since their regular use helps to prevent a further drop in visual acuity.
It is very convenient that even people with absolutely normal vision can wear such glasses as a simulator for relieving fatigue. Perforation glasses are completely safe and do not exacerbate, unlike ordinary corrective glasses, vision problems.
The duration of their use is limited by the instructions, but still, if desired, you can wear them longer. The absence of harm from their use sometimes allows you to break the rules. Although, of course, in most cases, few people do it. The plates in place of the lenses significantly reduce the amount of sunlight falling on the retina, therefore it is uncomfortable to be in these glasses for a long time, especially in low light.
Perforation glasses take several days to adapt. At first, there is a feeling of obstruction before the eyes, discomfort due to a decrease in illumination. But with regular use of glasses, all these effects quickly disappear.
How to wear exercise glasses?
Despite the relative safety, perforation glasses are not suitable for everyone. Even for them there is a list of contraindications:
- Glaucoma.
- Pathology of the retina.
- Progressive myopia.
- Nystagmus.
In addition, it is also important to wear perforated training glasses correctly. The instruction clearly advises using them no more than half an hour a day. This time is more than enough to relax the eyes and restore their performance.
The light level is also very important if you wear perforation glasses. The instruction does not recommend their use in case of a lack of sunlight, since the glasses themselves have a dimming effect. If this rule is neglected, there is a risk of tired eyes. After all, the lack of lighting for them is a serious burden.
What do patients say about training glasses?
Opinions about this method of preventing vision problems differ, but positive ones still prevail. Many who used perforation glasses, reviews about them leave about the following contents:
- Vision ceased to deteriorate.
- Eye fatigue decreased.
- There was an opportunity at home to do without corrective glasses. After all, simulators can be used when watching TV programs or working at a computer, without resorting once again to ordinary glasses, albeit well correcting eyesight, but still unsafe for prolonged use.
Some talk about the inefficiency of perforation glasses. Like, vision improves only when you wear them, and then returns to its previous state. But from the point of view of the purpose of these points there is no contradiction. Training glasses do not heal, their main task is to stabilize vision at the level that is now available, and prevent further deterioration. Those who talk about inefficiency, apparently, do not quite understand what the perforating training glasses specifically do. The reviews of these people indicate that they either did not read the instructions or were misled. Yes, advertising sometimes likes to give these glasses healing properties, but this is not entirely true.
What do the doctor's say?
Ophthalmologists often recommend that their patients wear perforating training glasses. Reviews of doctors about the latter are usually positive. Of course, no doctor considers these glasses as a remedy, since they improve vision only temporarily, and this effect is unstable. However, as a means of preventing more serious visual disorders, perforation glasses have proven themselves well.
It is only important to follow the instructions. Although the glasses are positioned as completely harmless, the list of contraindications clearly suggests that, if misused, they can still harm.
Side effects
Some people have reported headaches, dizziness, nausea, and eye pain after wearing perforation glasses.
Why was the occurrence of all these unpleasant sensations possible? Most likely, in this case, the glasses were worn for too long, possibly in poor lighting. Or maybe those for whom the glasses had such an unpleasant effect acquired a fake, not an original product.
The use of training glasses in accordance with the recommendations (you can read about them above) is usually not accompanied by such effects.
A few words in conclusion
Vision is a very important component of a comfortable existence, which is why eye health should be treated very carefully. After all, it is always easier to destroy than to restore. It is usually very difficult to regain lost visual acuity. Therefore, take care of your eyes. Do not forget to give them a rest from time to time, and do not be lazy to regularly perform gymnastics to relieve stress.