Why vision deteriorates: 5 main reasons

There are 5 most common causes of visual impairment. Let’s list them and find out what to do in each case.

1. Age changes

A very common situation: a person never complained about his vision and had a solid “one”, but over time he began to notice that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to see small print and objects at close range. Usually, it is not a specific disease that is to blame, but the natural changes that occur in our body with age.

“In the human eye there is a natural lens – the lens. With the help of muscles, it can flatten and stretch, allowing us to clearly see nearby objects,” explains ophthalmologist Olga Bulgakova. – However, with age, the lens loses its elasticity, and a person develops the so-called natural presbyopia (from the Greek presbos – “an elderly person”, and op – “eye”).

This is not a disease in the classical sense: presbyopia is present in all people without exception after 40-45 years, and you can lead a normal life with it – if you use corrective glasses with multifocal lenses.

2. Genetics

Often vision problems are hereditary. Often, but not always. If myopia was common among your ancestors, this does not mean that you will also have it. Scientists came to the conclusion that not myopia itself is inherited, but a predisposition to it, that is, much will depend on external factors. Therefore, it is important to check your eyesight at least once a year, and if violations are still found, correct them in time. For example, with glasses.

3.Excessive stress

One of the “external factors” that affect vision is eye strain. Even in healthy people, after prolonged work at a computer or using gadgets, the quality of vision may temporarily decrease. This cannot be completely avoided, but eye strain can be reduced. Here’s how to do it:

• Work at the computer so that the distance to the monitor is at least 60-70 centimeters. The center of the screen should be slightly below eye level – about 10-15 cm, or 10 degrees. If you are using a smartphone, keep it at least 30 cm away from your eyes. Don’t forget to increase the font size and adjust the brightness to a comfortable level so your eyes won’t get tired.
• Glare of light should not fall on the surface of the screen – neither from the window, nor from the lamps.
• Take care of additional lighting – install a lamp with a power of no more than 60 watts on your desktop. It is better if the light is slightly diffused.
• Once a week, clean the dust from the monitor and TV surface.
• Take breaks as often as possible to look into the distance. During the break, it is better to get up and move around, ideally go outside.

4. Diseases not related to vision, but directly affecting it

There are quite a few diseases in which one of the possible complications is visual impairment. These include diabetes mellitus, diseases of the spine and blood vessels, and some infections. Therefore, if possible, regularly undergo a complete examination. A timely detected and cured disease will help not only solve the problem with vision, but also avoid other serious consequences.

5.Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid many diseases. Ophthalmologists have long proven a direct link between the quality of vision and bad habits. Smoking, alcohol abuse, poor sleep – all this negatively affects our eyes.

Nutrition is also of great importance – the diet should be balanced and saturated with vitamins. Especially important are foods high in vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining eye health. Most of all it is in carrots and spinach, orange vegetables and fruits (pumpkin, sweet potato, apricots), dairy products, liver and fatty fish.

And, of course, we must try to maintain a balance between work and personal life – this is useful not only for the eyes, but for the whole organism. Walking in the fresh air, meeting with friends and at least a five-minute break for exercise for the eyes during the working day are important conditions for maintaining clear vision.