All organs are important and they all serve a purpose. In fact funny enough the organs interact with one another but in this post I will be looking at one organ that interacts with your external environment to pass message to your brain via sight by saying that, I mean the organ that allows you to be able to read what I am writing easily. I am not discussing anatomy, rather I will be looking at care. I will be discussing simple things you can do not to lose your vision.
Asides from going completely blind, there are other conditions that can affect the eyes which would the same way mean that you are unable to utilize the eye properly as some form of vision would be impaired. Some cases are shortsightedness, where seeing extreme far places become blurry without the help of an aid, or in the case of being longsighted where far things are clear but closer things are blurry. Some other eye conditions can include Glaucoma (Increased pressure in the eye), Astigmatism, Cataracts (patches in sight when looking).
While the effect of screen on the eyes is still being debated, some studies tell us that continuous exposure of the eyes to blue light from screen can affect the retina cells over time killing them and leading to Age-related Macular degeneration. While I look at numerous studies and papers, I realize that there are conflicting answers to if blue light causes macular degeneration but to be on a safer side, wearing blue light glasses, or using blue light saver mode on devices is a good option.
Something that is agreed upon when it comes to screen time is not blinking often and its association to dry eyes. Spending lots of time on screen being hyperfocused without blinking can lead to eye irritation and dryness over time.
Smoking is another thing that affects the eye. Before you start to yell how possible is that, let me explain to you quickly. When you smoke, blood is blocked from reaching certain organs which the eye is one of them and low blood supply to the retina means poor sight. While smoking constricts and reduces blood from reaching certain organs, exercise does the opposite. Exercising regularly allows blood to travel to different parts of the body as a result of the blood vessels being widen. Before you start to think that you would smoke and do exercise so it would neutralize themselves, let me quickly tell you that it doesn't work that way because smoking while reducing blood to get the organs also destroy the cells in the organ.
Talking about care for the eyes, let me quickly talk about lutein and the eyes. Lutein is a xanthophyll carotenoid found in the eyes and the brain. While it is in high demand in the eyes and bran, the body doesn't produce it, rather it has to be obtained either through diet or supplementation. The recommended amount of lutein to be taken is still being researched but if you look at supplements, it is usually within 10 to 20mg per day. In food, it can be found in Kale, Spinach, broccoli, and other green leaf vegetable. It is also present in egg yolk, corn, and red pepper.
In the eyes, lutein has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and are beneficial for eye health protecting and supporting the photoreceptor cells (Rods and Cones) in the retina. So when there is a high energy light coming into the retina, lutein protects the eyes from the light. Lutein has been shown to help prevent eye strain and fatigue when using digital devices for a prolonged period of time.
Lutein affects stress, mood, and the brain. Consuming lutein has been shown to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor and increase cognitive performance including memory, processing speed, and attention. he Research also shows that lutein decreases stress in the body by reducing the stress hormone cortisol helping people to be calm and improve brain health. Lutein also improves overall sleep and sleep quality.
Taking care of our eyes is crucial for maintaining good vision and overall health. Simple practices such as using blue light filters, blinking frequently during screen time, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, and incorporating lutein-rich foods into our diet can significantly improve eye health and prevent vision problems. Prevention is always better than cure, so seek to prevent and not to cure.
Reference
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/will-blue-light-from-electronic-devices-increase-my-risk-of-macular-degeneration-and-blindness-2019040816365
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8147535/
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-blue-light
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5532554/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31425700/
https://oatext.com/Bioavailability-of-lutein-zeaxanthin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7314813/
