Nevertheless, we spend more and more
time in closed environments and closer dis-
tances and our visual system is adapting to
this change. This adaptation involves the
inhibition of our peripheral vision and an in-
crease in the size of our eyeballs to reduce
the efforts of focusing on near distances,
which develops a cloudy vision for longer
distances (were are using our eyesight for far
distances much less).
This type of pathology is known as functional
or artificial near-sightedness since, initially,
it is not near-sightedness but rather a pro-
blem affecting or peripheral vision and focus
which translates into cloudy farsightedness.
We should therefore try to reduce our efforts
to see up close and make use of our peri-
pheral vision, among other factors, and there
are various possibilities of doing this:
1.
Adapting our contact lenses: the use
of these lenses is good for peripheral
perception. There are different types of
contact lenses, depending on the ma-
terial used or its treatment.
2.
To improve our focus and many other
capabilities, we could perform beha-
vioural visual therapy which consists
of exercises that enable us to improve
our performance.
3.
Consider the need of using eyeglasses
to reduce the efforts at close distances
and, in this way, when we look at a dis-
tance our visual system will be more
relaxed and able to adapt to different
distances without any problem.
Accordingly, we can prevent near-sighted-
ness, even though it is not possible in all
cases, or to slow down or stop it from incre-
asing, but: is this the same case in relation
to eyestrain?
The eye is an organ that enters adulthood
very early, at around the age of 12 and, the-
refore, by the time we turn 40, the organ
can be considered somewhat old and this
is when the first signs of eyestrain or presb-
yopia appears.
Eyestrain occurs when the dynamic lens in-
side our eyes starts to lose its ability to fo-
cus and at the age of 40, we usually lack the
ability of being able to focus at a distance of
more than 40 cm and it is as of this age that
we need to move back more and more in
order to be able to see things.
Despite the normal ageing of a part of our
eyes, we can improve our visual skills as
adults. Several studies indicate that the bra-
in plasticity, the ability to continue to learn
and acquire new skills, is also the case at an
advanced age and, as such, visual therapy
could be a good tool to improve the perfor-
mance of our visual system.
Contact lenses have also evolved and can
correct eyestrain and there are several ty-
pes of age-adapted progressive lenses that
make these lenses more comfortable to
wear.
Both near-sightedness and eyestrain can
be the cause of various symptoms such
as headache, fatigue or tiredness, visual ad
general, red eyes, itching, etc. which finally
means diminished work performance and a
significant impairment of our quality of life.
There are many tools currently at our dispo-
sal to prevent many of our health problems.
Therefore, let’s use them!
Learn to look with our eyes and to see with
our brains.
Teresa Molina Martín
María Valencia Sandonís
Degrees in Optics and Optometry, Master’s
degree in Optometry and Visual Therapy
Technical managers of the
Institute for Visual Health
e l l - b e i n g
