SEARCH:
Sign in | Join | Help
search Mercola.com
 
FREE Subscription 
The World’s Most Popular Natural Health Newsletter
Many Hours at Your Computer Will Worsen Your Vision -- Unless You Know These Secrets
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
December 06 2005 | 2,588 views

Squinting while looking at a computer screen is not only uncomfortable, it can lead to dry eye, according to Ohio State University researchers.

That's because squinting causes people to blink less often, and the study found that the less you blinked, the more you experience aches, burning and sensations of dryness, irritation and tearing in your eyes.

In fact, squinting even cut your blink rates in half -- from 15 blinks a minute to 7.5 blinks a minute.

Only Four Blinks Per Minute

The study involved 10 college students with 20/20 vision, who were asked to squint at different levels while looking at a computer screen.

During a series of five trials, the participants relaxed their eyes and squinted in increments from 5 percent (barely squinting) to 50 percent (eyes half-shut). Researchers then watched videotapes of the students and counted how often each blinked their eyes. They found:

  • When squinting at just 5 percent, blink rates decreased from an average of 15 blinks per minute to 7.5.
  • At the 50 percent level, blink rates decreased to four blinks per minute.

Why Do You Squint?

Squinting not only helps you to clearly define out-of-focus objects, thereby improving your eyesight temporarily, but it also helps you to reduce glare. While you may squint intentionally, it's also possible to squint involuntarily, without even realizing you're doing it.

Because of this, those whose jobs require a lot of reading or other visual work may be blinking less than normal, which will result in eyestrain, dry eye, and presbyopia or the need for reading glasses as you age.



Sources:

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Follow me on facebook

This study really hits home for me as I typically spend aminimum of ten hours a day in front of my screen and many days I spendmore than 16 hours in front of my monitor.

Now I am healthier than nearly everyone I know but this eventuallytook its toll on my eyesight and I progressively found myself having tostruggle with the embarrassment of needing reading glasses in public.

This motivated me to pursue a course in finding out how I could usenatural methods to help me recover my vision. After several years ofintense research I was able to learn visual habits that have helped merecover virtually all of my near vision and I rarely need readingglasses anymore.

As we near the end of 2005 and reflect on what we are grateful for Ican assure you that recovering my eyesight without having to useembarrassing glasses in public was one of my best gifts in 2005.

Learn More About the Natural Eyesight Habits Tele Clinic -- Before the Special 25% Off Expires!

  • Learn More About the Natural Eyesight Habits Tele Clinic (Including the 97% Success Rate!)
  • See & Hear More of What Satisfied Registrants in the Clinic Have to Say
  • Take Advantage of the 25% Off Discount Price Now -- EXPIRES DEC 17!

Learn More & Register Now

One of the Key Eyesight Recovery Secrets

The major secret I learned is that, as the study illustrates is thatI was squinting. Nearly all of us wind up acquiring this visuallydestructive habit over time as it does help initially but eventually itwill cause you to lose your near eyesight and much of your associatedcognitive strengths.

So the key secret here is you simply can not squint. You MUST relaxand consciously override your mostly tendency to squint while at yourcomputer. You simply must notice when you are squinting and stop itimmediately. It is one of the most important visual habits you can have.

LASIK Surgery is NOT the Answer

Even I was tempted to try this route, but I knew that surgery israrely the answer to chronic health conditions so I avoided this and Iam SO GLAD I did as there is overwhelming evidence that LASIK surgery is not your best choice.

Not only will it cost you up to a few thousand dollars out of yourpocket, but more importantly, over time it is virtually guaranteed tofail as it in no way shape or form addresses the underlying cause ofthe problem.

For the last five weeks I have been cohosting the Natural Eyesight Habits Teleclinicin which we share all of the "secrets" of how to recover your eyesight,and not just near vision loss (presbyopia) but also the myopia andastigmatism that requires most people to purchase glasses or contacts.

We have had been bombarded with many of what I am calling "Obliteration Reports"in which course participants describe how they have been able to usethe secrets from the Natural Eyesight Habits tele clinic and obliteratethe real cause of their visual loss and regain their normal vision.Here are a couple of the many we have received:

Obliteration Report 1: "I went to an eye doctor for my reduced prescription lenses after the second class. She said that my prescription went down from -3.0 to -1.25. I am now using a -1.0 for my 20/40 vision."

Obliteration Report 2: "I LOVED the class ... It was marvelous and I already see better! Thanks!" -- Joan G.

Although there are only two more weeks left on the live course allthe previous sessions are available on audio files. After two weeks wewill only be selling the course in recorded format but the price willincrease by another 25%. So, you can save 25 percent off the regularprice by registering now, and you'll learn how to stop squinting and start seeing more clearly, once and for all.

Related Articles:



Related Links:




 
 
 
© Copyright 2009 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.