Reading is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Settling down with a good book and a warm drink after a long day is wonderful. But in order to read, you need to look after your eyes. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
How does reading affect your eyes?
There are many myths and misconceptions about what actually damages your eyes in general, but especially when it comes to reading.
If you are a glasses wearer, you may have heard people saying that wearing your glasses whilst reading will make you dependent on them. Whilst your vision will be worse when you take them off, there is no evidence that wearing your glasses or contact lenses too much has a negative effect on your long-term eyesight.
There are a couple of things that may cause eye fatigue whilst reading. Books and magazines with smaller text can make you focus harder and therefore cause your eyes to get tired quicker. If you are using a computer regularly you may experience eye fatigue as well from looking at a screen for an extended period.
How to make sure you are looking after your eyes when reading
Making small changes to your reading set-up can make all the difference in helping to keep your eyes healthy.
The first tip is to make sure you wear your prescription glasses if you have been given them specifically for reading. This helps to ensure your eyes don’t overwork which can result in a headache.
If you are reading in somewhere that is a bit dark, ensure you have a light source directly onto the page of your book. This could mean sitting by a window in the daytime or having a lamp on at night. You could also invest in a book torch which can clip onto your book and be positioned at different angles.
When using a computer, try turning down the brightness of your screen to reduce the strain on your eyes. You should also get into the habit of following the 20-20-20 rule. This is where you relax your eyes for 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. This is beneficial for all people not just those with glasses or sight issues.
If the small print is causing you issues, either on the computer or in a physical book, there are things you can do to help. The first is simply checking the size of the font in a book before you buy it. When you are online and find the text challenging, try enlarging it on the screen. You can do this by pressing Ctrl +.
Finally, scheduling regular eye tests and checks is important for everyone. It is recommended that you get your eyes checked every two years unless an eye care professional has told you otherwise.
