Darkness is not at all a friend to the eyes, as well as the tension when working with small details. Why, as a result of working with beads or reading at sunset without a lamp, a headache can form, blood pressure rises and vision deteriorates, aif.ru told Candidate of Medical Sciences, ophthalmic surgeon, chief physician of the ophthalmological clinic Tatyana Fadeykina.
Reading books in subdued lighting looks, of course, atmospheric, but it is very harmful to health. If you do not abuse such conditions, then significant harm to vision cannot be caused. But you can get overwork of the eye muscles, decreased visual acuity and a feeling of fine sand in the eyes. Eye strain also leads to headaches and a feeling of pressure in the temples.
Why is it dangerous to work or read in poor lighting?
Not only spending time with books in the dark can affect eye health. This is also dangerous for long-term work with small needlework – embroidery, beadwork, drawing small details and other options.
In poor lighting conditions, symptoms of myopia can quickly appear. This is when all objects in the distance are blurred, and near are clearly visible. In semi-darkness, additional tension is created in the eye muscles, which complicates the blood supply to the head and eyes.
In the dark, the human pupil expands reflexively. The larger it is, the more light enters the retina. Thanks to this, the eye adapts to distinguish objects at dusk. At the same time, this reaction leads to overwork of the visual organs.
People with the initial stage of cataracts and farsightedness have anatomical prerequisites for increased pressure inside the eye. When the pupil dilates, the edge of the iris creates an additional barrier to the outflow of fluid from the eye. Reading and working at a table in semi-darkness contribute to the displacement of the lens forward. As a result, all these conditions lead to an increase in intraocular pressure and cause the development of glaucoma.
How to protect your eyes from overwork?
Book lovers should pay attention to many factors. Even if a person is sitting correctly, there is enough light, small print, poor paper quality can give an additional strain on the eyes.
- A suitable distance from the eyes to the book is 35-45 cm. The eyes should not be in tension or squint to perceive the size of the letters.
- In the evening, use additional lighting, preferably with diffused light. Place a floor lamp or a lamp with a light shade near the chair. Suitable lamp power is 60 watts.
- It is best to read while sitting, with a straight back and no bend in the neck. Use coasters, pillows, if your hands get tired of holding a book overhang.
- If you lie on your stomach, your head is thrown back for a long time. Vessels that supply blood to the brain and to the visual organs are pinched in the neck. This can result in headaches, tinnitus, and even dizziness.
- It is also not recommended to read on the side, since the distance from the book to the right and left eyes will be different. This is very bad for the eyes. As soon as you change position, you can even feel as if the eyeballs are trying to “fall into place”. This leads to dryness and burning of the eyes, the appearance of “flying spots”.
- Lying on your back is also not recommended to read, since the requirements for distance and angle of inclination will not be met. In this position, there is a risk of breaking the posture.
- If you find it difficult to get rid of the habit of reading on the bed, then do it at least half-sitting, under an additional light source. Also take a break every half hour – look at the horizon, preferably at green trees, and blink actively.
Additional Reading Tips
If you prefer e-books, then choose models with digital analogue technology of a regular paper page, where the light source is located on the sides. Such conditions do not strain the eyes much. For text files, stop at 6 inches. And if you still need to consider graphics, images, then choose a screen of at least 7 inches.
It is desirable for children to start reading with paper books. This is necessary for the eyeball to train to move correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting a spasm of accommodation. Also with classic books, a person blinks more often, which is useful for keeping the eye moist.
Headaches, even in good light, can lead to reading from the phone screen. It is much smaller than even an e-book, so the eyes strain more. In addition, a person usually holds a phone closer due to small print and images.
Reading on the road can also cause tension, headaches, and even motion sickness. Due to the long vibration, it is very difficult for the eyes to “catch” on the line, so they are doubly tired. When traveling, it is better to choose audiobooks and listen to them with your eyes closed so that your visual muscles rest.
Source: aif.ru
