Look around us and we see so many screens around us. If it is not our phones, it’s our computers, or a screen which is showing a public notice. More often than not, we are advised to not stare at screens for long periods of time, and are reminded to let our eyes rest once in awhile. Can the colour green really help out eyesight?
One way to determine the health of our eyes is our eye sight. It is measured using a visual acuity test, which is a measure of the sharpness of our vision. The person being tested stands a certain distance away from the chart displays letters of varying sizes, and is asked to read the smallest line of letters they can see.
Most think that eye strain and bad eyesight are related, in that prolonged eye strain can exacerbate existing vision problems, leading to greater discomfort and possibly even worsening vision. People with uncorrected vision problems are more likely to experience eye strain when performing tasks that require visual focus for extended periods of time, such as reading or using a computer.
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How do we strain our eyes?
While eye strain and bad eyesight can be related, they are not the same thing. Eye strain is a temporary condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, while bad eyesight is a chronic condition that requires proper diagnosis and treatment by an eye doctor. Some examples of eye strain include extended periods of reading, writing, or using a computer or mobile device without taking breaks and the exposure to blue light screens emit, poor lighting conditions, improperly corrected vision, and eye muscle imbalances which can result from focusing on near objects for extended periods of time.
What happens when our eyes are strained?
When our eyes are strained and pressured, they may become fatigued hence causing discomfort or pain in the eye area. It can lead to a range of discomfort such as headaches, dry and swollen eyes, blurry vision, and increase in sensitivity to sunlight and neck, shoulder pain. These can thus lead to difficulty concentration and redness of the eyes.
In other cases, prolonged eye strain can also contribute to the development of eye conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness), presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), or astigmatism (distorted vision).
The Colour Green: Can it help eye strain and eyesight?
While there is no direct evidence that the colour green helps with eyesight, there are a few ways in which it can indirectly benefit our vision. It may help by reducing eye strain as the colour is known to be easy on the eyes and has a soothing effect, which can help reduce eye fatigue and strain.
Green is also a colour that is associated with nature, which can have a calming effect on the mind and body. Spending time in nature and looking at greenery can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being, which can indirectly benefit our vision by reducing eye strain and fatigue.
Other ways we can prevent eye strain
- Take regular breaks by looking away from electronic screens.
- Adjust your lighting, ensuring that it is not too bright or too dim. One can also reduce glare by using anti-glare screens.
- Remember to blink your eyes to lubricate it or apply eye drops when it gets too dry.
- Position electronic screens at a distance.
- Exercise your eyes by focusing on different objects at different distances.
- Maintain proper posture and height of your electronic screen and eye level.
Summary
While the colour green may not directly improve eyesight or has it been medically proven, we see that its soothing qualities as a colour and nature association may help promote eye health and essentially reduce the risk of eye strain and fatigue. By preventing eye strain, you are watching out for your eye health, hence protecting your eye sight from being compromised.
Post Image: Myicahel Tamburini