Latest news with #AmericanAcademyOfOphthalmology
CNET
6 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Follow These 10 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy As You Age
Summer has arrived, bringing sunny days and a higher danger from UV rays than at any other time of year. You might be used to slathering on sunscreen to protect your skin, but have you also been protecting your eyes? We only get one pair of eyes, but protecting them isn't always top of mind for many of us. From overuse to UV rays, our eyes are at risk of damage every day. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to keep them healthy. 1. Wear sunglasses to block UV light Exposing your eyes to ultraviolet rays may cause damage over time. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, wearing sunglasses can block harmful UV light, lowering your risk of eye diseases like cataracts, sunburn, eye cancer and growths around the eye. Polarized glasses with smoke or gray lenses may offer the best protection against the sun's rays and reduce glare. Read more: Best Prescription Sunglasses 2. Take screen breaks every 20 minutes Prolonged screen time can cause dry eyes, pain in the neck and shoulders, blurred vision, headaches and digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome. The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent computer vision syndrome. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 3. Take book breaks, too Screen time isn't the only way to strain your eyes. You probably hold a book up close for long periods when you read it. Both activities can lead to nearsightedness, or myopia, which means faraway objects are blurry, while up-close objects are clear. Just like you should use the 20-20-20 rule to take screen breaks, you should also use this rule for book breaks. If you find yourself engrossed in what you're reading or doing on the computer, set an alarm so you don't miss your breaks.4. Move your body for both overall and eye health Regular exercise can provide eye health benefits, such as promoting healthy blood vessels and lowering your risk of developing glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, plus two days of strength training for your muscles. You can also practice eye exercises to reduce tension and eye strain while sitting at your desk. Read more: 7 Fitness Hacks to Sneak in Exercise Painlessly Every Day 5. Get outside as much as possible Children and adults need to get outside often, even if they get their recommended exercise indoors. Research shows that children who spend time outdoors have a lower risk of developing nearsightedness in adolescence and as adults. Playing with your kids at the local playground, walking through the woods or even playing in the backyard can help the whole family stay healthy and active. Be sure to use your sunglasses. 6. Quit smoking It's well known that smoking is bad for your health. It can also increase your risk of developing eye diseases like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Smokers have a two- or three-times higher chance of developing cataracts and up to four times higher risk for AMD. Future research may determine if smoking cigarettes can also cause glaucoma, Graves' eye disease, thyroid eye disease and encourage diabetic retinopathy onset or progression. To improve your health, build a quit plan. Getty Images 7. Eat balanced meals rich in vitamins The foods you eat every day can improve your eye health. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc can help cellular growth, lower eye tissue inflammation and limit free radicals that can damage your eyes. To get the right nutrients for your eyes, eat balanced meals by including some of these foods in your regular diet, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Vitamin C: Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Vitamin E: Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Omega-3: Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Zinc: Lima beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lean red meats, oysters, fortified cereals, poultry Read more: Best Vitamins and Supplements for Eye Health 8. Avoid rubbing your eyes Habitually rubbing your eyes could cause eye damage or infections. Dry eyes and eye strain can make you want to rub your eyes, and some may rub them too much or too hard. This can lead to issues such as reduced or blurry vision, headaches, inflammation and eye and light sensitivity. Another reason to avoid eye rubbing is that bacteria or viruses on your fingers or hands could lead to conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye. Instead of rubbing your eyes, use eye drops or saline to clean your eyes and keep them moist. Resist the urge and find something else to keep your hands busy until you undo the habit. 9. Wash your hands before touching your face or eyes You should always wash your hands before touching your face or eyes and handling contact lenses. Almost 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, and around one in three wearers develop complications, with one in five infections from contact lenses causing corneal damage. Plus, there's no telling what germs might have already contaminated an object you've touched. The CDC reports that washing your hands regularly can lower your risk of respiratory illness by up to 20% and diarrheal illness by up to 30%. 10. Take off your makeup at the end of the day After a long day, the last thing you might think about is removing your eye makeup before you get into bed. Doing so benefits your eye health and can lower your risk of blepharitis or eyelid inflammation, according to the Optometrists Network. You should also adopt good makeup practices that can save your skin and eyes, such as only using products made for eyes, replacing your makeup often (especially after an eye infection), not applying eye makeup in the inner lids and never sharing eye makeup. If you use brushes or sponges to apply eye makeup, wash them regularly.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Why are so many men color-blind?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An estimated 300 million people worldwide are color-blind. This typically means they can't distinguish certain shades of color, they struggle to tell how bright colors are or, more rarely, they can't see any colors at all. Color blindness doesn't affect males and females equally, though. According to Cleveland Clinic, the condition affects about 1 in 12 males, compared with 1 in 200 females. So why are so many more males color-blind than females? The answer comes down to the genetics governing the function of the human eye. People see colors using specialized cells in the backs of their eyeballs called cones. There are three types of cone cells, and each is tuned to be most sensitive to certain wavelengths of light. "There are three types of cones that see color: red, green and blue," Dr. Usiwoma Abugo, a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, told Live Science in an email. "When one or more of these color cone cells are absent or not working properly, color blindness happens." The most common form of color blindness is red-green color blindness. This happens when people are born without the type of cones that are attuned to red and/or green light, or when those cones are in short supply or are inadvertently tuned to the wrong wavelength of light. If a person has problems with the blue-sensitive cones in their eyes, they will be blue-yellow color-blind, although this form of color blindness is less common than red-green. And if every type of cone is missing or substantially impaired, it can cause total color blindness, also called "complete color vision deficiency." But this form of color blindness is extremely rare, affecting fewer than 1 in 30,000 individuals. Related: New cells discovered in eye could help restore vision, scientists say Color blindness affects males more often than females because it's typically caused by a recessive genetic trait linked to the X chromosome. Recessive traits typically aren't expressed unless a person inherits two dysfunctional copies of a gene, meaning one copy from each parent. As such, a person with one functional copy of a cone-cell gene will usually have normal color vision. Most males carry one X and one Y chromosome in each cell; they inherit their single X chromosome from their mother and their Y from their father. The genes responsible for the light-sensitive proteins that constitute cone cells are located solely on the X chromosome, though, so that means males get one only copy of each gene — and just one chance for each to work properly. Thus, if that lone copy has a mutation, they'll likely be color-blind. Females, on the other hand, typically have two X chromosomes in each cell — one from each parent. So even if one X chromosome carries a faulty version of a cone-cell gene, the other often carries a working copy that can compensate. As a result, females are much less likely to develop color blindness, although they can still carry and pass on the faulty genes that underpin the condition. RELATED STORIES —Scientists hijacked the human eye to get it to see a brand-new color. It's called 'olo.' —'Super-vision' contact lenses let wearers see in the dark — even with their eyes closed —What animal has the best eyesight? "Women can experience color blindness, but it's quite rare and is usually caused by something other than genetics," Abugo said. Conditions such as inflammation of the optic nerve, cataracts and glaucoma can cause color blindness later in life, for example. For now, there aren't any widely available cures for color blindness, but some researchers are investigating experimental gene therapies that could give people with visual deficits tied to their genetics the chance to see the world in full color. In these animal experiments and early trials with humans, scientists use a harmless virus to deliver functional cone genes into the eyes. These therapies have so far been used to restore full color vision in animal models with the same genetic mutations that color-blind people have, and now, they're now being investigated in humans. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
CNET
25-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
10 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy As You Age
Summer has arrived, bringing sunny days and a higher danger from UV rays than any other time of year. You might be used to slathering on sunscreen to protect your skin, but have you been protecting your eyes as well? We only get one pair of eyes, but protecting them isn't always top of mind for many of us. From overuse, to UV rays, our eyes are at risk of damage everyday. Thankfully, there are plenty of easy ways to keep them healthy. 1. Wear sunglasses to block UV light Exposing your eyes to ultraviolet rays may cause damage over time. Wearing sunglasses can block harmful UV light, lowering your risk of eye diseases like cataracts, sunburn, eye cancer and growths around the eye, per the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Polarized glasses with smoke or gray lenses may offer the best protection against the sun's rays and reduce glare. Read more: Best Prescription Sunglasses 2. Take screen breaks every 20 minutes Prolonged screen time can cause dry eyes, pain in the neck and shoulders, blurred vision, headaches and digital eye strain, or computer vision syndrome. The American Optometric Association recommends using the 20-20-20 rule to prevent computer vision syndrome. Every 20 minutes, look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 3. Take book breaks, too Screen time isn't the only way to strain your eyes. When you read a book, you probably hold it up close for long periods. Both activities can lead to nearsightedness, or myopia, which means faraway objects are blurry, while up-close objects are clear. Just like you should use the 20-20-20 rule to take screen breaks, you should also use this rule for book breaks. If you find yourself engrossed in what you're reading or doing on the computer, set an alarm so you don't miss your breaks.4. Move your body for both overall and eye health Regular exercise can provide eye health benefits, such as promoting healthy blood vessels and lowering your risk of developing glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reports. The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week, plus two days of strength training for your muscles. You can also practice eye exercises to reduce tension and eye strain while sitting at your desk. Read more: 7 Fitness Hacks to Sneak in Exercise Painlessly Every Day 5. Get outside as much as possible Children and adults need to get outside often, even if they get their recommended exercise indoors. Research shows that children who spend time outdoors have a lower risk of developing nearsightedness in adolescence and as adults. Playing with your kids at the local playground, walking through the woods or even playing in the backyard can help the whole family stay healthy and active. Be sure to use your sunglasses. 6. Quit smoking It's well known that smoking is bad for your health. It can also increase your risk of developing eye diseases like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Smokers have a two- or three-times higher chance of developing cataracts and up to four times higher risk for AMD. Future research may determine if smoking cigarettes can also cause glaucoma, Graves' eye disease, thyroid eye disease and encourage diabetic retinopathy onset or progression. To improve your health, build a quit plan. Getty Images 7. Eat balanced meals rich in vitamins The foods you eat every day can improve your eye health. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc can help cellular growth, lower eye tissue inflammation and limit free radicals that can damage your eyes. To get the right nutrients for your eyes, eat balanced meals by including some of these foods in your regular diet, as recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology: Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Apricots, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, red pepper, ricotta cheese, mango Vitamin C: Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Grapefruit, oranges, lemons, tangerines, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, red bell pepper Vitamin E: Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Avocados, almonds, peanut butter, wheat germ, sunflower seeds Omega-3: Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Halibut, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Collards, broccoli, eggs, peas, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, turnip greens Zinc: Lima beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lean red meats, oysters, fortified cereals, poultry Read more: Best Vitamins and Supplements for Eye Health 8. Avoid rubbing your eyes Habitually rubbing your eyes could cause eye damage or infections. Dry eyes and eye strain can make you want to rub your eyes, and some may rub them too much or too hard. This can lead to issues such as reduced or blurry vision, headaches, inflammation and eye and light sensitivity. Another reason to avoid eye rubbing is that bacteria or viruses on your fingers or hands could lead to conjunctivitis, commonly called pink eye. Instead of rubbing your eyes, use eye drops or saline to clean your eyes and keep them moist. Resist the urge and find something else to keep your hands busy until you undo the habit. 9. Wash your hands before touching your face or eyes You should always wash your hands before touching your face or eyes and handling contact lenses. Almost 45 million Americans wear contact lenses, and around one in three wearers develop complications, with one in five infections from contact lenses causing corneal damage. Plus, there's no telling what kinds of germs might have already contaminated an object you've touched. Washing your hands regularly can lower your risk of respiratory illness by up to 20% and diarrheal illness by up to 30%, the CDC reports. 10. Take off your makeup at the end of the day After a long day, the last thing you might think about is removing your eye makeup before you get into bed. Doing so benefits your eye health and can lower your risk of blepharitis or eyelid inflammation, according to the Optometrists Network. You should also adopt good makeup practices that can save your skin and eyes, such as only using products made for eyes, replacing your makeup often (especially after an eye infection), not applying eye makeup in the inner lids and never sharing eye makeup. If you use brushes or sponges to apply eye makeup, wash them regularly.
