In today's world where we often stare at the screens of digital devices such as smartphones, tablet terminals, and personal computers, many people are said to be suffering from eye fatigue and disorders called "smartphone presbyopia".
We receive a lot of information from the outside every day.
Therefore, we asked Dr. Masahiko Fujimoto, an ophthalmologist, to teach us how to prevent "smartphone presbyopia", lifestyle habits that are good for maintaining eye health, and eye diseases such as cataracts that we should know about.

Smartphone presbyopia common among young people

In recent years, more than a few young people in their 20s and 30s are suffering from presbyopia-like symptoms, such as difficulty seeing their hands, deteriorating vision in the evening, and seeing objects as if they were blurred. . This is likely to be "smartphone presbyopia".

When we see things with our eyes, we adjust the focus by changing the thickness of the crystalline lens, which is the part of the camera lens.

However, if you keep looking at a smartphone or other device at a close distance for a long time, the ciliary muscle that supports the lens will stiffen and you will not be able to adjust the focus well. In some cases, in addition to eye problems, stiff shoulders, headaches, and nausea may also occur.

Taking breaks is the most important way to prevent smartphone presbyopia. Limit your screen time to no more than an hour, with breaks of 10-15 minutes. Ideally, you should take a break every 30 minutes.
In order to relax the tight ciliary muscles, it is good to look at a distant view, but even if you don't bother to go outside or look out the window, just moving your eyes from your hand to the wall of the room is effective enough. there is.
It is also useful to use computer glasses and reduce the brightness of the screen.

There are more opportunities to hold remote meetings and classes due to the corona crisis, and we are in an era where we can play games, read books, watch movies and watch TV on smartphones, so we cannot say not to use digital devices.
Therefore, what I recommend to patients is that if you have a tablet or computer, increase the opportunities to use it. The bigger the screen, the less strain on your eyes.
Staring at the small screen of your smartphone is really bad for your eyes.

Also, take a look at the paper book. In the case of a paper book, your eyes move around as you turn the pages. This will give your eyes a little rest. With smartphone apps, it's easy to stare at a small screen when switching between pages.
I think you should make full use of it in situations where you only have a smartphone at hand, such as when you are out and about.
However, in places where there are options other than smartphones, such as at home, consider the health of your eyes and consciously choose a device with a large screen or a paper book.
I think that the accumulation of daily choices will lead to the prevention of smartphone presbyopia and relieve eye fatigue.

Cataract testing from the age of 40

In addition to smartphone presbyopia, I would like you to know "cataract". Cataracts are often thought of as a disease of the elderly, but this is not always the case. Symptoms can appear as early as the age of 40. Although rare, juvenile cataracts may require surgery in the 30s.

Symptoms of cataracts include blurred vision, glare, and decreased vision, but if you experience eye problems, do not leave your eyes alone and think, "Are you tired of your eyes?"
Unfortunately, cataracts cannot be completely cured without surgery, but there are treatments that can slow their progression. Cataract progression can be slowed down if it is discovered early and treatment is started early.

Cataract is a disease that progresses with aging, and it is known that ultraviolet rays have a large effect on it. Be careful of the amount of UV rays that your eyes are exposed to as well as your skin. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, we recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat in addition to sunglasses.

In addition, it is said that 1 in 20 people over the age of 40 will develop glaucoma, a vision-deficient disease. There is no cure for this, so it is important to detect it early and start treatment to slow its progression.
However, there is also the problem that it is very difficult to recognize these eye diseases on your own at an early stage. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you have an eye exam once a year.
If you're over 40, see an ophthalmologist even if you don't have any symptoms.

In addition to cataracts and glaucoma, there are many other diseases that can cause vision loss, so it is reassuring to have a family ophthalmologist who can immediately consult with you about minor problems.
For the future, why not go for a checkup with the intention of finding a compatible ophthalmologist?

Nutrients that are good for eye health

In addition to reviewing lifestyle habits and regular ophthalmological examinations, daily meals are easy to incorporate into your daily routine. There are several nutrients that are said to be good for the eyes, but as an ophthalmologist, I would like to recommend lutein.
Lutein is a type of nutrient called carotenoid, which is abundant in green and yellow vegetables, and has a strong antioxidant effect. Especially for those who have symptoms of age-related macular degeneration or who have developed it, it is recommended to take 10 to 20 mg or more of lutein per day.
I also recommend my patients to eat lutein-rich spinach, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts on a daily basis. Vegetable juice is not bad, but considering the absorption rate of nutrients, I think it is better to eat vegetables as they are as much as possible.

Also, getting the basic nutrients your body needs is said to help prevent the onset and progression of cataracts. It does not have the effect of improving cataracts that have already developed, but as I mentioned earlier, it is very important to prevent the onset of cataracts and suppress their progress, so I think it is good to get into the habit of supplementing with various nutrients from an early age.

I also take supplements every morning, but if you are interested in health, of course, those who are interested in beauty, and those who have irregular lifestyles and eating habits, please try taking vitamin C first.
Let's review our daily habits and eating habits to protect not only the health of our eyes, but also our mental and physical health.






Professor Masahiko Fujimoto
Medical Corporation Keiseikai Fujimoto OphthalmologyDirector/Director
After joining the Department of Ophthalmology at the Osaka University Hospital, he served as director of ophthalmology at Osaka Rosai Hospital, Otemae Hospital, and Higashi-Osaka General Hospital, before becoming Vice Director of Fujimoto Ophthalmology and Director since 2015. In addition to performing around 1,000 one-day cataract surgeries per year, he is also a qualified anti-aging medicine specialist.