If you are reading this article online, you might want to look away now. The curse of the digital age is our relentless focus on screens and a pandemic of myopia and other eye issues like macular degeneration and cataracts is unfolding before our very eyes.
This is a global phenomenon, which is being felt across the world with variations between regions and ethnic groups. In South Korea, for example, an extraordinary 96.5 per cent of 19-year-old males are myopic. But, in varying degrees, myopia is becoming the new normal and more than half the world’s population will be myopic by 2050, based on current trends.
So, why it is happening now? Scientists believe modern lifestyles play a key role, including the fact that we spend more time indoors, away from natural light, and we are not getting enough sleep.
Increasingly, researchers are coalescing around one significant factor: screen time. There is no clear evidence that screen time alone is a direct cause of myopia. But there is evidence that spending more time outdoors reduces the risk of short-sightedness.
Scientists are studying the long-term effect of exposure to blue light, a high-energy visible light with shorter wavelengths, which we see from screens such as TVs, computers, smartphones and tablets.
There is currently no scientific evidence that blue light damages your eyesight, but studies are ongoing. We do know that carrying out near tasks, involving looking at something close up, such as mobile devices and computers, can increase eye strain for those who do this for long periods. But while it does not cause permanent damage to your eyes, it can be uncomfortable.
Myopia often begins in childhood or adolescence, so parents are advised to schedule regular eye tests. It is also important to encourage children and young people to spend more time outdoors in regular play or exercise. Studies show two hours of outdoor activity every day is ideal.
Best practice for safe mobile use includes night settings on devices. It is also recommended that digital devices be switched off at least one hour before bedtime.
More research is needed to help us understand the impact of smartphone eye strain and the best strategy for mobile usage. In the meantime, the message is slowly getting through that less is best when it comes to screen time.
Recent studies show Myopia can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration.
There are studies available suggesting that Clove Essential Oil (extract) can be helpful for eye health due to its ability to scavenge free radicals in the body, free radical damage is responsible for many chronic health issues. The Clove bud is one of natures most potent antioxidants with ORAC score of close to 300,000.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. This is a lab test that attempts to quantify the "total antioxidant capacity" (TAC) of a food by placing a sample of the food in a test tube, along with certain molecules that generate free radical activity and certain other molecules that are vulnerable to oxidation.
Several years ago, upon learning of the high antioxidant value found in Clove Bud essential oil I prepared a 50/50 blend of Clove EO with organic rosehip seed oil in a roller bottle for my elderly Mom whose macular degeneration was progressing. At the time, she was given injections in her eye every few months by her eye specialist to slow the progression. Long story short, after a couple of months of daily application - to the bottoms of her feet - she no longer needed the injections and we're thrilled about that progress!
"Conclusion: The data in the lens showed a significant improvement in all parameters after treatment with cloves. Results concluded that cloves inhibited cataract formation, and protected the lens from the development of cataracts." Source
