Do eye exercises and blue light glasses really work? An expert explains

editor’s Note: The views expressed in this commentary are solely the author’s personal views. Work reproduced by CNN ConversationA collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. Content is produced entirely by The Conversation.

Conversation
,

You may have seen advertisements claiming that through vision therapy or vision training — basically eye exercises — the need for glasses is eliminated.

These exercises include pressing or palming the eyes; eye movement exercises; or using false glasses to “train” the eyes to read.

As a Professor of Ophthalmology – and as an Eye Doctor As someone who has seen thousands of patients – I can tell you that no study to date provides strong evidence that these exercises eliminate the need for glasses or eyesight problems. Provide no long-term significant benefit. Science It’s just not there,

Read more: Nearsightedness is at epidemic levels — and the problem starts in childhood

Lack of evidence is true for almost all eye conditions and diseases, including common diseases such as nearsightednessor nearsightedness, which means when close objects appear clear, but distant objects appear blurry. This is also true for farsightedness – This is also called hyperopia — This happens when objects appear clear when viewed from a distance, but appear blurry when viewed from close. These exercises for the eyes are also not effective Help with presbyopiaOr the need for glasses for reading, which usually begins around age 40.

With presbyopia, the patient is neither nearsighted nor farsighted and does not need glasses for distance vision. Yet as the eye’s lens hardens over time, the eye has difficulty focusing on fine print and small text. This deterioration will continue with age – and, with it, the need for stronger reading glasses will increase.

Although some methods claim to reduce the need for reading glasses, there are few methods that actually reduce the need for reading glasses. Evidence suggesting any benefits is limited, if available,

As mentioned, there are things everyone can do to maintain healthy eyes:

Read more: Why do many animals, including our pets, have a third eyelid?

All children should have Baseline eye exam during infancy and again between 6 and 12 months of age. They should have a third exam between 1 and 3 years of age, and then another formal exam between 3 and 5 years of age to check for eye misalignment, eye health and the possible need for glasses.

Failing to correct eye alignment, or failing to provide glasses to a child in need, can lead to abnormal visual development or amblyopiaWhich is a weak, lazy eye.

The progression of nearsightedness in children can be slowed down by taking breaks and avoiding studying for long hours. On a phone or computer,

Limiting close reading time outside of school – screen time or otherwise – can help slow the progression of myopia in children.

Spending long periods of time on screens causing strain and dryness in the eyes. I suggest following the 20-20-20 rule: take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and look 20 feet away from your device. Focus on relaxing your eyes and blinking. Sometimes the use of artificial tears, which can be purchased over the counter at drug stores, can help with dry eyes.

spending more time outdoors Good for your eyes. This has been linked to a lower incidence of myopia in childhood. A caution: looking directly at the sun, even for a short time, is dangerous and can cause permanent retinal damage,

Read more: Bacteria live on our eyes

Blue light blockers and supplements

Advertisements for blue light-blocking glasses claim they prevent headaches and eye strain and improve sleep. But some studies, including a large, randomized control trial, found that blue light-blocking lenses There was no change in symptoms of eye strainAdditionally, there is only limited evidence to show that these glasses improve circadian rhythm,

Be wary of supplements or natural remedies that claim to cure any eye disease. These claims are not backed by scientific evidence, and there is no evidence that they improve vision, reduce eyesight eye floaters or eliminate the need for glasses. The same applies to claims that essential oils or other topicals Vision may improve.

Although omega-3s have been touted in the past for treating dry eye symptoms, this is not the case. There’s no solid evidence that they helpHowever, this does not take away from their many other health benefits.

A study showed that Middle age-related macular degeneration Prognosis slowed in some patients after using over-the-counter vitamins; specifically, the AREDS2 formula. However, these vitamins were not beneficial in patients who had early or no symptoms of the disease.

Read more: Cataract surgery: What you need to know

There are some ophthalmological conditions where vision therapy may be recommended, including problems such as misalignment of the eyes and trouble focusing on nearby objects, which can result in the following symptoms: Diplopia, or “double vision”Ultimately, these conditions are best addressed by your eye doctor, and have nothing to do with the need for reading or distance glasses.

For overall eye health, a diet rich in vegetables and other healthy foods can be helpful reducing the incidence of certain eye diseasesSome studies also show that exercise reduces the risk of cancer. Developing glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration,

Smoking cigarettes causes many eye diseases, including age-related macular degenerationTherefore it is important to quit or avoid smoking.

Finally, don’t rub your eyes; this can increase irritation. Removing makeup at night reduces eyelid irritation. And Do not sleep with contact lenses on – This can lead to corneal infections and other conditions that can harm your vision.

Benjamin Botsford is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at UMass Chan Medical School. Botsford does not work for, consult, hold shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.

View this interactive content on CNN.com