MANY people do not put much thought into protecting their eyes from sunlight, dust and other environmental agents. However, eye specialists say that everyone – especially manual labourers, computer users, athletes and children – should consider ways to guard their eyes from the potentially harmful effects of exposure.

Dr Mya Aung, a professor at the University of Medicine (2) in Yangon, said that people should wear sunglasses when they go outside to protect against the effects of dust and sunlight, extended exposure to which can cause blurred vision by the time they reach their early 40s.

“Middle-aged and older folks can also have a little trouble with the muscles that control ‘accommodation’ – or the eye’s ability to switch focus quickly – because their eye is getting older,” he said.

Even those who do not spend much time outdoors can suffer negative effects from using computers for long hours.

“Computer monitors fall within the intermediate zone of their vision (neither too near nor too far), which can cause problems when they are used for a long time,” said Dr Mya Aung.

Computer-induced eyestrain is the number one office-related health complaint, but there are a few things workers and employers can do to reduce this symptom of what has come to known as ‘computer vision syndrome’.

Dr Mya Aung said that covering the computer screen with a special filter can reduce eyestrain and other forms of discomfort.

Ma Hnin Thidar, a supervisor the American Vision eye care company, said that eyestrain can also be reduced by wearing glasses that are specially designed for computer use, which have an anti-reflective coating that can reduce glare not only from computer screens but also from bright office lighting.

“Most people wear glasses that do not correct the intermediate zone at all: reading glasses correct near vision only, and bifocals correct only near and far,” she said.

Aside from correcting near and farsightedness, and reducing office glare, lenses have also been designed to protect the eyes from sunlight.

Ma Hnin Thidar said the popularity of sunglasses with polarised lenses has increased as they have become more available in Myanmar.

“Polarised sunglasses are particularly popular with outdoor sports enthusiasts and drivers,” she said.

For drivers, the glasses help reduce the glare that bounces off the surface of the road and the hood of the car.

“Polarised lenses are important for people who spend a lot of time outdoors because otherwise they can suffer from sunburn in their eyes, which is very painful and can cause long-term damage to the retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye,” said Ma Hnin Thidar.