People who read a lot have one uniqueness; it seems they have private worlds to themselves which they can retire to whenever they feel like, leaving non-readers to battle on with their own workaday daily life routines.

Who can blame them for that? Is there anything sweeter than being able to dictate the directions of our own imaginations? And that’s the superpower reading provides.

When we enter into books, we enter into a world almost without limits, varied, predictable, navigable, controllable and immensely enjoyable. In other words, we can choose the kind of books we want to read, when we want to start, when we will like to pause or quit, the kind of imaginations we wish to create as we plow through the content, and even how we wish to understand the content.

Almost no one possessed of this kind of “superpowers” would want to leave it unused, and that’s why reading seems to be addictive. It’s addictive for people who like to control their own private world.

A private world none can travel to except with EYES!

Our eyes are the vehicle of reading!

This article is going to be two-pronged, quite like a weird kind of palindrome: it can be understood from both ends of its title; it’s about reading as much as it is about the eye. But we have discussed reading quite extensively in many of our previous articles. But what is the purpose of discussing so much about reading while not discussing much about the eye? Can anyone read without the eye?

Honestly, if one meets addicted readers, one would want to start pitying their eyes. After all, how many other human beings live out their entire lives not staring at any other things except their jugs of milk and the road to work, except readers. Readers should be respected, but their eyes should be investigated and helped. Oh, what is that power behind a reader’s eye?

How Readers Are Viewed by the Public

There are a lot of urban legends surrounding reading activities and those who participate in it. If not for the existence of those urban legends, this article might not be necessary in the first place. We need to debunk some.

We are not surprised funny beliefs and assumptions grew around reading; it is an activity where the unthinkable often happens. An activity that has created men other men see as supermen! So it’s not surprising people start mythifying reading and readers.

For example, don’t be surprised if you hear non-readers warning readers that too much of a good thing is harmful (it’s actually satisfying to hear them classify reading as a “good thing” though), they warn them that reading too much might ruin their eyes.

Hearing that for the first time, one can’t help but marvel at how such a simplistic assumption is concluded. No doubt, the conclusion is made from the fact that reading is an activity that involves heavy visual focus. “Too much” visual focus.

Either by coincidence or by intentional moves on the part of the media and general public to reinforce that belief, it is hard to see a bookworm either in real life or on the pages of newspapers who is not wearing prescription glasses (probably a sign of the “ruined eye”). Often, jokingly, the thicker the lens, the greater the bookworm!

The Auxiliaries of Reading Are Also Crucial

However, don’t be deceived. Our major concern: reading and the eyes, plus everything associated with both; the truths and the myths, are more than just these two factors: the book and the eyes reading them.

Other factors (auxiliaries) concerned with reading goes beyond the reader, it, in fact, goes beyond his age or whether he is reading his third book ever or his eleven thousandths, it goes beyond the number of pages and the time he spends reading them. It even goes beyond whether what is being read is ever understood.

The genuine auxiliaries of reading and the eyes are the distance between the reader and the book or reading device, the posture of the reader, nature of the books or reading device, and the conditions of lighting under which the book is being read.

The truth always comes simple. And they are rarely simpler than what you just read above. But let’s simplify it more…

Observation: Reading and the Eye

According to marveloptics.com, one of the biggest culprits in sight-related problems among readers is because they “rarely blink while reading.”^[1] Like said earlier, reading is an activity that involves heavy visual focus. It can be likened to traveling hundreds of miles on a treadmill, it’s the legs takes the brunt of the “distance” traveled, not the treadmill. In reading too, it’s the eyes that take the brunt for the miles of lines read, not the book.

Unlike a treadmill or book; the former made of metal and other whatnots, the latter, made of paper, the eyes are made of muscles and living tissues. You know metals and paper are perfectly unaffected if they are laid in one spot for a long time, but not the eyes. Our muscles, including those found in the eyes, are not designed to be rigid and unblinking for any prolonged length of time. In fact, the eyes move even when we are asleep.^[2]  So why should it be denied movement when we are reading?

Observation Continues

Before the coming of social media and other abnormally immersive products of the internet, bookworms were the poster boy of the absent-minded individual, they are the guy who raised their eyes from a book and squinted to recognize who just entered the room! That squinting has a reason, it is an effort at regaining focus at farther objects after the eyes have been focused too much on a closer object (the book) for a long time.

We told you, the eye is not a cold, lifeless machine. It lives.

Even still, that squinting is not a problem at all, it is a natural reaction from the eyes to adjust to changing conditions.^[3] And it doesn’t happen to people who are reading with their naked eyes alone, people with the thickest prescription glasses might also squint under such conditions. Humorously, they may add an extra action to that: they rub their eyes along with it!

The eyes are so full of life that the same reaction is likely to happen if a reader who has been reading in dim light is suddenly exposed to bright lighting.

Now, we don’t need to mention that the eyes are sensitive too, that has been the implied meaning of the last three paragraphs including this.

Let’s do more.

Does Reading too much have Harmful Effects on the Eye?

The short answer is no.

The long answer is that you might read and still ruin your eye if you don’t read this article to the end. Because there’s more behind that short answer.

So far, we have not found any clinical, scientific, or peer-reviewed journal that has convincingly argued yet that reading too much (or for a long time) cause any permanent, harmful effects on the eye.^[4] Read that again. It probably causes no atom of harm.

Of course, there have been times we have read so much until we feel our eyes have been enormously strained, even in pain. But that is natural. It doesn’t mean the eyes are damaged.

Most often, pain or strain associated with reading is caused by other reasons entirely, most commonly by previous or existing eye health problems unrelated to reading.

In fact, many complaints regarding pain or strain felt in the eye after prolonged reading can be attributed to other auxiliaries of reading like lighting conditions – Reading in poor lighting for prolonged periods can subject the eyes to greater strains than normal.

There is probably no statistics to reach out for on this, but it is likely people who do more of their readings on e-readers will complain less of eye strain brought about by lighting conditions: this is because these e-readers produced their own light, and it can be adjusted to users preference, unlike paper books. However, please note that reading on e-readers can strain your eyes if the brightness is not controlled. Endeavor to set the brightness of your e-reader’s screen to the optimum level to enjoy reading.

If some of the auxiliaries of reading described above are in optimum conditions, no length of reading should have any permanent damaging effect on the eye.

However, if you are feeling pain or strains in the eye after reading for a prolonged period of time, you might consider taking any of these remedial steps:

 1.          Take breaks: Your eye strains are most likely caused by staring at a fixed point too closely for an extended length of time (your book). This usually makes us blink less and the eye becomes dry because of that. Take periodic breaks from your reading and do something else (you can take a walk). This will exercise your eye muscles and the blinking will help lubricate your eyes, reducing the dryness.

 2.          Visit your optometrist:  The problem might be caused by an underlying eye disease or an infection. Please visit your optometrist as soon as you can.

 3.          Look somewhere else: In case you are in a condition where it will be difficult or impossible for you to leave your reading, then you can simply close your book and direct your eyes somewhere else (farther away from your book) for some period of time. You can look at the wall, at the clock, or gaze out the window.

 4.          Get better lighting: We have emphasized this enough. Consider reading in better lighting,  especially if you are reading from a paper book(s).

However, don’t forget that reading in low light does not cause any permanent harm to your eyes^[5], but if the problem lingers, don’t waste time, consult your optometrist straight away.

What Actually Harms the Eye

1. Sunlight/UV Radiation

Reading under direct sunlight wouldn’t have been a problem if the sun is not a major source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on earth. The big deal is that ultraviolet radiation is harmful to the eye, especially after long term exposure.^[6]

Unguarded exposure to UV radiations has been blamed for a number of health problems, chief among them being skin cancer. So nobody is really surprised when it was implicated in sight problems too. Try to avoid reading under direct sunlight as much as possible or wear protective glasses or wide-brimmed hat if it’s compulsory you read there. This is not a guarantee that it will protect you from UV ray exposure, but it might reduce your exposure to it in the long term.

2. Smoking:

There is probably no modern health problem that is not made worse by smoking. The eye is not left out too.

Smoking has been fingered as responsible for increasing the risk of several eye disorders, “including age-related macular degeneration.” ^[7]

One of our dearest sense is our sense of sight. Any lifestyle that can put the health of this sense into jeopardy is not worth pursuing. We have even advised against it in a previous article on memory issues. Smoking is probably capable of rendering almost all human major organs useless. Please avoid it.

3. Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition these days doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of a balanced diet. Poor nutrition can be brought about by our overreliance on heavily processed foods. Such food usually lacks essential natural minerals that can help the eye.

Some natural foods we have sidelined in our diet contains many vision-aiding minerals and nutrients, the famous of them being Vitamin A.

A diet that contains ample amount of fruits and vegetables and that is low in saturated fats and hydrogenated oils can remedy some deficiency in our nutrition and help the eye.

4. Role of Genetics

To know what eye problem is caused by our lifestyle and which is inherited genetically, regular eye exams are essential.

Often, bookworm sufferers of eye problems implicitly blame their eye problems on their reading activities when it was in fact inherited genetically and is just manifesting. Eye problems like this (genetic) can become more manifest as we age.

Note that eye problems commonly run in genes and are often inherited.^[8] Sufferers would do best to ask close family members if similar eye problems have been observed among other family members before blaming their reading activities.

It is also advisable to visit an optometrist before concluding any eye problem is genetic, even if reports from close family members implied so.

Let’s Call a Spade a Spade

No matter what, aging will catch up with us. Our eyes will never remain the same throughout our reading lives, especially if we are reading beyond our mid-40s.

At this age and above, it is normal to struggle more to focus on printed materials. Readers above this age bracket often need to move the page of books further and further away from their eyes before they can read them properly. This condition is called presbyopia^[9] and it can be corrected by wearing corrective lenses.

While aging put us all at greater risk of having more eye problems as we grow older, it is not a reason not to enjoy reading till death. Except for blindness and serious eye disorders like glaucoma, old people that are visually impaired can still enjoy reading activities if their eye disorders are discovered and treated early.

In fact, it is said that an estimated 40 to 50% of all blindness can be treated or avoided if the sufferers visit competent eye health professionals regularly. ^[10]

Frequently Asked Questions on Reading Too Much

Does reading too much harm the eye?

No. What usually harm the eyes is lifestyle or genetic factors unrelated to reading.

What caused my vision to deteriorate suddenly?

It might be an eye disorder, which you can correct if you visit your optometrist early. It might also be that you are exposing your eyes to harmful environmental factors or lifestyle.

What should I eat to improve my vision?

Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet and avoid heavily processed foods.

What should I do if reading is affecting my eyes?

Check if it is your reading that is actually affecting your eye and not something else. If it is your reading, consider reading in a better lighting condition and take breaks within your reading sessions to exercise the eyes. Visit your optometrist for eyes examination.

References:

1. Is Excessive Reading Harmful for Your Eyes? – https://marveloptics.com/eye-health/excessive-reading-harmful-eyes       (Retrieved 18-9-2019)

2. Rapid Eye Movement – https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/rapid_eye_movement.htm (Retrieved 26-9-2019)

3. Is Excessive Reading Harmful for Your Eyes? – https://marveloptics.com/eye-health/excessive-reading-harmful-eyes       (Retrieved 18-9-2019)

4. Does reading for a long time damage your eyes? – https://www.quora.com/Does-reading-for-a-long-time-damage-your-eyes (Retrieved 18-9-2019)

5. Safeguarding your sight – https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/safeguarding-your-sight (Retrieved 18-9-2019)

6. UV and sunglasses: How to protect your eyes – https://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/spf.htm (Retrieved 26-9-2019)

7. Safeguarding your sight – https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/safeguarding-your-sight  (Retrieved 18-9-2019)

8. Inherited Eye Diseases – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17130-inherited-eye-disease (Retrieved 26-9-2019)

9. Eye myths: what does (and doesn’t) affect your vision – https://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2014/10/23/4113106.htm (Retrieved 18-9-2019)    

10. Safeguarding your sight – https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/safeguarding-your-sight (Retrieved 18-9-2019)