In this video, Dr. Marc Grossman, OD, LAc, holistic developmental/behavioral optometrist and licensed acupuncturist, discusses the reasons that so many people today are nearsighted (meaning they have trouble seeing things in the distance). It is increasingly common, Dr. Grossman says, for school age children to have fine eyesight up until, say, 4th grade. After that, though, many require glasses to treat their myopia (or nearsightedness). This issue is not genetic, but instead related to how we use our eyes on a daily basis. Our eyes adapt to what we use them for the most, and so they typically become accustomed to viewing phone, computer and TV screens close up at the expense of our distance vision. To prevent myopia, Dr. Grossman urges patients to take frequent breaks and for every 20 minutes spent staring at a screen (or other close object) to gaze off into the distance for at least 20 seconds.
