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Aging eyes bring more than crow's feet and wrinkles. It's what you can't see -- the health of your eyes -- that is the bigger concern, doctors say. By the age of 40, many people may begin coping with vision problems they didn't have before. These might include dry eyes and presbyopia, or an inability to focus on objects that are close up, and can leave people feeling fatigued and headachy by the end of the workday. Genetics largely determines how our eyes age. But new research suggests that nutrition and environment can lessen some of the risks to eye health and vision.
眼睛老化帶來的不止是魚尾紋和皺紋。醫(yī)生說，人們無法直接看見的東西──你雙眼的健康──才是更令人擔(dān)憂的事。很多人到了40歲的年紀(jì)可能就得開始應(yīng)對(duì)視力問題，而這些是他們之前從未遇到過的。這些毛病包括干眼病和老花眼，后者的癥狀是近距離視物困難，可能會(huì)讓人在一天工作結(jié)束時(shí)感到疲勞和頭痛。我們的雙眼如何老化在很大程度上是由遺傳決定的。但新研究表明，良好的營養(yǎng)和環(huán)境能減少眼睛健康和視力所面臨的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。
As people get older, 'The lens of your eye gradually loses the ability to focus in and out the way it used to,' said Julia Haller, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia. 'Some people refuse to wear reading glasses . . . and really fight it. They may hold out a little longer but eventually we all succumb to the inevitable.'
費(fèi)城威爾斯眼科醫(yī)院(Wills Eye Hospital)首席眼科醫(yī)師茱莉亞•哈勒(Julia Haller)說，隨著年紀(jì)的增長，“你眼睛的晶狀體會(huì)逐漸喪失過去那種聚焦調(diào)節(jié)的功能。有些人拒絕佩戴老花鏡……并與之斗爭。你的雙眼可能會(huì)再堅(jiān)持一段時(shí)間，但最終，我們所有人都得向這一必然趨勢低頭”。
While we can't win against Mother Nature, some strategies can minimize the damage. Avoid self-prescribing with, say, off-the-shelf reading glasses sold at drugstores, says Gary Etting, an optometrist who specializes in vision therapy in Los Angeles. People often select glasses that appear to make things clearest, he said. But this may be a stronger prescription than they need, which can encourage their loss of focus to go faster.
雖然我們不能戰(zhàn)勝自然規(guī)律，但有些措施能減少我們受到的損害。洛杉磯專攻視覺治療的驗(yàn)光師加里•埃廷(Gary Etting)說，不要進(jìn)行自我診斷，說什么藥店里就有現(xiàn)成的老花鏡出售。他說人們常常挑選那些貌似讓視線變得最清晰的眼鏡。但這種選擇對(duì)他們的實(shí)際需求而言可能是一種過強(qiáng)的處方，會(huì)加速他們聚焦能力的喪失。
Also, glasses you need for reading may be different than ones you need when using a computer, he said. 'So people who wear their reading glasses on the computer can also be encouraging their eyes to weaken faster.'
埃廷說，此外，你閱讀時(shí)需要佩戴的眼鏡和你用電腦時(shí)要戴的眼鏡可能并不一樣。“所以那些在用電腦時(shí)卻佩戴讀書鏡的人也是在導(dǎo)致眼睛加速弱化。”
Scientists have been studying ways to prevent vision problems in young people, which also might help protect eyes as they age. Two studies published in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, suggest that spending time outdoors may help minimize or prevent nearsightedness, or myopia, in children. Myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. But it can also be a precursor to severe myopia in adulthood, which is linked to the later development of eye disorders such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.
科學(xué)家一直在研究幫助年輕人預(yù)防視力問題的方法，這些方法可能在人們老了的時(shí)候也有助于護(hù)眼。在五月刊的美國眼科學(xué)會(huì)(American Academy of Ophthalmology)雜志《眼科學(xué)》(Ophthalmology)上發(fā)表了論文的兩項(xiàng)研究表明，戶外活動(dòng)可能有助于兒童預(yù)防近視或緩解近視癥狀。近視眼可以通過佩戴框架眼鏡或隱形眼鏡得到矯正，但近視也會(huì)成為成年后高度近視的先兆，而高度近視又與日后的青光眼、視網(wǎng)膜脫落等眼疾的形成息息相關(guān)。
One of the studies, involving 571 students in Taiwan, compared changes in eyesight over a year between a group of children that had outside recess and another that didn't require going outdoors. The other study, in Denmark, compared detailed eye measurements of 235 nearsighted children taken during periods of longer and shorter days.
其中一項(xiàng)研究比較了兩組兒童一年中的視力變化情況，其中一組兒童進(jìn)行了戶外休息，而另一組卻沒被要求這樣做，共有571名臺(tái)灣學(xué)生參與了這一研究。另一項(xiàng)研究在丹麥進(jìn)行，比較了235名近視兒童的各項(xiàng)眼睛參數(shù)，這些參數(shù)是在日長各異的不同時(shí)期測得的。
Some researchers believe the effect could be related to oxygen exposure or the amount of light exposure causing the pupil to constrict. It could also result from children focusing at far distances for extended periods. 'I think the conclusion we're most comfortable drawing is that the jury is still out on that,' said Rachel Bishop, chief of consult services of the National Eye Institute, who wasn't affiliated with the studies. Other possible reasons, such as greater physical activity when outside or less time spent looking at screens indoors, seem less likely, she said.
一些研究人員相信，戶外活動(dòng)產(chǎn)生的影響可能與氧暴露或光照量相關(guān)，光照會(huì)令人的瞳孔收縮。這種影響的產(chǎn)生也可能是因?yàn)楹⒆觽冞h(yuǎn)眺的時(shí)間延長了。美國國家眼科研究所(National Eye Institute)咨詢服務(wù)主管雷切爾•畢夏普(Rachel Bishop)說：“我認(rèn)為，目前我們得出的最令人欣慰的結(jié)論就是：一切都尚無定論。”她還說，其他一些可能的原因，比如在戶外進(jìn)行了強(qiáng)度較大的身體活動(dòng)或在室內(nèi)盯著屏幕看的時(shí)間減少了，似乎更不可能成立。畢夏普并未參與上述兩項(xiàng)研究。
Being outdoors also presents risks. Ultraviolet-light exposure potentially causes melanoma and contributes to the development of cataracts. Damaging rays from the sun are cumulative, so experts recommend wearing protective sunglasses and hats starting at a young age. Howard Purcell, an optometrist and senior vice president of customer development at Dallas-based Essilor of America, a manufacturer of optical lenses, says sunglasses should block UV light. Look for sunglasses with an eye-sun protection factor (E-SPF) between 25 and 50, he said.
呆在戶外也會(huì)面臨著風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。紫外線照射可能會(huì)引發(fā)黑色素瘤并助長白內(nèi)障的形成。太陽長年累月地發(fā)出有害射線，因此專家們建議，人們從小就該戴上防護(hù)性太陽鏡和太陽帽。總部設(shè)在達(dá)拉斯的依視路美國公司(Essilor of America)是一家光學(xué)鏡片生產(chǎn)商，該公司客戶拓展部高級(jí)副總裁、驗(yàn)光師霍華德•珀塞爾(Howard Purcell)說，太陽鏡必須要能夠阻擋紫外線。他說，要挑選那些鏡片防曬系數(shù)(E-SPF)在25到50之間的太陽鏡。
Many eye-vitamin formulations currently on the market are based on research conducted by the National Institutes of Health in a project called Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS. The first phase of the clinical trial, completed in 2001, found that a specific combination of vitamins C and E, along with beta-carotene and zinc, reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration by as much as 25%. AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness in older people.
目前市面上許多護(hù)眼維生素配方都是基于美國國立衛(wèi)生研究院(National Institutes of Health)進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)研究制成的，該研究是一個(gè)名為年齡相關(guān)性眼病研究(Age-Related Eye Disease Study,簡稱AREDS)的項(xiàng)目的內(nèi)容，其臨床試驗(yàn)的第一個(gè)階段于2001年完成。研究人員在該階段發(fā)現(xiàn)，維生素C、維生素E按某種比例的配方組合加上β-胡蘿卜素和鋅將年齡相關(guān)性黃斑變性發(fā)病風(fēng)險(xiǎn)減少了25%。年齡相關(guān)性黃斑變性是老年人致盲的主要原因之一。
In the second phase of AREDS, to be published in this month's Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers identified additional nutritional supplements -- the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, found in foods such as spinach, kale and broccoli -- that further reduce the risk and progression of AMD, especially when a person's diet is already low in these nutrients. The study found a similar beneficial effect for people with cataracts who don't normally get a lot of lutein and zeaxanthin in their diet.
在年齡相關(guān)性眼病研究的第二個(gè)階段，研究人員確定了額外的營養(yǎng)補(bǔ)充元素──菠菜、甘藍(lán)菜和西蘭花等蔬菜中富含的葉黃素和玉米黃質(zhì)──它們能進(jìn)一步減少年齡相關(guān)性黃斑變性的發(fā)病風(fēng)險(xiǎn)、減緩病情，尤其是對(duì)飲食中上述營養(yǎng)素含量本來很低的人群更有效。該研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，這些營養(yǎng)素對(duì)那些日常飲食中缺乏葉黃素和玉米黃質(zhì)的白內(nèi)障患者有著相似的積極作用。這一研究成果發(fā)表在五月刊的《美國醫(yī)學(xué)會(huì)雜志》(Journal of the American Medical Association)上。
The latest part of the study, which involved about 4,000 participants, also looked at the effect of replacing beta-carotene in the supplements formulation with lutein and zeaxanthin because of studies that found former smokers who take beta-carotene have a higher incidence of lung cancer. Researchers found a 20% improvement in progression to advanced AMD with the replacement, said Emily Chew, deputy director of epidemiology and clinical application for the National Eye Institute, a branch of the National Institutes of Health.
這項(xiàng)研究的最后一部分共涉及約4,000名參與者，它探討了用葉黃素和玉米黃質(zhì)來代替補(bǔ)充配方中β-胡蘿卜素的影響，因?yàn)楸姸嘌芯勘砻鳎?jīng)是煙民的人攝入β-胡蘿卜素后，罹患肺癌的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)會(huì)更高。美國國家眼科研究所流行病學(xué)與臨床應(yīng)用部門副主任埃米莉•周(Emily Chew)說，研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，在服用替代營養(yǎng)素后，有20%的患者病變至年齡相關(guān)性黃斑變性晚期的過程有所改善。美國國家眼科研究所是美國國立衛(wèi)生研究院的一個(gè)分支機(jī)構(gòu)。
Dr. Chew said the AREDS study researchers recommend replacing the beta-carotene in supplements with lutein and zeaxanthin. Benefits from the supplements have been found only in people who are at high risk for advanced AMD or already have it in one eye.
周博士說，年齡相關(guān)性眼病研究的工作人員建議用葉黃素和玉米黃質(zhì)來替代補(bǔ)充配方中的β-胡蘿卜素。但該配方的益處僅僅只在那些晚期年齡相關(guān)性黃斑變性高發(fā)人群或者已有一只眼患上此疾的病人身上顯現(xiàn)。
Some eye experts say omega-3s, found commonly in fish and nuts, appear to play a protective role in eye health with both the retina and cornea. This includes help with the dry eyes that many people, especially women, experience in their 50s. Anne Sumers, a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a practicing ophthalmologist in Ridgewood, N.J., said consuming flax seed, either as a pill or sprinkled on food, can help treat dry eyes.
一些眼科專家說，常見于魚類和堅(jiān)果中的Ω-3脂肪酸看來能對(duì)包括視網(wǎng)膜和角膜在內(nèi)的眼部健康起到保護(hù)作用，包括對(duì)干眼病也有幫助。許多人在進(jìn)入50歲后就易患上干眼病，尤其是女性。美國眼科學(xué)會(huì)(American Academy of Ophthalmology)發(fā)言人、新澤西州瑞吉伍德市(Ridgewood)執(zhí)業(yè)眼科醫(yī)師安妮•蘇美爾(Anne Sumers)說，進(jìn)食亞麻籽，不論是吃藥片還是把亞麻籽撒在食物上吃，都有助于治療干眼病。
Too much time staring at electronic screens has given rise to another problem: computer-vision syndrome. To relax the eyes, some experts recommend that for every 20 minutes spent staring at a computer, people should take a break for 20 seconds and look at least 20 feet away, ideally out a window.
長時(shí)間盯著電子屏幕看也引發(fā)了另一個(gè)問題：電腦視覺綜合癥。一些專家建議，為了放松雙眼，人們?cè)诙⒅娔X工作的時(shí)候，應(yīng)該每隔20分鐘就休息20秒、并遠(yuǎn)眺至少20英尺，最好是看看窗外。
The decision to go to an optometrist versus an ophthalmologist is a personal one. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who spend most of their time managing eye diseases and performing surgeries rather than prescribing eyeglasses. Optometrists' main focus is prescribing eyeglasses, as well as screening for eye diseases. If getting an eye checkup, be sure -- particularly if you're 40 and over -- that the optometrist does a comprehensive dilated eye exam to observe the pupil opened up in order to see the retina.
至于到底是去看驗(yàn)光師還是眼科醫(yī)生，這就看個(gè)人選擇了。眼科醫(yī)師是醫(yī)學(xué)博士，他們將大部分時(shí)間都花在治眼疾、做手術(shù)上而非配眼鏡上。驗(yàn)光師則專注于校配眼鏡，他們也負(fù)責(zé)檢查眼疾。如果想要進(jìn)行一次眼科檢查──尤其是如果你已年屆40或年過40的話──那一定要驗(yàn)光師實(shí)施全面的散瞳眼底檢查，即觀察放大后的瞳孔以檢查視網(wǎng)膜的情況。
