Tips for Vision Problems in Speakers and Writers

by Yvonne Ortega @YvonneOrtega1

The most common vision problems for writers are pink eye, vision loss, and dry eye. We will look at them one at a time.

Pink Eye 

Pink eye is an infection or inflammation of the outer membrane of the eyeball and the inner eyelid. Symptoms may include eye redness, pain, and irritation. One of my speaker friends said, “I woke up with eye irritation in one eye, rubbed it to get rid of the discomfort, and spread it to the other eye. Ignorance is not always bliss. 

Because of how she looked, she called her eye doctor. She discovered that pink eye—also called conjunctivitis—can be allergic, bacterial, chemical, or viral. Her eye specialist helped her with treatment options and congratulated her for seeking care without delay. She said, “If you had a thief in your home, you would not welcome him.” I said, “Don’t welcome the thief that has invaded your eyes.”

Vision Loss 

Vision loss is the inability to see correctly. Don’t let that thief sit for tea with you and then literally rob you blind of vision. Be proactive.

The most common vision loss is central field vision—the vision we have when we look straight ahead. It is not the same as peripheral vision when we look to the left or to the right. The central field vision includes everything we can see including the peripheral vision. 

An eye doctor and specialist team can restore vision loss with early intervention. If the underlying cause is diabetes, they can help manage it. If it is macular degeneration, they can treat it or surgically repair macular holes. Although this article doesn’t cover macular degeneration and cataracts, you can check with your eye doctor and team or research both online.

Dry Eye 

Dry eye occurs when tears can’t produce adequate moisture. Symptoms include dryness of the eyes, discomfort, and redness of the eyes. One woman handled the blog and copyediting at work. She told me, “I ignored all symptoms of dry eye. I took care of my husband and the children plus all the writing emergencies at work. Now I suffer the consequences.” 

One of the causes of dry eye is prolonged computer use. Kick the thief out and take breaks. Other causes include contact lenses along with contact lens solution sensitivity; sunny, dry, or windy conditions; air conditioning, dehumidifiers, fans, and heaters; high altitudes, dust, pollen, and smoke. As we age, tear production decreases. However, men and women of any age can suffer from dry eye. Some medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, and decongestants cause dry eye. Autoimmune diseases and disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and Sjogren’s syndrome can cause dry eye. 

For relief from dry eye, we can turn to eye drops, a warm washcloth on our eyes, or a hot and cold compress. My doctor advised me to hold a warm washcloth over my eyes first thing in the morning and at bedtime and to use eye drops throughout the day. Your eye specialist may recommend the 20-20-20 rule—for every 20 minutes you look at the computer screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5 ESV).

Which tip do you practice? Which one do you need? 

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Yvonne Ortega walks with a small footprint but leaves a giant imprint in people’s lives. This power-packed package is a professional speaker and the author of the Moving from Broken to Beautiful® Series through cancer, divorce, forgiveness, and loss. Learn more at WWW.YVONNEORTEGA.COM

Yvonne speaks with honesty and humor as she shares her life and struggles through presentations that empower women to find peace, power, and purpose through God’s Word. 

Yvonne’s background as a licensed professional counselor brings a unique perspective into the heart of women. She’s a speaking and writing coach and the owner of Moving from Broken to Beautiful®, LLC. She belongs to the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, the Christian Authors Network, the National Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International.

She celebrates life at the beach, where she walks, builds sand castles, blows bubbles, and dances.

Featured Image: Photo by K8 on Unsplash