Another thing I’m packing for my adventurous trip out West are a solid pair of sunglasses. I’ve been doing a bit of research because it’s time for me to invest in a good pair of sports sunglasses to wear for my triathlon training and during the race. In the past I’ve worn my Ray-Ban Wayfarers which are cute, but not right for bike riding/racing.
Sunglasses are key when training and racing. If I go without them I often am squinting into the sun or rubbing my eyes when dirt and dust fly up, not comfortable or safe. If you need a prescription, make sure to get this taken care of for your riding, you definitely want to be able to see where you’re going (to avoid hitting people, potholes, etc…) and to keep your eyes properly shielded from the elements. Two pairs that have caught my eye (pun intended har-har) are the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 and the Flak Jacket.
While we’re talking about vision, if you have vision problems, do you know why? Here’s a look into this:
Heredity or Environment: Are Vision Problems the Result of Your Genes or Your Habits?
We inherit a lot from our parents- but, is our eyesight dictated by genetics? Some medical and health experts say yes, but with the caveat that certain environmental factors can’t be ruled out.
The genetic link
There are some common eye conditions that most experts agree are hereditary. Chief among them are nearsightedness and farsightedness, color vision deficiency (color blindness), amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (cross-eye), and retinitis pigmentosa (a rare disease that causes a progressive decline of the retina).
Before you run to the phone to call your parents and blame them for having to wear prescription eyeglasses, it’s important to note the evidence supporting environmental causes of vision problems.
Environmental considerations
While statistics strongly support a genetic link to near and farsightedness, personal habits should also be taken into consideration. So, was your mom right when she told you not to sit so close to the TV or read without a light on? Quite possibly. For example, many studies show that children who spend more time reading, playing video games and watching television are more likely to be nearsighted than those who don’t devote as much time to those activities.
Relevant research
In an effort to sort out this uncertainty, studies have been done on twins since identical twins share the exact same genetic makeup. One of the most talked about studies was conducted on a group of 500 identical and fraternal twins. What resulted were findings suggesting that around 85 percent of all near and farsightedness in the test subjects was gene-related. However, the researchers in this study also made it clear that the reasons behind these vision problems are not definitive and indicate that environmental factors also play a role.
The verdict
So, with evidence supporting both sides, how do you know where your vision problems stem from? The reality is that there really is no clear-cut answer either way. Whichever factor is a greater cause for eye problems, the best way to ward off issues is with regular visits to an optometrist who can monitor any changes in your eye health and offer the proper care for a lifetime of healthy vision.
Post is sponsored by LensCrafters.
