Effect of close work

[bobbybeech]

Does anyone know whether doing close work can worsen glaucoma? I read a lot and love doing jigsaws in the winter, for which I have bought a top-of-the range reading light. Can this cause further harm?

[Toby_from_London]

Hi bobbybeech,

I recently had a microshunt inserted and as I work in Finance basically looking at numbers all day, this is something I too was concerned about.

However my surgeon advised that while eyesight naturally deteriorates with age, reading and close work doesn’t in itself worsen glaucoma. While I did take some time off after the the procedure as a precaution, I can still read as far down the eye chart as I could before!

Wishing you well.

[bobbybeech in reply to Toby_from_London]

Thank you so much, Toby, that is most reassuring. I can now look forward to reading and puzzling without worrying.

[salla22 in reply to Toby_from_London]

Tha ks for the comment from your surgeon,I do a lott of crafts, very helpful

[Dumyat26]

First diagnosed 10 years ago.

I also do a lot of very close work, for a few hours daily both on computer & drawing board as well as a lot of reading. I do small very detailed drawings.

Although my general eyesight has deteriorated, mostly distance, this is due to age and not glaucoma.

[bobbybeech in reply to Dumyat26]

Thank you, dong26, that's good news - one less thing to worry about! Best wishes to you.

[Gfgh]

There is a lot of read each on this. You can look on Pubmed - basically Myopia is a risk factor for Glaucoma, and there is a correlation between a lot of near work and myopia. This is why children of today are more myopic than in the 1970’s (see paper), as now they spend extended time on screens.

[Gfgh]

*research* not read each! Autoque