Eye Care for Photographers

I am wondering if there is special care we should be taking with our eyes to make sure our eye health is good. Obviously, this is a critical element for a good photographer to have "good eyes".

I had lasik surgery a couple years ago and have excellent vision. However, I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and am very fair complected. My eye doctor warns me about wearing good sunglasses when outdoors. When I am doing shots outdoor which is my main focus, my eyes sometimes become strained and watery.

Does anyone have any good feedback or research on the subject?

Pretty much anyone should wear sunglasses outdoors; there's a fair bit of research out there that shows that it can help prevent eye damage, especially long-term.

I don't have links to any specific studies right now, mind.

Photography-specific? Don't look at the sun through your lenses, that'll only concentrate its effects

I would add: Yearly check-ups.

I don't think you can wear sunglasses while taking pictures. I guess maybe just a hat or something to keep your eyes out of direct sun.

Jewel wrote in post #5375041
I don't think you can wear sunglasses while taking pictures. I guess maybe just a hat or something to keep your eyes out of direct sun.

Hey, I wear sunglasses when taking pictures... I don't have much of an option unless I want to be blind

It's kind of annoying to have vision that's just past what the diopter corrects to.

Jim G wrote in post #5375195
Hey, I wear sunglasses when taking pictures... I don't have much of an option unless I want to be blind

It's kind of annoying to have vision that's just past what the diopter corrects to.

I wear sunglasses when shooting somtimes too, but my vision is waaayyyyyy past what the diopter corrects.

I remember a photographer in a workshop said to never close 1 eye and shoot with the other, but try to look down with both as if looking down a gun aim. Honestly, i find that quite impossible. Anyone do that?

After an extended shoot, yes...my right eyes all funky. I should and need to wear glasses regularly already, i guess i need to take some precautionary measures.

flipstyle72 wrote in post #5375306
I remember a photographer in a workshop said to never close 1 eye and shoot with the other, but try to look down with both as if looking down a gun aim. Honestly, i find that quite impossible. Anyone do that?

yep its how i shoot very quick and easy and can be hunting for the second shot with the spare eye

Jim G wrote in post #5373240
Photography-specific? Don't look at the sun through your lenses, that'll only concentrate its effects

Whoa, you're so smart Jim!

hmm very interesting about the two eye thing, I actually wear glasses to correct about a -4.50 prescription and I cant see the whole screen through the view finder, using two eyes allows me to move my eyes to look around the view finder in an easier fashion, just got to remember to use two eyes next time I go out and take pictures.

I am really worried about my eyes after being notified that I have cataracts last Friday. I would caution evryone to take good care of their eyes.

flipstyle72 wrote in post #5375306
I remember a photographer in a workshop said to never close 1 eye and shoot with the other, but try to look down with both as if looking down a gun aim. Honestly, i find that quite impossible. Anyone do that?

Its an eye dominance thing. Usually, your eye is dominant on the strong side of your body -- right handed, right eye dominant.

It only works if you are right eye dominant. If you are left eye dominant (like me) you will give yourself a headache. I can shoot all day with both eyes open from the left side. Can't hit the broad side of the barn right handed.

Also, the is a new digital imaging system they have for the retina that tests for 10 different eye diseases at once. It cost me 30 bucks, but it is well worth it. And no dilation!

Also take Lutein daily, about 45 mg.

UV light is harmful you your eyes. UV light is the same stuff that gives you sunburn, so you can imagine the damage it does to your eyes. In fact, a common example of how UV light can hurt your eyes is snow blindness. Basically, the UV light cooks your cornea. The same phenomena also occurs to welder's who don't use proper eye protection. You can read about it here

http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Snow_blindness

ALWAYS WEAR SUNGLASSES WHEN GOING OUTSIDE. Even when it is cloudy, and not sunny. UV light still penetrates the clouds, which is why you can still get sunburned even on a cloudy day.

After I had my PRK Surgery (very similar to Lasik) I shoot all the time with sunglasses on, and it hasn't hampered me any. Being that I wore glasses before the surgery, I was used to shooting with eye glasses on. I will say that using polarized sun glasses makes it hard to look at the LCD, as you can see imperfections in the LCD screen very easy, and the image in the LCD doesn't stand out so good.

I occasionally shoot with 2 eyes open. I do a fair amount of shotgun sports shooting (skeet, trap, 5 stand, sporting clays). When shooting a shotgun, you are taught to shoot with both eyes open, looking down the barrel, so it comes natural to me.

I will have to try taking shots with my sunglasses on. I have really nice Maui Jims that I wear RELIGIOUSLY otherwise.

I do also shoot with both eyes open.

Lasik is a wonderful thing! So glad I had that done.