Eye Care Day (Me no Aigo Day)

What Is Eye Care Day?

October 10 is Eye Care Day in Japan. The date comes from the fact that "10 10," turned on its side, looks like a pair of eyebrows and eyes. Its predecessor was "Eyesight Preservation Day," established in 1931 by the Central Association for the Welfare of the Blind to prevent blindness. From 1938 to 1944, September 18 was observed as "Eye Day," and in 1947 October 10 became Eye Care Day. It is a day to think about eye health and review how we use our eyes every day.

A History of Protecting Eye Health

Campaigns to protect eyesight have faced different challenges in each era.

• The fight against trachoma: Trachoma, an eye infection, was once common in Japan and a major cause of blindness. Thanks to better hygiene and treatment, it is now rarely seen in Japan.
• Nearsightedness and screen time: In recent years, eye strain from long hours on computers and smartphones, as well as rising nearsightedness among children, have become concerns.
• Awareness campaigns: The Japan Ophthalmologists Association and others hold events on eye health around Eye Care Day.

Simple Ways to Rest Your Eyes

Here are some commonly recommended tips for people who work at a computer.

• The 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet (6 meters) away for about 20 seconds. Eye-care organizations in the U.S. recommend it to reduce eye strain.
• Screen distance and brightness: Keeping the screen at least 40 cm from your eyes and reducing the difference between screen brightness and room lighting is said to help prevent eye fatigue.
• Remember to blink: When you concentrate on a screen, you blink less, and your eyes dry out more easily. Blinking consciously can help.

Eye Trivia

• About 80% of information: It is often said that roughly 80% of the information people take in comes through sight, which shows how important our eyes are.
• How often we blink: People are said to blink about 15 to 20 times per minute normally, but far less often when staring at a screen.
• Acuity vs. vision: An eye test measures visual acuity, the ability to see fine detail. "Vision" also includes tracking moving objects and judging distance.
• The "C" on the eye chart: The broken ring used in eye tests is called a Landolt C, devised by the French ophthalmologist Edmund Landolt.
• Presbyopia around 40: The ability to focus on close objects declines with age, and many people notice farsightedness from around age 40.

Ideas for Eye Care Day

• Check your smartphone's screen time and set aside a little time without screens.
• Get into the habit of looking out the window or at distant scenery during breaks.
• Warm your eyes with a steamed towel.
• If you haven't had an eye exam in a while, book one. Conditions like glaucoma often have no early symptoms, so regular checkups are recommended.

A Day to Take Care of Your Eyes

Eye Care Day on October 10 is a day to pay attention to the eyes we use from morning to night. Now that we spend so much time looking at screens for work and for fun, it is important to rest our eyes by looking into the distance now and then, and to check their condition with regular exams. Why not spend the day enjoying the autumn scenery and giving your eyes a break?