Of the five senses, good vision is, by far, the one that is most likely to improve a survivor’s chances off the grid. Human beings aren’t perfect, however, and any number of issues can cause problems with sight. What would happen if, off the grid, your contact lenses dried out or you accidentally stepped on your glasses? There isn’t anything scarier than being on your own and not be able to see. Even if you have perfect eyesight at present, having a few pairs of reading glasses in your storage is wise, simply because everyone reaches an age when their eyesight naturally changes. Let’s face it, there won’t be a Lenscrafters store around the corner after the you-know-what hits the fan.
Why Do Many Of Us Have Imperfect Vision?
One of our most common imperfections is the shape of our eyes. Eyeballs that aren’t perfectly round cause vision issues like nearsightedness (also known as “myopia”), farsightedness (also known as “hyperopia”), “astigmatism,” and “presbyopia.” These are becoming more common: Nearsightedness, for example, affected 25 percent of the U.S. populations in the 1970s. Now, it’s about 42 percent.
Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) usually stem from an eyeball being too long/short or the cornea/lens having the wrong curve, making light focus in front or behind the retina. Astigmatism comes from an irregular cornea/lens shape, distorting vision at all distances, while presbyopia, age-related loss of near focus, happens as the eye’s lens hardens and loses flexibility after about age 45. Genetics, lifestyle (near work), and eye shape are key factors for the first three, while aging is the sole cause of presbyopia.
Myopia: If you’re nearsighted, faraway objects look blurry. Because the eyeball is too “long,” light tends to focus in front of the retina (eye anatomy discussed in part 1 of this series). Corneal irregularities can also cause myopia. There is a strong genetic link among families.
(Note: Part 2 can be found here.)
Hyperopia: If you’re farsighted, nearby object are blurred. This is because light focuses behind the retina due to the eyeball being too “short” or the cornea is too flat. Like myopia, this condition also has a hereditary component.
Astigmatism: People with astigmatism can have blurry or distorted vision at all distance. With this issue, the cornea or lens is shaped, rather than a sphere in normal vision, more like, say, a football. This causes light to bend unevenly and fail to focus correctly on the retina. Astigmatism may be present from birth or develop later in life.
Presbyopia: In presbyopia, there is difficulty focusing on near objects. Unlike farsightedness, however, the eye’s lens becomes hard and less flexible, impairing the ability to focus. Presbyopia is almost universal once a person reaches their 40s or 50s.
Correcting Bad Vision
Lasik procedure takes about ten minutes to complete
All of the above problems can be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. In austere settings, these vision aids become more precious than gold, but few have stockpiled multiple replacement pairs of these all-important items.
It’s important not only to have items that improve your vision, but protective eyewear as well. Many rugged outdoorsmen are negligent about wearing eye protection when they chop wood or other chores likely to be part of normal off-grid living. Without eye protection, the risk of injury when performing strenuous tasks will be much higher. Whenever you’re doing chores outdoors, you should always ask yourself why you shouldn’t use eye protection.
Early in this book, we mentioned the importance of dealing with medical issues before a disaster occurs. Bad eyesight is one of those issues. A good investment in your future survival is having your eyesight corrected with a procedure such as LASIK. LASIK surgery uses pinpoint lasers to (painlessly) change the shape of your cornea so that you are less nearsighted or farsighted. It’s a quick procedure and your eyesight improves immediately. At most, you might feel like there’s a grain of sand in your eye for a day or two. Corrective vision surgery has been routinely available for years now, and is considered to be very safe.
Sunglasses As A Medical Item
Most don’t consider sunglasses to be a medical supply item, but they are. Even if you are just taking a hike outdoors, sunglasses provide eye protection from ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet (UV) light causes, over time, damage to the retinal cells which can lead to a clouding over of your eye’s lens, also called a “cataract.” This condition can only be repaired by surgery that will not be available in the absence of a functioning modern medical system. Using sunglasses to protect against UV light damage will help prolong good vision.
In cold weather conditions, failure to use sunglasses can cause a type of vision loss known as “snow blindness.” Snow blindness is painful and dangerous in the wilderness. Goggles can be improvised by carving slits into a piece of bark, cardboard, or even duct tape. Luckily, snow blindness improves on its own with eye patching.
Low Tech Vision Aids
maximize lighting in dark settings
Besides stockpiling eyeglasses, there are simple, non-electronic aids and environmental changes that improve daily function. These methods help to augment contrast, magnification, and lighting to help people with low vision see better, especially in situations where glasses, contacts, or surgical correction are not options.
Handheld/Stand Magnifiers: Simple lenses for close-up text, often with built-in lights.
Binoculars: Small, portable telescopes for seeing distant objects like street signs.
Water-Filled Glasses: Eyeglasses with syringes to adjust lens power for different needs. These tend to be less precise than prescription lenses.
Environmental & Contrast Adjustments That Help Vision
Improve Lighting: Use lamps or higher lumen bulbs. Make sure to shield eyes from glare.
Increase Contrast: Use bold colors (black paper on white desk), contrasting handles, or bright tape on stairs.
Use Bold Markers: Heavy felt-tip pens for writing notes.
Tactile Markers: Bump dots on keyboards or appliance dials.
Techniques & Training That Help Vision
Task Lighting: Aim a bright light directly at your reading or work area.
Glare Control: In normal times, professional training for safe navigation is available in some health centers.
In our final part of this series on vision issues, we’ll discuss how to deal with various types of traumatic injury to the eyes.
Joe Alton MD
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