Relieve Tired and Strained Eyes With 5 Simple Tips
Intense eye use has become inevitable in this new age of technology. We spend a major part of the day sitting in front of these artificially-lit screens. It causes a good deal of strain on the eyes, which we unconsciously ignore. Although eye strain is not a disease, it can be an indication for an underlying eye condition which needs to be treated. Some factors which may cause eye strain are:
1. Reading and writing in dim light.
2. Spending a lot of time looking at electronics or artificially lit screens.
3. An already existing visual problem or eye disorder which might add to the eye strain.
4. Spending a great amount of time in the sun without covering your eyes with a hat or sunglasses.
5. Chronic eye stress and fatigue.
Studies have proven that visual disorder symptoms occur in 50 to 90 percent of computer workers. It might not be possible for you to change the nature of your work but you can take a few precautions to prevent eye strain. Here is what all you can do to take better care of your eyesight:
- WORK IN PROPER LIGHT:
Eye strain is generally caused by working in an excessively bright light the source of which can be outdoor sunlight or interior lighting. Close the drapes of the window to eliminate exterior lightening and also reduce interior lightning while working in front of screens.
- UPGRADE YOUR DISPLAY:
Replace your old tube styled monitor with LCDs, as their screens are more comfortable for the eyes and have an anti-reflective surface.
- BLINK YOUR EYES MORE OFTEN:
Blinking moistens your eyes and thus prevents dryness and irritation. When working on computers, people blink less frequently which cause dry eyes. In such case, use artificial tears during the daytime to keep your eyes moistened. But consult your doctor before using them.
- COMPUTER DISPLAY SETTINGS:
You should adjust your computer display settings in order to reduce eye strain and fatigue. The brightness of display should sync with the brightness of the surroundings. The text size and contrast should be adjusted to your comfort level especially when working for long hours.
- EXERCISE YOUR EYES:
Constantly looking at the screen causes eye fatigue which results in eye strain. You can follow these two simple exercises in order to reduce the effect.
- After every 20 min looks away from your computer and gaze at a distant object (approx 20 feet away) for at least 20 seconds. Some doctors call it the “20-20-20 rule”.
- Another exercise is to look for 10-15 seconds at a distant object and then look at a nearby object. Repeat this exercise for 10 times.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.
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