Eyestrain is an increasingly common problem in this modern world as we all struggle to focus on TV and images on computer screens. It’s not just computer users who suffer however, drivers spending long hours on the road may also experience eyestrain symptoms such as headaches or itchy eyes. Here are a few simple tips to help prevent eye strain.
Preventing Eye Strain
1.Take Frequent breaks
The best way to prevent eye strain is to use them less. There are two ways of doing this. Take a break from using a computer, driving or whatever it is your eyes are trained on for at least 15 minutes in every hour. If this isn’t possible shift your focus to something at a different distance- if you have been doing close work look out of a window at a distant object, or if focused at distance when driving look at something nearby such as your speedometer for a moment. Shift your eyes back and forth between near and far every now and then to give your eyes a break.
2. Reduce Glare
Reducing glare with significantly decrease the strain on your eyes. If working on a computer, angle your screen to avoid reflections and adjust the contrast levels of your monitor to make viewing more comfortable. Use an LCD screen or other anti-glare technology such as monitor filters.
Anti-glare glasses are available for both computing and driving purposes.
Control the ambient light to a balance level neither too bright or too dark. Ensure that any lighting is reflected or indirect.
3. Keep your eyes moist
When you are looking at a monitor or focus intently on any fixed point for a period of time you actually blink far less than you normally would. This has the side effect of drying out your eyes, contributing to the tired and itchy feeling eyes that people often experience. Take a few slow and deliberate full blinks every few minutes. If you find this insufficient to make your eyes more comfortable, consider buying some eye drops to refresh your eyes.
4. Exercise your eyes
The muscles around your eyes that control their focus is what you are actually straining when you have eye strain. Here is a video showing some exercises that you can do to strengthen the muscles around your eyes.
Image credit: Flickr user Look into my eyes
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