As we spend a lot of time in front of the computer, we need to take special care of our eyes. Staring at the screen for a long time can cause significant eye strain. This could even cause visual problems. Making a few minor changes and following a few exercises could be all that is required for effective eye care.
The right position: Maintaining the correct position in front of your monitor is vital not only for the eye but also for avoiding back and wrist problems. Try and maintain about an arm’s length between your eyes and the screen. The screen should not be higher than your eye level; ideally it should be 20 degrees below.
Proper light: The room lighting can also be an important factor in eye care. The light should not fall directly on the screen and neither should it come from the back and cause reflection to occur. Go for an internal or external glare screen and adjust the settings to suit you.
Anti-glare glasses: If you have glasses then ask your optometrist for anti-glare coating. Frequent users even without glasses could have special glasses made with anti-glare. This reduces discomfort and eases the strain on the eyes.
Follow the 20:20 rule: This is essential in proper eye care if you spend too much time in front of the screen. After every 20 minutes of screen viewing, look away at objects that are at least 20 feet away. This is instrumental in changing the eye’s focal length and reducing strain. Next rule is to blink the eyes 20 times to prevent dry eyes.
Use artificial tear drops: When we work on the computer we often forget to blink naturally and this causes drying of the eyes. Apart from remembering to blink frequently, it is advised to use artificial tear drops for moistening in proper eye care routine.
Do this exercise: Sit straight and rub the palms until they feel warm. Next, cup your eyes lightly and relax for a minute. Repeat this exercise whenever your eyes feel strained. This eye care exercise will help to ease the strain on tired eyes.
Tea bags for eye care: using cold tea bags straight from the refrigerator can soothe your eyes and relieve tiredness. This also helps to reduce puffiness around the eyes. This can be done at the end of a day in front of the screen.
Eat an eye friendly diet: Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Also include colors in your diet. Eye care with eating right works well and these foods do wonders to your general fitness too. Your diet should include dairy products too.