One of the most taken for granted part of the body is actually the eye. Nowadays, people are more concerned about losing weight, etc. rather than thinking of ways to care for their precious eyes

With so many of us spending lots of time in front of the computer every day it comes to no surprise that research is showing a rise in visual problems. What can one do? here are some tips that can be followed in our daily life without any special instruments or cost...

Positioning is everything

Correct positioning of our computer, keyboard and typing copy is essential. Screen should be positioned about an arm’s length from our eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.

While computer use won’t harm your eyes in the long term, experts say, working at a computer can cause eye fatigue and symptoms such as tired, dry, itchy or burning eyes. The screen shouldn’t be inches away (too close) or so far that you cannot see the print, easily.


Lighting can make all the difference

Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare and reflections from computer screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set your colour, contrast and brightness levels to suit us.

Glare can create eye strain. People can combat glare at work with antireflective coatings on their computer screens as well as antireflective coatings on their glasses.

To help with the strain that artificial lighting can cause on the eyes, its recommended to convert to incandescent light from a regular soft white lightbulb or have lamps on our desks with incandescent light that illuminates the work area evenly.

A little extra help from our glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of our glasses can be applied by optometrist to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickering light sources such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don’t forget, doctor of optometry can talk to you about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.

It is a known fact that looking directly at the sun, lasers or any strong source of light for an extended period of time can make us go blind. However, not many are aware that mere but frequent exposure to sunlight, especially during midday, can cause real damage to the eyes in the long run. That is why, whenever we are driving or walking under the sun, we should always wear sunglasses with good UVA And UVB protection.

We really do not have to buy ultra-expensive sunglasses. Cheap ones that are available in warehouse store counters are already sufficient. But before we buy cheap sunglasses, we have to ensure that it truly protects your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun or other strong light sources.


Palming

Sit straight at workstation and rub our palms against each other till we feel them warm. The warmth of our palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes. Then, lightly cup our eyes with our palms and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in mind. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever our eyes feel tired, or as often as we want. While palming, we can either rest our elbows on our desk or keep away from the desk and cup our eyes. Both ways are fine.

Eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, C and E

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products. Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits and munch in-between meals at the office.

Foods that are rich in Vitamin A, which is a source of eye-building nutrient beta-carotene, include carrots, squash, apricot, deep orange produce, cod liver oil, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach.

Vitamin C-rich foods include citrus fruits, mango, broccoli, strawberries and cauliflower.

Meanwhile, good sources of Vitamin E are eggs, peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.


Splash water on your face

During breaks, splash water on our face while closing your eyes. This has an overall relaxing effect and helps us feel refreshed.


Drink Plenty of Water

Waste products and toxins that are not properly eliminated actually affect our eyes indirectly. If we love our eyes, we ought to make sure that our body is able to effectively get rid of the toxins and waste products we get from the things that we eat and other environmental factors. Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water everyday for successful waste elimination.

Of course, don’t smoke!

Smoking increases the risk for eye diseases and vision problems, according to research. Smoking damages blood vessels, causing them to constrict and form atherosclerotic plaques — which can deprive the eye tissue of oxygen.

Take time out, 20-20-20 rule

Step I :-
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn our head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This changes the focal length of our eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-
Try and blink our eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :-
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for entire body..It’s all in the blinking

Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? But wait, did you know that when we’re on the computer we only blink 5 times per minute? That can add up to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink!


Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before we leave for work. Once we are home, place the tea bags on our eyes for a few minutes as we relax. This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.


perfumes

If our eyes are sensitive, flagrance can make them red,. To diminish this effect without giving up scent, avoid classic spots-like behind your ears--that are too close to our eyes.


medical prescriptions

High blood pressure medicines and antihistamines for allergies can dry our eyes. Rehydrate with drops sans preservatives (they can be irritating) and, if we wear contacts, a moisturizing cleaning solution.


while exercising

When sweat drips into our eyes, so do dirt and oils-and rubbing our eyes with our fingers can start an infection. Instead, dab sweat with a towel and try to wear a sweatband.