Helpful Tips on Eye Care Posted on Jul 11, 2009 under General

With so many of us spending lots of time in front of thecomputer every day

it comes to no surprise that research is showing a rise invisual problems.

What can one do? First, it’s important to find out how you canprotect your eyes

through eye health exams and by making a few minor changes inyour computer viewing habits.

Here are some helpful Eye Care Tips -

Positioning is everything

Correct positioning of your computer, keyboard and typing copyis essential.

Your screen should be positioned about an arm’s length from youreyes and

20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests foradded comfort.

Lighting can make all the difference

Room lighting should be diffuse, not direct, to reduce glare andreflections from your screen.

Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure toset your colour, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.

A little extra help for your glasses

Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can beapplied by your optometrist

to reduce discomfort and to ease reduced vision from bright and/or flickeringlight sources

such as VDTs and fluorescent lights. And don’t forget, your doctor of optometrycan talk to you

about eyeglasses designed specifically for people who use computers a lot.

Take timeout, our 20-20-20 rule

Step I :-

After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your

head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This

changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-

Try and blink your 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 the entirebody.

It’s all in the blinking

Did you know that on average we blink 12 times per minute? Butwait, did you know

that when we’re on the computer we only blink 5 times perminute? That can add up to dry eyes.

Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gelsand remember to blink!

Palming

Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till youfeel them warm.

The warmth of your palms helps soothe and relax tired eyes.Then, lightly cup your eyes with your palms

and relax for 60 seconds. Count the seconds in your mind. Repeatthis exercise two to three times

whenever your eyes feel tired, or as often as you want. Whilepalming, you can either rest your elbows on your desk

or keep away from the desk and cup your eyes. Both ways arefine.

Splash water on your face

During breaks, splash water on your face while closing your eyes. This has anoverall relaxing effect and helps you feel refreshed.

Use tea bags

Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once youare home,

place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax.

This not only soothes tired eyes, but also reduces puffiness.

Eat healthy

Incorporate Vitamins A, C, and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafyveggies, tomatoes, spinach, poultry and dairy products.

Pack a box of chopped carrots, cucumber and fresh fruits andmunch in-between meals at the office.

Note: Fr Mail