With so many of us spending most of our day at a computer, it comes as little surprise that our eyesight is getting worse by the day. Here are a few small things you can incorporate into your lifestyle to preserve the health of your eyes:
nPositioning: Your screen should be positioned about an arm’s length from your eyes and 20 degrees below eye level. Consider foot and wrist rests for added comfort.
nLighting: Room lighting should not be direct, to reduce glare and reflections from your screen. Look into an internal or external glare screen and be sure to set colour, contrast and brightness levels to suit you.
nGlasses: Anti-reflective coatings on the lenses of your glasses can be applied to reduce discomfort.
nBlinking: On an average, we blink 12 times per minute. But when we are on the computer, we only blink five times a minute. That can lead to dry eyes. Relieve the discomfort by using artificial tear drops or gels and remember to blink.
nPalming: Sit straight at your workstation and rub your palms against each other till you feel 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. Repeat this exercise two to three times whenever your eyes feel tired or as often as you want.
nUse tea bags: Keep two used tea bags in the refrigerator before you leave for work. Once you are home, place the tea bags on your eyes for a few minutes as you relax. This soothes your eyes and reduces puffiness.
nEat healthy: Incorporate Vitamins A, C and E on a daily basis; eat citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, poultry and dairy products.
(Excerpts from ‘Common Ailments & Home Remedies’)
Published 14 August 2015, 17:25 IST