When was the last time you rested your eyes? Even if you don’t have chronic eye problems, it’s still important to rest them from time to time. Excessive exposure to bright light and blue light from electronics can contribute to eyestrain, discomfort, and ultimately vision problems in the future if left unchecked. It’s easy to take care of your eyes by following these simple tips for resting and recharging your eyes every day!
Relax your body
Because your eyes work hard all day, it’s important to let them rest at night. Consider dimming or turning off your screens an hour before bedtime so that your eyes can adjust gradually.
Eat Well
Getting enough rest is vital to our health, but it’s also important that we have a healthy diet. What we eat directly impacts how well our eyes work, as they’re a part of your body—just like any other. To make sure you get all of the nutrients you need to protect your vision, it’s best to eat a balanced diet. Make sure you incorporate plenty of vitamins A and C into your daily routine; these vitamins play an important role in eye health. Also make sure you are getting sufficient amounts of lutein in your diet; studies show that many people don’t consume enough.
Practice Good Posture
Don’t slouch or hunch your shoulders. Keep your chest open, with shoulders back and down. Don’t carry a bag (or use a backpack) with one strap over one shoulder. When you walk, keep both feet flat on the ground (not one in front of another). And if you spend hours hunched over your computer screen? Realign yourself every hour or so—it only takes 15 seconds!
Limit Screen Time
The eye is one of our most vulnerable organs, so it’s important to not expose it to any unnecessary damage. Doctors recommend taking regular breaks from screens—even reading a book without your glasses once in a while. Try to stick to an hour of screen time or less per day.
Take breaks from computer or TV
Whether you’re working on a computer or watching TV, we often forget to take breaks. Every 20 minutes take a short walk around your house or office. This can help reduce stress, refresh your body and mind, improve memory, increase productivity and encourage better sleep at night.
Use Computer Glasses
Computer glasses help to alleviate eye strain from all that screen time. Look for lenses with a higher number of diopters, or D (sometimes written as 1D or 2D). These lenses have thinner edges, so you can see objects in your periphery more clearly. However, if you wear glasses already, get an exam first to make sure you don’t need stronger prescription lenses instead. If computer glasses are right for you—and they may be—these might come in handy.
Get Plenty of Sleep
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body can have trouble focusing on things. When driving, that might mean noticing a stop sign or an approaching car a few seconds after it would have been safe to do so. Instead of relying on coffee to keep your eyes alert, give them some rest instead. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
Use Darkening Shades in Rooms Where You Work on the Computer
Blue light from computer screens can cause eye strain and make you feel tired. Place blackout curtains on windows in your home office to shield yourself from external sunlight, as well as blue-tinted light produced by devices like your computer monitor. Using a program like flux can also help alleviate eye strain when working on your computer after dark, because it automatically filters out blue light.
Try Eye Drops if Dryness is an Issue
If your eyes are constantly dry, a trip to an eye doctor might be in order. Dry eyes can be caused by a number of issues, but most often is because of things like air conditioning or winter weather. If you’re experiencing constant irritation that doesn’t seem to subside no matter what you do, it might just be time to take off your contacts and try a fresh set of eye drops.
Wear Sunglasses Outside in Bright Sunlight
If you’re exposed to sunlight outside, wear sunglasses. While UV rays will still reach your eyes, they will be less intense, which is a good thing! UV light can lead to macular degeneration as well as cataracts. Protect your eyes from harmful rays with lenses specifically designed to filter out UV radiation. Remember not to squint if you’re wearing sunglasses – keep them on!
