Did you know that your eyes, like the rest of your body, need rest, too? With our increasing screen time, giving our eyes a well-deserved break is more crucial than ever. Read on as an expert optometrist at Vienna Eyecare Center shares eye relaxation tips.
The Importance of Relaxing Your Eyes
Our eyes are hard workers, continuously taking in information and helping us navigate the world. However, the digital age has brought on new stress for our peepers. Constant exposure to screens, from your work desk computer to your mid-day social media scroll, can lead to eye strain. This isn’t a minor issue, as persistent eye strain can result in vision problems and discomfort over time.
Tips to Relax Your Eyes
Here’s a look at some of our helpful tips to keeping your eyes relaxed:
- Follow the 20-20-20 Rule. The 20-20-20 rule is a useful technique to reduce eye strain. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus on an object 20 feet away from you. This helps to maintain distance between your eyes and the screen, allowing your eye muscles to relax.
- Adjust Your Environment. Ensure your work environment is comfortable and has proper lighting. Avoid working in dimly lit rooms and minimize glare on your screen by adjusting your device’s brightness and using a glare filter when needed.
- Blink Regularly. Blinking helps to keep your eyes moist and free from irritants. People often blink less frequently while using screens, so make a conscious effort to blink more frequently to avoid dryness and irritation.
- Palming. Palming is an easy relaxation technique that helps you rest your eyes and relieve stress. First, rub your hands to generate warmth. Then, close your eyes and gently cup your hands over them, avoiding any pressure on the eyes. Take deep breaths and focus on the darkness, allowing your eyes to relax completely.
- Do Some Eye Exercises. Performing simple eye exercises can help to maintain flexibility and reduce eye strain. One of them is focus shifting, which involves holding a pen at arm’s length and, for a few repetitions, slowly bringing it closer to your nose while focusing on the tip. Figure 8 is also an eye exercise worth doing. Hold your thumb about 10 inches from your face and draw an imaginary figure 8. Follow the movement of your thumb with your eyes.
- Take Regular Breaks. Taking frequent short breaks can significantly help reduce eye fatigue. Stand up, stretch and recuperate for a few minutes before returning to work.
- Adjust Your Screen Settings. Customize your device’s settings to suit your preferences. Adjust the brightness, contrast and font size to alleviate eye strain.
- Use Artificial Tears. If you experience dryness in your eyes, using over-the-counter artificial tears can help keep your eyes lubricated.
- Schedule Regular Eye Exams. Remember, an essential part of maintaining good eye health is regular check-ups. Our eye doctor can provide comprehensive examinations to identify potential issues and ensure your eyes are healthy.
Protect Your Eyes
Don’t wait until you experience discomfort or other problems that might affect your eyesight. Call Vienna Eyecare Center today at (703) 938-7633, or fill out the form on our contact page for more information. We also offer prescription contact lenses and eyeglasses. We’re looking forward to helping you achieve the best in eye health! We serve residents of Vienna, Reston and McLean, VA.
