Wednesday, 4 January 2012
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The eyes are very important organs that we often ignore. We gather most of the ideas, knowledge and information from what we see and these things are submitted to our brains to be processed, understood and interpreted. We use our eyes throughout the day and as long as we are awake at night. Naturally, like any other body parts, our eyes also get tired. However, eye strain is usually disregarded as compared to other serious eye conditions. It may also be for the reason that people think that there is nothing one can do about it.
This is where people are mostly wrong. Even though it cannot damage the eyes permanently, having strained eyes can make a person feel uncomfortable and can easily slow down other bodily functions. Pain, headache, trouble focusing, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, migraine and facial muscle twitches – these are some of the symptoms of eye strain.
Overusing the eyes is just one of its several causes. This can happen whether the focus is near like working on computers or far like extensive driving. Strained eyes can also be caused by reading or working under poor lighting, having weak eye muscles, or an event that is causing you to be tensed or anxious.
Eye strain does not have specific medical treatments and any scientific evidence that herbal medicine can treat it. However, there are practices and certain home remedies that can help relieve its symptoms. Probably, the first important thing to do is to get rid of the factors that may have caused it.
1. Check your specs. If you are wearing eyeglasses, corrective lenses or contact lenses, an eye strain is a possible indication that you need some upgrading to do. Immediately make an appointment with your eye care professional to have your vision checked and to get a new prescription eye wear if needed.
2. Take time to rest. If overuse is the cause of your eye strain, then the best thing to do is to give it a break. If you are reading, working, or driving, find a way to stop whatever you are doing and close your eyes. Sleep for fifteen minutes if you must and see how it can easily relieve those tired gazers. Blinking or closing your eyes just for a few seconds is also a good way to keep it from getting dry.
3. Exercise those eyes. A long steady gaze in one direction (reading or looking at a computer screen) is one of the most common causes of eye strain. Prevent this by taking regular short breaks while doing exercises for your eye muscles. Avert your eyes from what you are doing and focus on an object or scenery that is six to seven meters away. Do this every ten minutes. Or, you may stand up from your desk every hour and start moving your shoulders and neck. Move your eyes by repetitively looking at a far object and then at an object near you. Then, move your focus to something high like the corners of your office and trace it with your eyes. Lastly, move your eyeballs to the right, left, up and down without moving your head.
4. Monitor your PC screen. Computer-related eye strain is very common among professionals. So, make sure that your computer monitor is at eye level or just a bit lower and maintain a 50-70 cm space between your face and the PC screen. Reduce the glare by using a screen filter or by adjusting the brightness of the monitor as well as your room lighting.
5. Treat your eyes with an herbal compress. Sore, dry and itchy eyes are uncomfortable symptoms of eye strain. Applying a compress dipped in herb-infused tea can effectively cool and soothe the affected area. Eyebright, goldenseal, Oregon graperoot, witch hazel and chamomile are some of the herbs that you can use to brew up some herbal compress. Simply infuse 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in a quarter of a liter of hot water for 10-20 minutes. Using a soft cloth moistened with the tea, apply the compress to your closed eyes. Lie down and keep it on for about ten minutes. End the treatment with refreshingly cold slices of cucumber over your eyelids.
It is still very important for you to seek the help of an optometrist especially if you suffer from eye strain more often than usual, simply to identify if you are at risk of having other eye ailments like glaucoma.
Treating and Preventing Eye Strain
This is where people are mostly wrong. Even though it cannot damage the eyes permanently, having strained eyes can make a person feel uncomfortable and can easily slow down other bodily functions. Pain, headache, trouble focusing, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, migraine and facial muscle twitches – these are some of the symptoms of eye strain.
Overusing the eyes is just one of its several causes. This can happen whether the focus is near like working on computers or far like extensive driving. Strained eyes can also be caused by reading or working under poor lighting, having weak eye muscles, or an event that is causing you to be tensed or anxious.
Eye strain does not have specific medical treatments and any scientific evidence that herbal medicine can treat it. However, there are practices and certain home remedies that can help relieve its symptoms. Probably, the first important thing to do is to get rid of the factors that may have caused it.
1. Check your specs. If you are wearing eyeglasses, corrective lenses or contact lenses, an eye strain is a possible indication that you need some upgrading to do. Immediately make an appointment with your eye care professional to have your vision checked and to get a new prescription eye wear if needed.
2. Take time to rest. If overuse is the cause of your eye strain, then the best thing to do is to give it a break. If you are reading, working, or driving, find a way to stop whatever you are doing and close your eyes. Sleep for fifteen minutes if you must and see how it can easily relieve those tired gazers. Blinking or closing your eyes just for a few seconds is also a good way to keep it from getting dry.
3. Exercise those eyes. A long steady gaze in one direction (reading or looking at a computer screen) is one of the most common causes of eye strain. Prevent this by taking regular short breaks while doing exercises for your eye muscles. Avert your eyes from what you are doing and focus on an object or scenery that is six to seven meters away. Do this every ten minutes. Or, you may stand up from your desk every hour and start moving your shoulders and neck. Move your eyes by repetitively looking at a far object and then at an object near you. Then, move your focus to something high like the corners of your office and trace it with your eyes. Lastly, move your eyeballs to the right, left, up and down without moving your head.
4. Monitor your PC screen. Computer-related eye strain is very common among professionals. So, make sure that your computer monitor is at eye level or just a bit lower and maintain a 50-70 cm space between your face and the PC screen. Reduce the glare by using a screen filter or by adjusting the brightness of the monitor as well as your room lighting.
5. Treat your eyes with an herbal compress. Sore, dry and itchy eyes are uncomfortable symptoms of eye strain. Applying a compress dipped in herb-infused tea can effectively cool and soothe the affected area. Eyebright, goldenseal, Oregon graperoot, witch hazel and chamomile are some of the herbs that you can use to brew up some herbal compress. Simply infuse 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb in a quarter of a liter of hot water for 10-20 minutes. Using a soft cloth moistened with the tea, apply the compress to your closed eyes. Lie down and keep it on for about ten minutes. End the treatment with refreshingly cold slices of cucumber over your eyelids.
It is still very important for you to seek the help of an optometrist especially if you suffer from eye strain more often than usual, simply to identify if you are at risk of having other eye ailments like glaucoma.
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