Taking Care of Your Eyes and Not Over Straining Them at Work
We often refer to leaders in their fields as visionaries, for they “see” what others do not. Those visionaries have the eye of the tiger, keeping their eyes on the prize. You would think with all that talk about our eyes that we would pay closer attention to keeping them healthy. Sadly, most of us take our eyes for granted until something goes wrong.
August is National Eye Exam Month. Even if you haven’t considered the value of your eyes before now, it’s time to start protecting them.
Regular Eye Exams
The American Optometric Association recommends that adults aged 18-60 have eye exams every two years, unless their practitioner recommends more frequent examination due to risk factors or existing conditions.
DHA
Get the recommended daily allowance of DHA to keep retinas healthy. Fatty fish such as salmon or sardines are excellent sources, or take a daily supplement.
Take Breaks
Give your eyes periodic breaks. If your job requires many hours in front of the computer screen, make sure to take hourly breaks. If you cannot leave your desk, at least look away from the screen and stare across the room at a spot on the wall. This allows your eyes to relax for a moment.
Vitamin A
It’s said we eat with our eyes, but we should eat for our eyes as well. Foods rich in Vitamin A support good eye health; consider fruits like mango or watermelon and vegetables like carrots, sweet potato or pumpkin. Yes, that pumpkin pie is good for your eyes!
Hydrate
Drinking plenty of water reduces the instance of dry eyes caused by dehydration. Lack of fluid means lack of tears. Tears clean and lubricate the eye. And no, your diet soda does NOT count.
Keep Your Distance
The AOA recommends your computer screen be 20 to 28 inches away from your eyes.
Position
Position your computer so that you look at it directly, not from an angle. You should not have to look sideways or move your neck or head to see the screen clearly.
Blink Frequently
Frequent blinking keeps your eyes from drying out. If your eyes do become dry, try lens rewetting drops for contacts or artificial tears for those without contact lenses.
Wear Special Lenses
If you wear glasses, consider asking your practitioner about special lenses for people who use a computer frequently. Special powers, tints, and anti-glare coatings might help protect your eyes.
Know the Warning Signs
Computer Vision Syndrome is an eye condition resulting from over-exposure to the technology we know and love: computers, tablets, laptops, and smartphones… even staring at the TV for long periods can strain our eyes. The American Optometric Association advises you to look out for…
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- Dry or Burning Eyes
- Blurred Vision
- Headaches
- Neck or Shoulder Ache
- Eye Strain
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And AOA says, “Uncorrected vision problems can increase the severity of Computer Vision Syndrome symptoms.”
TAGS: Health tips