When you sit in your favorite chair to relax with a book, is the light shining over your shoulder? If it is, it could cause your eyes to tire a little more quickly. Dim lighting, or reading through a shadow, can put a strain on your eyes and make it hard to focus, even causing a bit of pain. The best strategy is to shine the light directly onto the page. You’ll likely find your eyes will hold up longer and avoid tiring. If you’re reviewing documents at a desk, a similar idea applies: shine light from your desk lamp directly on the papers you’re reading.
Watching television or looking at any screen can also strain your eyes. Looking at these devices does not cause eye damage, but can lead to discomfort. Screen viewing tends to drastically reduce blinking, which can lead to dry, sore eyes. Make a mental note to blink regularly when focused on a screen (doing so lubricates the eyeball) while giving the eyes a bit of rest for 20 minutes to reduce the chances of eye strain. Be polite, don’t stare!
To protect your eyes in the long-term, eating a diet rich in fruits in vegetables is helpful. Antioxidant-rich foods, particularly those with vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin are the best. Dark leafy greens and fresh, colorful fruits are excellent sources of these nutrients and might be able to protect eyes from conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These nutrients will not, however, take your vision from 40/20 to 20/20!
Making things a little easier on your eyes can have all types of benefits. Aside from reducing the chances of a headache or dry eye, these tips allow you to enjoy all the sights life has to offer.
Also read:
- How to improve vision: 11 home remedies to improve eye health
- Top foods to boost your eyesight and vision
- Yoga for eyes: Easy eye yoga poses to improve vision
- 7 common habits that are harming your vision