Everyday Eye Relaxing Exercises
by Mike Walker, Lensshopper.com
Nowadays, most people who work in office situations use a computer,
which can lead to eye strain. Symptoms include difficulty focusing,
blurry vision, dry, itchy and irritated eyes, or a dull generalized
headache, and may be more exacerbated in people who wear contact lenses.
You may experience any one or a number of these symptoms, and they are
usually caused by focusing for too long on the one object. Luckily there
are eye exercises that can be done to alleviate the symptoms and allow
you to continue working.
First and most simple, take the time to look away from your computer
screen. It seems so easy, yet many of us are so engrossed in our work
that we simply do not look away. Take the time to look out the window,
or focus your eyes on an object at least three meters away, such as a
painting on the far wall. This allows the eye muscles to relax. Look
away for short periods, 20 – 30 seconds, and try to do this often.
Make a concerted effort to blink more often. When staring at a computer
screen, many people fail to blink as often as they would usually,
resulting in dry, irritated or tired eyes – and this in particular can
be worse for contact lens wearers.
Try scanning your eyes in a relaxed manner over the edges of objects in
the room, such as the door frame, window, your desk, or any objects that
are at a distance further away than your computer. This again allows
the eye muscles to relax.
Focus on an object at a distance from you, around 10 to 16 feet (3 - 5
meters). Then focus your eyes on an object closer to you, around 3 feet
(1 meter). Repeat this ten to fifteen times. Hold your pen in front of
your eyes and move it from side to side. Follow your pen with your eyes
only, without moving your head. Roll your eyes in a circular direction,
clockwise first, and then anti-clockwise, repeating ten to fifteen
times. All of these exercises help to relax the muscles in your eyes,
and release the tension built up from focusing for long periods of time
at a single distance.
Use these exercises
throughout the day – take a moment before your morning break, lunch, or
afternoon break to practice some of these exercises, and help reduce the
symptoms caused by eye strain.
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