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How to Avoid Eye Strain: 5 Steps for Relief

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

Do you love reading books and browsing the internet? You have probably felt eye strain. Eye strain happens when your eyes get tired from too much use. People usually experience this while staring at computer screens for a long time and driving long distances. 

 

So, how many hours a day do you spend reading a book and staring at a computer screen? More hours mean more work your eyes are putting regularly, also contributing to blurred vision, headaches, and dry eyes.

 

Eye strain is hard to avoid, but here are some of the tips to prevent this condition. 

1. Use proper lighting.

Most of the time, eye strain is caused by bright light from the outdoors through a window. Make sure to eliminate too much light by closing blinds or drapes. Moreover, lessen interior lighting by using low-intensity bulbs. Here's a good recommendation: find the best lamp with LED lighting.

2. Blink more to prevent irritation and dryness.

Blinking is crucial to moisten your eyes and avoid irritation and dryness. Our tears evaporate more quickly when we are not blinking, causing dryness. Incorporate some blinking exercises in your day-to-day routine to relax your eyes.

3. Rearrange your workstation. 

Here’s a little checklist for you.

  • Place the books, documents, and other written pages on a stand adjacent to the screen.
  • Make sure that this stand has good lighting. Choose the best desk lamp that wouldn’t shine onto the screen or into your eyes. 
  • Maintain good posture while reading and working. Moreover, adjust your chair to the right height. 
  • Position the computer screen properly. It should be 20 to 24 inches from your eyes. Also, the center of your screen should be about 10 to 15 degrees below your eyes for comfortable positioning of your head and neck.

4. Take frequent breaks.

To lessen the risk of eye strain, as well as shoulder and back pains, take frequent breaks while reading. A ten-minute break every hour is enough. Stand up, and stretch your legs, arms, shoulders, neck, and back. This simple activity can lessen muscle tensions.


5. Get a comprehensive eye exam.

The best way to avoid eye problems is to have an annual eye exam. During this exam, share with your eye doctor your work routine. He will tell you how you can care for your eyes while going through that daily. Let the doctor test your eyes at specific working distances.

Comments (1)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I really have to remind myself to take a break if I’m really in the zone with a project and really in the flow state just stop and breathe. :)

Feb 17, 2021 08:34 PM