How to Reduce Eye Strain

Your eyes are your window to the world. Purely for this reason alone, it is essential you take good care of them. However, most of us tend to take this gift of vision for granted by disregarding the need to shield our delicate eyes from damage.

We are increasingly becoming a digital generation with most of our waking hours spent in front of an LED screen, whether it be computers at work or TV and smartphones at leisurely hours. The surge in social media has further contributed to making us slaves to these portable digital devices.

As you strain to read the miniature text on your LED screen, your eyes work doubly hard to make the words legible. The same holds true for avid bibliophiles who keep ticking book after book off their checklist, often at the expense of their vision.

How Do People Usually Strain their Eyes?

Eye strain is a common complaint that occurs for a variety of reasons, and it is not exclusive to adults. Some of the common causes of eye strain include:

• Lack of sleep
• Staring at digital devices such as a computer, gaming console, video monitor, and smartphones for long stretches of time and at a close range
• Not blinking enough during visually extensive and intensive tasks can dry out your eyes
• Extensive exposure to blue-light emission from digital screens
• Reading in dim light for an extended period of time without breaks
• Allergies
• Incorrect vision prescription
• Exposure to bright light
• Underlying eye problems

Common Discomforts Associated with Strained Eyes

Eye strain can produce quite a bit of discomfort. Symptoms associated with eyestrain are:

• Redness or irritation
• Difficulty focusing
• Dry or watery eyes
• Blurred or double vision
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Headaches
• Pain in the neck, shoulders, or back

Tips and Remedies to Get Relief from Eye Strain

Here are some ways to reduce eye strain.

1. Cold Water will Relieve Discomfort

You don’t have to have a medical degree to know that splashing your eyes with cold water is the go-to cure for relieving mild eye strain and irritation. The mechanism at work here is that cold water helps improve circulation, relax tired muscles around your eyes, and reduce eye swelling and puffiness.

Although there aren’t any full-blown studies to scientifically establish these claims, the fact that rinsing your eyes with cold water has become an instantaneous response to any kind of eye irritation should stand to testify its merits.

• Splash cold water on your face and closed eyes when your eyes feel strained or tired. It will have a quick relaxing impact on your eyes.
• For a more concentrated remedy, dip a soft washcloth in cold water and wring out the extra moisture. Place the cold washcloth on your closed eyelids for 1 minute. Repeat as needed.
• If you have puffiness along with strained eyes, use a cold compress. Wrap a few ice cubes in a clean cloth. Place it on your closed eyelids. The puffiness will decrease after 5 to 10 minutes of application.

Note: Avoid splashing cold water on your eyes especially if you are a contact lens wearer. Contact with infected water through swimming, bathing, splashing on eyes can cause a rare blinding infection called Acanthamoeba keratitis.

2. Try Palming Technique

Palming is a great technique to relax strained eyes, especially in the midst of reading or when viewing your desktop, laptop, or television screen. The main goal of palming is to create a restful state for your eyes so they do not become tired.

1. Sit up straight in a comfortable position.
2. Warm your hands by rubbing them together rapidly.
3. Close your eyes and place your warm palms over them, without applying pressure on the eyelids.
4. Relax and enjoy the darkness for about 30 seconds.
5. Slowly open your eyes and look around.
6. Repeat the process three to five times per sitting.
7. Follow this technique frequently throughout the day.

Note: Much like the previously mentioned remedy, palming derives much of its appeal and credibility through anecdotal evidence and not scientific research.

3. Ease Pain with Eye Massage

To reduce eye strain, gently massage your eyelids daily. It will improve circulation to the eyes and relax the muscles that surround your eyes. It will also stimulate the tear glands, which will help prevent dry eyes.

1. Use your fingers to gently massage your eyelids and muscles above the eyebrows for about 10 to 20 seconds.
2. Gently massage your lower eyelid against the lower bone for about 10 to 20 seconds.
3. Massage the temple and upper cheekbones also.
4. You can do this massage one or two times daily.

Note: You can use a few drops of olive oil or eye cream for a smooth massage. Also, bear in mind that massaging your eyes is purely an anecdotal remedy to alleviate eye strain, without little to no scientific support. However, it has garnered widespread acknowledgment by a cross-section of users as a legitimate way to comfort irritated eyes.

4. Reap the Benefits of Cucumber

Cucumber slices can help alleviate eye strain due to its astringent properties. It can even help reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles

1. Cool a medium-sized cucumber in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Cut it into thick slices and put them on your tired eyes.
3. Follow this remedy one or two times daily.

This remedy can also be done with potato.

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