The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the whole world to go into a lockdown. All of us, the old, the not-so-old and the young, are all spending more time indoors. And, we are all experiencing the effect that it has on our health, both mental and physical.
As we stay indoors and spend more and more time looking at one type or another of glowing screens, trying to get work done from home or to be entertained, the human eye; that most overlooked of organs is taking up a lot of strain, and this manifests as; dry or watery eyes, shoulder and neck pain, blurring of vision and severe headaches.
Following are some tips to take care of our eyes:
- The 20-20-20 rule: this rule says that after every 20 minutes of viewing, take a 20 second break and look at an object about 20 feet away. This repositions and refocuses the eye, reducing strain.
- Reduce screen time: unless absolutely necessary, reduce screen time on all your devices.
- Take a break: get up, exercise, walk around the house, loosen your body and give your eyes something else to look at.
- Make an actual phone call: YES! Rather than texting or video calling, make an actual voice call. You will be surprised at how effective that direct human contact can be, both psychologically and otherwise, and give your eyes a break at the same time.
- Screen-free meal time: do not eat any of your meals in front of any type or size of screen. Make it family time. This is an idea that you could continue after lockdown lifts.
- Read a chapter from a book: yes, just a chapter, not the whole book, preferably in a well lit area. This is counterintuitive, but it works.
Then there are the traditional tips: washing face with cold water; applying cucumber slices or aloe vera to relieve eye tension; drinking lots of water and eating healthy food.
Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Lalit Kumar
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