Eye strain - Queries & Remedies

1.Why eye strain occurs ? How to get relief from it ?

Eye strain - One of the most asked question in my clinical practise is Eye strain. Before knowing the solution for this we will focus on why it occurs . As u all know the term eye strain recently got more popular in 21st century .So the life style which we are following is the deciding factor .Excessive increase in screen viewing time ,excessive reading , reading in dim light are most noted causative factors .

2.What does chronic screen viewing do to our body?

It causes

• increase our body heat which lead to evaporation of tear film leading to dry eye

• increases UV ray exposure(may damage retina even though blocked by natural lens)

• spasm of ciliary muscles in the eye due to lack of rest for it (ciliary muscles tries to focus on what we read which increases the eye power and clarity of what we read )

3.What do I advice ?

Limit screen viewing to < 4 hrs per day that too with break for every 20 min in between . Try to cool your body with foods that decrease decrease body heat like coconut water etc., Do eye exercises which increase blood circulation to the eye every day for 5min .Take vit C foods (contain antioxidants )which is good for natural lens

For severe eye strain (even with spectacle correction ) take relaxation from studies or computer /any screen viewing ,take tropicamide eye drops only once (causes relaxation of ciliary muscle that inturn decreases headache, caution you will have bluring of vision for 6hrs after taking this eye drop )and don’t take too often this . Do physical sports let your body sweat that cools your entire system .

Eye strain - remedy - Yoga for eyes

1.Move eyes up and down - 10 times/cycle - 3 times a day for severe eyestrain

2. Move eye side ways - 10 times/cycle - 3 times a day for severe eyestrain

3. By closing eyes -Move eyes in clockwise direction - 10 times/cycle - 3 times a day for severe eyestrain

4. By closing eyes -Move eyes in Anti -clockwise direction - 10 times/cycle - 3 times a day for severe eyestrain

5.Focus on a point atleast 6meters distance and them focus on your nose tip - 10 times/cycle - 3 times a day for severe eyestrain

4.Does computer eye strain cause "dry eye"? Or does dry eye affect computer eye strain?

Eye strain and dry eye are different terminologies.

In eye there are ciliary muscles which are fatigued by chronic screen viewing for more than 4hrs a day leading to eye strain.

Over the eye there is tear film which is produced in normally . Chronic screen viewing leads to evaporation and decreased production of tear film which in turn leads to dry eye .