Eye Strain is a vision problem which affects a whole lot of people these days. Extensive use and improper care for the eyes can lead to this problem. Truth is, almost every single individual knows that overuse of their eyes can really lead to vision impairment. The problem is that, most of the time, people do not really have much of a choice but to keep their eyes working for long hours due to the demands of day to day activities.

Dr Jim Kokkinakis has been practicing in the Sydney CBD since the early 80’s.  Before computers complaints of eye strain were not that common – now it’s an epidemic!

With all the hustle and bustle that life entails these days, is it still possible to avoid getting eye strain? If a person needs to work, study or stay awake for long hours, are there methods on how this problem can be prevented?

Eye Massage and Exercises

If the other parts of the body need sufficient exercise, then so do the eyes. If the eyes have been staring at a fixed focal point for long hours, one way to relax it is to close the eyes. Rub the palm of the hands together to make it warm and then gently place the palms on top of the eye lids. The warmth of the palms should ease the strain of the eye muscles which could also result to eye strain.

A simple way to exercise the eyes is to keep the eyes closed and then slowly rotate the eye balls. Do the rotation clockwise and then repeat the same procedure in a counter-clockwise motion.

Alternative Remedies

Yoga is not only for the major parts of the body. This could also help in alleviating the discomfort of eye strain. In practice, yoga for the eyes involves gentle massage using the tips of the fingers. Close the eyes and then start rubbing the area underneath the eyebrows. Do the same thing on the area right below the lower eye lids. Be careful not to rub on the actual eye balls as this can raise the internal pressure of the eyes. Doing this excessive could lead to glaucoma in predisposed individuals.

To avoid the attack of eye strain, it is also a good idea to switch from a closer focal point to a distant one. For example, stare at the figurine right on the desk for eight to ten seconds. Then, look at the door which is about ten feet away for another eight seconds.

Scientific Solutions

People who have refractive problems experience eye strain more often. Among the more common problems include astigmatism, short-sightedness or long-sightedness. To maintain great eye health, it is ideal to consult an optometrist at least once a year. If the optometrist has detected any visual defects, start wearing the right prescription glasses or contact lens.

Some people who experience eye strain can also suffer extreme dryness of eyes. When this happens, it is not ideal to rely on any over-the-counter eye drops because the ingredients may not be suitable for the patient. This is especially true if the eye drops have preservatives in them. For frequent dryness of eyes, the patient would need to undergo several tests which will allow the optometrist to determine the actual cause. Then, it would be necessary to use the prescribed eye drop, artificial tears or other remedy that would be suggested.

For any Eye Strain issues make an appointment to see Dr Jim Kokkinakis. This can be done by calling (02) 9290 1899.