1. Relax.
Before reading any further, please sit back from the computer screen, relax your brow, neck and shoulders, close the eyes and take 3 long, slow, deep breaths… Open your eyes and maintain this sense of inner peace and relaxation as you continue.
2. Avoid staring.
Always try to keep the eyes shifting with subtle movements and vibrations. This may be accomplished by tracing the outlines of objects, images and letters.
3. The 5-10-15 Rule
Use the 5-10-15 rule when working at the near point for extended periods of time (reading books, computer, cell phone, etc.)
Every 5 Minutes…
Look up at an object at least 10 feet away…
For at least 15 seconds…
Once you master that, you can look at objects even further than 10 feet, there is really no limit.The 5-10-15 Rule is important because it allows you to perform tasks up close without damaging your vision. In order for your eyes to accommodate, or focus on objects closer than 10 feet, they must converge and the lens must thicken. When your eyes look off into the distance they diverge and relax and the lens thins. Your eyes may forget how to relax and focus on distant objects if you only use them at the near point. Remember 5-10-15 every day!
Gaze up and away from your screen in between different pages of this website. Look off into the distance for a few breaths to let the eyes relax before continuing reading. Try to balance the time spent looking near and far.
4. Change the font size.
To aid in reading, you may increase the font size of the website by holding “CTRL” and tapping the “+” sign. To decrease font size hold “CTRL” and tap the “-” sign.
5. Yawn more.
Yawning is often associated with being tired or bored. I encourage you to challenge that societal association and yawn more for your eyes’ sake. Yawning is one of the best things you can do for your eyes. It is a natural cure to dry, itchy eyes. Here’s how it works:
Each time you yawn you activate your lacrimal glands, which produce tears. The lacrimal glands are located near the upper-outer eye orbit and are about the same size and shape of an almond. The extra tears that are produced help lubricate and clean the surface of your eyes, resulting in clearer vision. Big yawns also loosen up your jaw, which can hold a lot of muscle tension. Your eyes need oxygen and yawning initiates a much larger oxygen intake. Normal eyes are relaxed eyes and yawns initiate relaxation.
The best part about yawning is that it’s contagious. So not only will you directly benefit from yawning more, but you’ll ensure those around you get more yawns in too.
6. Blink properly.
Blinking cleans the surface of the eyes and prevents staring.
7. Breathe.
Breathe deeply and rhythmically. The eyes need oxygen.
8. Smile for clear sight.
Smiling relaxes all the muscles in the face and eyes. More importantly, smiling calms the mind and releases mental strain.
9. Go on Vision Walks.
You’ve heard of walking your dog, but have you ever heard of walking your eyes?
If you depend on glasses or contacts to see, you probably put them on first thing in the morning and wear them until going to sleep at night. Think back for a moment to the last time you went an hour without lenses. What about an entire morning or afternoon? What about an entire day?
A wonderful way to stop depending on artificial lenses so much is to go on vision walks without your glasses or contacts. Either first thing in the morning or anytime throughout the day, take time to go on a nice relaxing stroll in a familiar area without your glasses or contacts. Allow your eyes to be soft as you saunter. Do not strain to see anything up close or far away. Just notice how your eyes feel and let them travel around freely. Start noticing shapes, colors, and lights. Activate your other senses by picking up on more sounds, smells and feelings. Don’t be surprised if you experience flashes of clarity when you give your eyes some freedom and flexibility.
Walking your eyes is so beneficial because it gives your eyes an opportunity to do their job and see on their own. Walking for 15 or 30 minutes will increase your blood circulation and lymph flow and it will give your eyes the oxygen they need. Leave your sunglasses at home too. If you are sensitive to light, try wearing a wide-brimmed hat instead. Your eyes are your body’s primary passageway for full-spectrum sunlight to enter the body. The indirect light you take in while walking your eyes will stimulate the light receiving rods and cones on your retina and result in sharper, clearer eyesight.