The eyes are your body’s most highly developed sensory organs. In fact, a far larger part of the brain is dedicated to vision than to hearing, taste, touch, or smell combined. Your eyesight is one of your most important senses.

By protecting your eyes, you will reduce the odds of blindness and vision loss while also staying on top of any developing eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.

One study shows that the average office worker spends 1,700 hours per year in front of a computer screen. Add the smart phones or tablets that people use during break and at home. One of the most common negative effects of overexposing your eyes to digital devices and screens are headaches. This is due to the connection between the eyes and the brain. When you stare at a screen for an extended period of time, eyestrain can occur and lead to a painful tension headache.

Does screen time affect your eyes?

Excessive screen time can lead to eye dryness, irritation, fatigue, blurry vision, headaches, and eyestrain. One study looked at specific factors related to children that may make them more prone to computer vision syndrome. It is unlikely that excessive screen use will cause permanent damage to your eyes. However, eye strain and dry eye symptoms can worsen over time, especially with prolonged computer use and if not treated early on.

Many people have become dependent on their phones. It may be hard for many to avoid using their phones, tablets and computers for a long period of time to allow their eyes to rest. Fortunately, a common exercise has been enhanced to include eyes.

Eye yoga has been getting more attention since many people report eyestrain because of their busy life. They experience sore, tired, burning or itching eyes, light sensitivity, blurred vision and headaches. Just like the traditional yoga, this approach aims to improve flexibility but of your eyes and to help enhance focus. Eye yoga involves more relaxed set of exercises that can be done anytime of the day.

Few Eye Yoga Exercises:

20-Second Exercise: Find an object far from you and stare at it without blinking for 20 seconds. Put your thumb below the object and shift your focus between the object and the tip of your thumb.

Eyes Blinking Rapidly: Blink several times and then close your eyes for 20 seconds. With your eyes closed, try to look down, to the left, up, to the right, and then reverse the direction holding each position for five seconds.

For Eye Moisture: In this exercise, you just need to look at different directions or like a zigzag pattern with your eyes for several seconds. It would help increase moisture on the eyeballs.

Palm Heat: Simply rub your hands together to generate heat. Place your palms over your closed eyes and hold until you feel your eyes absorbing the heat.

Benefits of Eye Yoga

• Improvement in concentration
• Relief from eye strain
• Better vision
• A calmer mind
• Comfort from dry eyes
• Lesser chances of eye diseases

Make a conscious effort to improve your eye health!