How to Protect Your Eyes at a Computer

Though the official start of summer was less than a week ago, many of us still have to spend a lot of our time in front of a computer screen. Prolonged exposure to the light of a computer screen can lead to eyestrain, which has a multitude of effects on the human body. But, here is some advice from the eye care experts here at Seen Vision in Dearborn, MI to help you combat computer-related eyestrain.

First, it’s important to know exactly what eyestrain is and what its symptoms are. Eyestrain can happen when your eyes are over-exerted over an extended period of time. Some of the most common symptoms are as follows:

• Eye pain or tension (can also manifest in the temples and lead to your head or neck)
• Dryness or redness of the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Double vision

And while some of those may seem serious, by making a few changes to how you work at a computer, you can dramatically decrease eyestrain. One of the easiest things you can do to make working at a computer easier on your eyes is to increase the size of the text you’re reading. When we are forced to read smaller-sized texts, our eyes have to work harder to see the words. Zooming-in can work wonders.

Another way to give your eyes a little help is to reposition how you sit at your desk. The best way to sit is straight in your chair while your monitor is slightly below eye level. Not only will sitting this way decrease eyestrain, it will also improve your posture.

Reading offline is also a great way to give your eyes a break from the glare of a computer screen. If you have a long article or report to read, it might be a good idea to print it out and read it that way. It will give you a chance to turn off your monitor and relax a bit.

And finally, we suggest getting your eyes checked. If you’re already wearing glasses, you might need a new prescription and if you don’t wear them at all, you might need to start. If you have any questions about how to reduce eyestrain or if you want to set up an appointment with us, don’t hesitate to give me a call at (313)278-SEEN or contact me today.

Improving Your Eyes’ Health Takes More than Eating Carrots

Improving your diet doesn’t just help you lower your blood pressure and cholesterol or help you lose weight. It can also be a vital way to improve the health of your eyes.

How many times has someone told you to “just eat your carrots” if you want to have healthier eyes? If your answer is “countless,” you’re not alone. But we all know it takes more than eating carrots to better your vision. Here are some suggestions on how you can not only make your eyes healthier, but the rest of you, too.

Omega-3s are an essential fatty acid, which means they can’t be synthesized by the human body, so eating foods containing omega-3 fatty acids is crucial. These fatty acids have been shown to benefit the eye’s macula, which is your eyes’ natural sunscreen. Foods like eggs and fish contain high amounts of omega-3s, and while you don’t have to eat them every day, be sure to include them in your diet.

It’s summertime, so it’s salad-eating season, which is good because leafy greens contain a pigment found in lutein and zeazanthin that helps improve your eyes’ health. Foods high in antioxidants like peppers, tomatoes, and yes, even carrots are also excellent for your eyes.

Other ways to improve the health of your eyes is by taking your vitamins. There are a lot vitamins and minerals that our bodies do not produce on their own, meaning we have to do the work for them. Adding supplements to an already healthy diet will work wonders for your vision and your body.

And don’t forget to exercise and wear your sunglasses. Your eyes are similar to your skin, if you don’t protect it from dangerous ultraviolet rays, you could damage them. There’s no sense in putting more strain than is necessary on your eyes. Be smart out there and protect your eyes … you need them.

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Dr. Baseem Wahab is the lead optometrist and owner of SEEN Vision Care, located in Dearborn, MI. He is also the president of Mobile Eye Care and Eyes on You Image and Practice Consultants, an organization that has a 100 percent track record for improving the efficiency of every eye care practice it has consulted for.