Updated 23 May, 2012, 6:39 pm IST

Eye Care for Heavy PC users

02 Dec, 2010, 4:30 pm IST | by Siddharth Basrur

Read this before you start screaming "My eyes! My eyes!!"

My average day involves a lot of staring at a PC screen. It starts when I walk into work and start writing news pieces, and TV and Monitor reviews. I also write a lot on my laptop in my free time, and cannot sleep without watching a few episodes of my favorite sitcoms. The only time I don’t have a screen in front of my face is when I’m traveling, eating, sleeping or doing my morning duties. This puts a real strain on my eyes, and if you sit in front of a screen half as much as I do, you’re bound to have the same problem as well.

The eye sees all - respect it

Most PC users complain of problems such as headaches, blurry vision and dry eyes. These problems can not only cause permanent damage to your eyes, but also reduced work output and energy loss. Glaucoma is another danger that you may encounter due to heavy PC usage, especially if you suffer from near-sightedness. This is a high risk disease that causes loss of vision due as it damages your optic nerve. Do we want this? Hell, no! So how do we deal with this? We obviously cannot afford to not use computers and not watch TV, and not play our favourite games. No, that would be giving up way too easily!

We must fight instead, and fortunately, we have experts to help us with our problems. I spoke to my ophthalmologist, and these are a few tips she gave me:

Blink
Believe it or not, it is imperative to blink your eyes regularly while using your PC. Blinking causes lubrication in the eyes, and dry eyes will definitely take a toll on your viewing. So remember to blink; it only takes a fraction of a second.

Tired, puffy eyes are a sign of stress

Look away
It is really important to take short breaks to relieve the strain on your eyes. You don’t even have to get up from your chair. Talk to a co-worker for a minute or two, or just look at distant objects. The latter suggestion will help you focus better. This can be done for a few minutes every hour.

Hot water fomentation
When you get home, heat up some water, dip a clean cloth in it and use it to dab your eyelids. This frees up a lot of tension in the eyes. In fact, if you have a hot water dispenser at work, this can be done a few times a day when you are taking breaks.

Artificial teardrops lubricate your eyes, making you feel a lot better

Artificial tears
If you feel like your eyes are constantly feeling dry and itchy, it is definitely not a good sign. This is because of lack of blinking coupled with an air-conditioned work environment. Re-wetting eye drops are basically artificial tears that lubricate your eyes, thus relieving a lot of strain. Try and opt for drops without preservatives, as these can be toxic in the long run. These drops should be used at least 5-6 times a day, but can be used whenever necessary. Be sure to consult your ophthalmologist before buying the drops yourself.