Say goodbye to dry eyes with these blinking exercises
What's the story
Dry eyes can be a common condition, but boy it's irritating! Long hours in front of screens and environmental factors often make it worse. By incorporating simple blinking exercises into your daily routine, you can alleviate symptoms by enhancing the moisture levels in your eyes. This article provides a guide to easy-to-follow blinking exercises designed to prevent dry eyes. It's a natural remedy for those seeking relief.
Basics
Understanding the blinking mechanism
Blinking is a reflex action that serves to cleanse and lubricate the eyes by distributing tears across the ocular surface. However, research indicates that individuals exhibit a 66% reduction in blink rate during digital device use, contributing to accelerated tear film evaporation. This article emphasizes the benefits of implementing conscious blinking exercises to mitigate this issue and preserve ocular comfort.
Screen breaks
The 20-20-20 rule
One simple and effective strategy to combat dry eyes is to adhere to the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away. This not only reduces eye strain but also promotes more frequent blinking, helping to restore moisture levels in the eyes.
Conscious effort
Voluntary blinking exercise
Fight dry eyes with the 4-second blinking exercise! Blinking every four seconds for two minutes, repeated several times a day, particularly during extended screen use, can prevent dry eyes. By consciously increasing your blink rate, you ensure tears are distributed evenly across your eyes. This simple technique keeps your eyes moist and comfortable, without the need for special tools or medications.
Relaxation technique
Palming for moisture retention
Palming is not just a relaxation exercise, it is super useful for dry eyes too. Just rub your hands together to generate some heat, then gently cup them over your closed eyelids. Be careful not to press down on your eyes. That warmth from your hands triggers the oil glands in your eyelids to produce more oil, which helps improve the quality of your tears and prevents them from evaporating.
Internal hydration
Stay hydrated
Staying well-hydrated is key to supporting healthy tear production. Make sure to drink a minimum of eight glasses of water daily to provide your body with sufficient fluids for efficient tear production. Plus, using a humidifier to increase the moisture level of indoor air can also be beneficial in preventing dry eye symptoms.