Personal Best Health Wellness - Prevent Eyestrain

Problem: Staring at your computer monitor all day or doing repetitive, close work like sewing may contribute to eyestrain and nearsightedness. Solution: Exercise your eyes. Benefits: You’ll tone your eye muscles, focus better, help avoid eyestrain and ease headaches.

The eye roll. Without moving your head, roll your eyes in a circle by looking up as far as you can, then right, then down, then left, then up again. Repeat three times in each direction. Result: You’ll stretch and strengthen eye muscles, helping your eyes keep pace with fast-moving objects.

The quick focus. Hold a pencil 12 inches away from your eyes. Focus on it, then s-l-o-w-l-y bring it toward your nose until it starts to blur. Then look at a faroff object, like a building out the window, until your eyes bring it into focus. Focus again on the close-up pencil. Repeat 10 times. Advantage: You’ll boost your ability to switch focus between objects near and far.