There are countless ways in which you expose your eyes to damage in your day to day lives. Your gadgets like computers and mobile phones coupled with environmental factors like air pollution, harsh summer sun and unhealthy lifestyle all make your eyes more prone to damage. If you are using computers more often than not or are stuck to your mobile phones most of the time, then it is important to blink to your eyes. Wondering why? Read this!
Do You Know Why It Is Important To Blink?
Blinking is the act of closing and opening our eyelids subconsciously. Adults blink 10-20 times a minute whereas children blink twice every minute. Adults change the frequency of blinking depending upon the activity they are doing. When reading, watching television or even listening to an interesting podcast, we blink as little as 3-8 times a minute. We also blink more when in pain, when exposed to bright light, or due to changes in temperature and humidity and even conversation.
Blinking is very important for a variety of reasons:
1. Blinking cleans the eyes
One of the primary purposes of blinking is to clean the eyes. Blinking creates tears that wash all the dirt, dust and rheum in the eyes.
2. Blinking moisturizes the eyes
Every time you blink the moisture is trapped in the eyes ensuring our eyes don’t get sore and dry. This is particularly important for contact lenses wearers as eyes feel irritated by the foreign object. Blinking moisturizes and reduces friction from the contact lenses ensuring clear and unencumbered vision.
3. Blinking replenishes nutrients in the eyes
Blinking helps in replenishing nutrients and tear film to our eyes preventing infections and providing clear sight.
4. Blinking increases creative thinking
Blinking helps access the “default mode network”, which the part of our brain which is involved in creative thinking.
5. Blinking can improve focus and assimilation
Blinking can improve your focus as closing your eyes gives the brain the signal that this is an “Internal activity” and therefore shuts down the external onslaught of information and helps focus. They are like punctuation marks of the mind, signaling a pause in the activity in your head.
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Simple Habits To Protect your Eyes
Additionally, here are some simple and effective ways to protect your eyes and keep them healthy.
1. Eat Healthy
-Include at least one portion of vegetables like spinach, broccoli and peas in your daily diet. Zeaxanthin and Lutein in these vegetables are good for the eyes.
-Include orange colored fruits and vegetables like carrots in your diet. The high content of Vitamin A in the carrots protects the eyes from all kind of damage.
-Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons and colored peppers are packed with Vitamin C, a renowned anti-oxidant that stalls ageing of the eyes.
-Have foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids like fish, walnuts, almonds and flax seeds.
2. Wear Sunglasses
– The harmful UV Rays emitted by sun can cause serious harm to the delicate eye tissues.
-It causes macular degeneration and dry eyes among other diseases.
-Wear good quality sunglasses when stepping out in the sun to prevent damage to eyes.
3. Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
-Smoke and dirt particles entering the eyes prompt us to rub the eyes with the back of our palms.
-This can rupture the delicate blood vessels in and around the eye that potentially can cause long lasting damage to the eyes besides dark circles, puffy eyes etc.
4. Use Your Gadgets Safely
-The rule of thumb in this regard is to sit at least 10 feet away from the TV, at an arm’s length from your computer and to hold your mobile devices with your arms stretched.
-Any closer and your risk damage from the harmful high energy visible light (HEV light) or the blue light.
-Try the famed 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes spent on the screen, take a 20 seconds break to stare at something that is 20 feet away from you. This will adjust your eyesight back to normal and you can resume.
5. Quit Smoking
-Smoking hastens ageing of our eyes by more than two times.
-It is the chief cause of diseases like muscular degeneration, retinal damage and dry eyes.
6. Avoid Reading In Low Light
-You should not have to squint to read. It puts the eyes under tremendous strain that your eyes are not made to handle.
-It is best to restrict your reading to natural light or bright white light.
7. Get Enough Sleep
-Like other body parts, eyes need to rest for the nerves and other tissues to rejuvenate themselves.
-So get your 8 hours shift in for your eyes to shed the tiredness accumulated throughout the day.
**Consult India’s best doctors here**
Things To Keep In Mind
– Use an ‘Anti-glare’ screen cover on your computer as well as hand-held devices. These easily available screen-covers protect your eyes as well as your device’s screen.
-Do not forget to blink while being exposed to the screen for long periods. Blinking lubricates the eye-balls and helps you focus.
-Wash your eyes with water to get irritants out rather than rubbing the eyes.
-Get your contacts out before retiring to bed.
So, go ahead and follow these simple and healthy habits to keep your eyes in optimal health. Stay Healthy, Stay Happy!
Recommended Reads:
5 Simple Exercises To Relieve Eye Strain
8 Simple Ways To Protect Your Hearing
Thank u very much.