If reading or working at a computer, you should stop every fifteen minutes and stare at a distant object for at least 30 seconds. This change in focal point will help to relax your eye muscles. Every two hours, take a 15-minute break from your screen to rest your eyes. Go for a walk, work out, have a snack, make phone calls — anything but staring at your computer screen or phone.
With preservatives — Preservatives like benzalkonium chloride, oliexetonium, polyhexamethylene biguanide, polyquad, purite, and sodium perborate (GenAqua) prevent bacteria from growing, but they also irritate your eyes. If your eyes are sensitive or if you will be using the drops for an extended period of time, preservatives should be avoided. [3] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Without preservatives — Systane, GenTeal, Refresh, Thera Tears, and Bausch and Lomb, amongst others, all sell preservative-free eye drops. For contacts — If you wear contacts, look for drops designed specifically for use with them. Whitening / anti-red eye — Do not use whitening drops like Visine, Clear Eyes, and All Clear. Whitening eye drops will actually exacerbate eye redness over time.
Be sure to use a hot compress or scrub your eyelids with mild soap before applying gels or lotions. This will prevent them from clogging glands and ducts. [4] X Research source Do not use gels or ointments if you have been diagnosed with meibomian gland disease unless your doctor recommends that.
Try an oral antihistamine, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec), desloratadine (Clarinex), fexofenadine (Allegra), Levocetirizine (Xyzal), or loratadine (Claritin). Use medicated eye drops that contain antihistamine or anti-inflammatories, including azelastine (Optivar), emedastine (Emadine), ketotifen (Alaway, Zaditor), or olopatadine (Pataday, Patanol). Keep your windows closed during allergy season to reduce your exposure to pollen. Keep pets out of your bedroom, and especially out of your bed. Try an air purifier to keep in your home, which may help reduce the presence of allergens.
Boil a cup of distilled water. Add a tablespoon of eyebright, chamomile flowers, or crushed fennel seeds. Remove from heat, cover the pot, and let it steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid into a sterilized container using a coffee filter. You can keep the rinse in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Use clean hands to hold your eye open under a gentle stream of lukewarm running water. In the shower by allowing the water to hit your forehead and holding your eye open as the water runs down your face. Or, you can wash your eye with an eyewash station or an eyecup. If you have an object in your eye, you may have trouble opening and closing your eyelid.
For long breaks, take a short walk and focus on things in the distance, or take a short 15-minute nap to give your eyes a chance to catch up with your busy schedule. For short breaks, look up and away from your computer for thirty seconds and focus on something in the distance, such as a tree out your window or a picture on the other side of your room.
Wearing sunglasses is essential for good eye health later in life. Too much exposure to the sun can lead to problems like macular degeneration and cataracts later in life.
Before putting in your contacts, place a few drops of saline solution or eye lubricant in your eyes and blink several times. This will clean the surface of your eye so that irritants don’t get trapped underneath your contacts. Dirty, torn, or misshapen contacts can irritate your eyes and cause infection. Follow your eye doctor’s instructions for keeping your contact lenses clean. If you use disposable contact lenses, never wear them more than once. Do not sleep with your contact lenses. Avoid wearing your contact lenses when swimming or showering.
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Your eye is red because of an injury. You have a headache with blurry vision and confusion. You see halos around lights. You are nauseous and/or vomiting.
Pink Eye (conjunctivitis) — An infection of the transparent membrane that covers your eyes. It is treated with antibiotics and/or topical antihistamines. Chronic Dry Eye — This occurs when your eyes do not produce enough tears to lubricate them. It can be managed through punctual plugs (they plug the small holes in your eyelid that drain moisture), eye drops, and medication. [26] X Research source Diabetic Red Eye — High blood sugar from diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eye, leading to red eyes. If diabetic, be sure to get regular eye exams. If untreated, diabetes can lead to loss of vision. [27] X Research source Vasculitis — Occurs when the body’s immune system attacks blood vessels. It is treated through the use of steroids and other medicines to reduce inflammation. [28] X Research source Glaucoma — An increase in eye pressure that can cause blindness. It can usually be treated with eye drops that relieve pressure. Keratitis — An inflammation of the cornea that may be caused by wearing your contacts for too long or a minor injury. It may be accompanied by a bacterial infection. [29] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
A prescription that is too strong will force the muscles of your eyes to constantly work to bring objects into focus, resulting in strain and redness. It is better to have a prescription that is too weak rather than too strong. [30] X Research source If you find yourself having to lean close to your computer screen to see it clearly, you may need bifocals to help you see clearly at multiple focal points.
