Save Dry and Overworked Eyes: The Most Effective 1-Minute Eye Care Technique

(Thanakorn.P/Shutterstock）

Over one billion people worldwide have vision impairments or blindness due to preventable or correctable causes. Modern-day individuals often damage their eyes due to prolonged use of electronic devices, resulting in issues like deteriorating eyesight. This article will introduce simple and effective methods, including acupressure massage and dietary adjustments, to relieve eye fatigue and help improve vision.

Prolonged exposure to dry air in air-conditioned rooms and excessive use of smartphones or computers can lead to burning sensations, itching, redness, light sensitivity, and temporary blurred vision. These symptoms signal that your eyes need help and might be signs of dry eyes or conjunctivitis. At such times, your eyes require nourishment and adjustment, which should not be ignored.

The Best Eye Care Technique: 1-Minute Eye Rest

Except for genetic factors, the health of your eyes is closely related to your eye usage habits.

Laozi's "Tao Te Ching" states, "Colors blind the eye, sounds deafen the ear," emphasizing that excessive visual and auditory stimuli each day can lead to mental leakage and the subtle consumption of the body's vital energy associated with the kidneys, which is detrimental to the eyes.

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the meridian system in the body acts as a pathway for the circulation of energy (qi) and blood. Qi is the energy or power that constitutes life within the body, and substances that nourish the body are collectively referred to as blood in TCM. An imbalance or deficiency in qi and blood circulation can lead to various health issues.

Engaging in activities like prolonged web browsing, binge-watching TV, or gaming results in deteriorating eyesight and dry eyes and can lead to lower back pain, neck discomfort, and cervical spine issues. Reducing these activities appropriately is advisable.

One simplest yet highly effective eye care method is to rest your eyes by closing them for a minute. During breaks from using electronic devices, it's important to gently close your eyes, relax your entire body, clear your mind, and maintain this state for about a minute. This short break can significantly rejuvenate your eyes.

Nourish the Liver and Kidneys for Eye Health: Top 5 Food Choices

In TCM, it's believed that when the qi of the liver and kidneys is sufficient, the eyes are bright and spirited. Conversely, when the qi of the liver and kidneys is deficient, dizziness and haziness can occur. Therefore, incorporating foods that nourish the liver and kidneys into your diet can protect eye health. Some examples include mulberries, sesame seeds, cashews, black beans, and goji berries.

Related Stories

Blue-Light Blockers Debunked; Opt for These Methods to Ease Eye Fatigue

8/29/2023

Blue Light Isn’t the Main Source of Eye Fatigue and Sleep Loss–It’s Your Computer

12/2/2019

A review published in the journal Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity in 2019 indicated that goji berries have been used for longevity and are beneficial for the liver, kidneys, and eyes. Goji berries are rich in carotenoids, including a high content of zeaxanthin. Consuming goji berries has been shown to protect the retinas.

Additionally, pumpkins are rich in nutrients such as selenium and beta carotene, making them a beneficial food for the eyes.

Herbal Remedies for Eye Care: 1 Tea and 1 Honey Pill

To enhance the effectiveness of eye care, you can try two convenient and effective traditional Chinese herbal remedies made from natural ingredients.

Eye Care Tea

Combine 8 grams of goji berries, 8 grams of Polygonum multiflorum, and 4 grams of caltrop in a mug. Add hot water and drink. Consuming a cup of this tea daily will nourish the liver and kidneys, improve eyesight, promote blood circulation, and aid in eye protection.

Goji Berry and Chrysanthemum Honey Pills

Take 40 grams each of goji berries and chrysanthemum flowers, grind them into a powder, mix them with honey, and roll them into small pills. These pills can be consumed individually or with tea, promoting liver health, clearing the vision, and supporting eye care.

Acupressure Points for Eye Improvement

In addition to dietary adjustments and rest, massaging five acupuncture points around the eyes can be beneficial. These points are located around the eyes in the following areas: Fish Lumbus (Ex-HN4), Tear Container (ST 1), Pupil Bone Hole (GB 1), Bright Eyes (BL 1), and Bamboo Gathering (BL 2) above the eyebrows. You can use your fingertip joints to gently press and stimulate these points, which can help with eye care and significantly improve poor eyesight.

In TCM, the meridian system serves as a channel for energy flow throughout the body, connecting the organs to various body parts. Certain points along these meridians are referred to as acupoints, and stimulating them through techniques like acupuncture or acupressure can have therapeutic effects on the corresponding organs.

(The Epoch Times)

Moreover, regularly massaging the acupoints for the eyes at the center of the earlobes for approximately three to five minutes can enhance eyesight, especially improving myopia.

(The Epoch Times)

3 Ways to Prevent Worsening Myopia in Children

To prevent or slow down the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children, consider the following three approaches:

1. Teach children to write with a brush: Writing with a brush encourages children to maintain proper posture, which allows them to write with a raised wrist and keeps the eyes a reasonable distance from the paper, promoting eye protection.
2. Engage children in outdoor activities: Encourage children to play and engage in outdoor activities or to watch ball games where their eyes track objects near and far. This helps to exercise the ciliary muscles of the eyes and improve eyesight.
3. Teach children to observe nature: Encourage children to observe nature, such as watching birds, animals, and plants. This enhances their observational skills and habituates them to look at distant objects. It can be beneficial in recovering from pseudomyopia and may lead to improvements in true myopia.

Caution When Using Eye Drops and Contact Lenses

Many people tend to use eye drops when their eyes are red or uncomfortable. However, eye drops containing vasoconstrictors, while they reduce redness, can also decrease blood supply to the eyes. This can reduce nutrient supply to the cornea and conjunctiva, making the eyes more susceptible to infections by bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. It can result in issues like dry eyes and aggravated eye redness. Therefore, it's crucial not to misuse eye drops and to use them carefully according to a doctor's guidance.

Contact lenses are convenient and aesthetically pleasing vision correction tools. However, they directly cover the cornea, reducing the frequency of eye washes with tears and limiting the cornea's exposure to air, which can be detrimental to eye health.

Those who regularly wear contact lenses should be cautious of the following:

1. Don't wear contact lenses every day: Give your eyes some rest by not wearing contact lenses daily. It's recommended to wear regular glasses for two to three days a week.
2. Never sleep with contact lenses: It's imperative not to wear contact lenses while sleeping to avoid accidental friction with the lenses, which can scratch the cornea.

Excessive Eye Use: Beware of the Risk of 'Blindness'

Overusing your eyes and experiencing eye fatigue can trigger severe eye conditions such as retinal detachment. Retinal detachment occurs when the retina detaches from its normal position, separating retinal cells from the layer of blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye.

Early signs of retinal detachment include occasional blurry vision, seeing black spots or wavy lines, and perceiving flashes of lightning when blinking. If you experience these symptoms, it's crucial to be vigilant as they may indicate retinal detachment, and you should seek medical attention promptly. Without timely treatment, your eyes may lose vision permanently.

Therefore, it's essential to cherish your eyes, rest when needed, and seek medical attention if necessary. This is especially important for individuals with jobs that require prolonged visual focus, high work-related stress, or excessive usage of electronic screens. The methods described in this article are supplementary and not meant to encourage continued overuse of the eyes after a brief relief. Prolonged eye strain can lead to a vicious cycle.

Some herbs may sound unfamiliar, but many can be found in health food or Asian grocery stores. Additionally, since everyone's constitution is different, the appropriate treatment may vary, so it's advisable to consult with a health care professional for specific treatment plans.