Computer eye fatigue is the main type of eye fatigue, although long-distance driving, writing, and reading are other common culprits.
You know computer eye fatigue is setting in when your eyes start to feel tired, burning, or itching, or when you catch yourself rubbing your eyes.
Massage pressure points to help alleviate computer eye fatigue
In traditional Chinese medicine, fatigue is the result of stagnation in the energy meridians. Massage can fix this by helping to move the blockage along, bringing new Qi (chi) in.
Through massage, your vision will clear, and your eyes will feel more awake.
In this video, Grace Tan, an acupuncturist from AOMA Graduate of School of Integrative Medicine, explains how to find and massage three different acupressure points, which serve to nourish your eyes when you are feeling computer eye fatigue:
Pressure points between eyes
Locate the middle of Bladder 1 and Bladder 2 and press firmly with your thumbs — there is a slight dent there. Extend your index fingers to the top of the forehead for support. Move your thumbs around in small circles for 20-30 seconds.
Pressure points below the cheekbone
Locate the highest point in your cheekbone, then let your fingers move downward to find the lowest point — this is the spot. Firmly move your fingers around in small circles, then repeat the other direction for 20-30 seconds.
Eyebrow brush
With your thumbs firmly pressing your temples, brush over your eyebrows and under your eyes with your bent index finger. Repeat these sweeping actions for 20-30 seconds.
More tips to help alleviate computer eye fatigue
- Angle your computer screen just 5 degrees down, making your eyes smaller, thus preventing moisture loss and the feeling of dryness.
- Turn down the brightness control for your screen. Experiment to see which brightness your eyes are most comfortable with. This may change over the day.
- Rest your eyes every hour for 10 minutes when doing long periods of computer work.
- Dab eyes with a cold, moist towel in the mornings, and a warm, moist towel at night to soothe your eyes.
- Keep your screen clean to avoid particle emission.
- Reduce the screen’s glare by turning off lamps and covering windows. The furnishings on the desk should ideally be a soft, matt finish.
- Eat foods that protect your eyes, such as oily fish, potatoes, and bananas.
If you work at your computer more than 3 hours a day, be aware of the indicators of eye strain, which include headache, blurred vision, and tired, gritty eyes. When I’m tired, it takes a lot less time for the gritty feeling to come — sometimes around an hour. Regular tea breaks, and pat-the-dog breaks, help me work for longer without the discomfort.
