Eyestrain

Eyestrain

From that first bleary squint at the alarm clock to the last nodding glimpses of the late show, your baby blues prove all day why the eyes have it—tough, that is.

The human eye can see up to 60 “pictures” a second, and many of these sights can lead to sore eyes. A spreadsheet or even the morning’s headlines can tax eye muscles, leaving your peepers pooped. But eyestrain does more than make your eyes sting, blur and water; the pain can also spread to your head, neck or back.

Sound familiar? It ought to. Just about everyone gets eyestrain at least occasionally, especially if you are over age 40 and use a computer, watch television, drive a car or live in a smoggy environment. The natural remedies in this chapter—in conjunction with medical care and used with your doctor’s approval—may help relieve eyestrain, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When...

Your eyes remain red for longer than two days or for longer than two hours after contact lenses are removed.
You also experience piercing or throbbing pain, blurred vision or sensitivity to light.
Your eyestrain is the result of a blow or something embedded in your eye.

Acupressure

With both thumbs, press the B 2 points, located on the upper ridges of your eye sockets close to the bridge of your nose, recommends Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure’s Potent Points. (To help locate these points, refer to the illustration on page 564.) Press upward into the indentations of the eye sockets and hold for two minutes while you concentrate on slow, deep breathing, suggests Dr. Gach. He says to be sure to wash your hands carefully before putting them near your eyes.

Food Therapy

Eat more fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in the antioxidant vita min C, says Jay Cohen, O.D., associate professor at the State University of New York College of Optometry in New York City. “Getting more vitamin C is a good idea for overall eye health and particularly for eyestrain,” he explains. “Vitamin C deficiency may make the eyes a little more sensitive, so you’re more prone to eyestrain. You could probably get the vitamin C you need from fruits and vegetables, as opposed to needing a supplement.” (For good food sources of vitamin C, see “Getting What You Need” on page 142.)

Also, some people place slices of raw cucumber over their (closed) eyes to relieve eyestrain. “I’m sure it helps,” adds Dr. Cohen, “but probably not any better than a cold compress.”

Homeopathy

“If you’ve been reading a lot or spending a lot of time staring at a computer screen, you have a headache and your eyes hurt a bit, then Ruta graveolens is a good remedy to try,” says Stephen Messer, N.D., dean of the Na tion al Center for Homeopathy’s summer school and a naturopathic physician in Eugene, Oregon. He suggests taking a 6C dose three times daily for up to two days.

Ruta graveolens is available in many health food stores. To purchase homeopathic remedies by mail, refer to the resource list on page 637.

Massage

Here’s a quick massage for any time you feel eyestrain, from Massageworks by D. Baloti Lawrence and Lewis Harrison.

Quickly rub the palms of your hands together until you feel them heat up. Then gently press your left palm over your closed left eye and your right palm over your closed right eye. Hold for a count of 12.

In her book The Magic of Massage, massage therapist Ouida West offers another massage technique for eyestrain. Place your right thumb on the orbital bone above your right eye. This bone is located directly beneath the eyebrow. The tip of the thumb should be pointing toward the nose at the inside corner of the eye, and the back of your hand should be facing your forehead. Place your left thumb on the left orbital bone. Now gently press your thumbs upward against the orbital bones and hold for three to five seconds.

West also suggests applying pressure to the orbital bones located below the eyes. Place the fingertips of your right hand on the bony ridge underneath your right eye. Do the same for your left eye. Gently press against the bones for three to five seconds, then release. Never press directly against your eyes; press only against the bones.

Reflexology

You should work these reflexes on your feet thoroughly, according to New York City reflexologist Laura Norman, author of Feet First: A Guide to Foot Reflexology: helper to inner ear, helper to eye, kidney and cervical spine, along with all of the points on the tops and bottoms of the toes, paying extra attention to the brain zones. (To work the toes, use whichever technique you find most comfortable.)

To help you locate these points, consult the foot reflex chart on page 592. For instructions on how to work the points, see “Your Reflexology Session” on page 110.

Vitamin and Mineral Therapy

Deficiencies in the B vitamins may lead to eyestrain, says Jay Cohen, O.D., associate professor at the State University of New York College of Optometry in New York City. “A Japanese study found that people who get eyestrain from working on computers benefit from injections of vitamin B₁₂,” he says. In fact, he points out, one sign of a deficiency in the B vitamins is red, irritated eyes. While Dr. Cohen doesn’t recommend taking large doses of any individual B vitamin, he does advise a B-complex supplement containing the Recommended Dietary Allowances for the essential B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B₆, vitamin B₁₂ and pantothenic acid).

Yoga

In addition to the palm-rubbing massage described above, try splashing water on your eyes after every meal, says Stephen A. Nezezon, M.D., yoga teacher and staff physician at the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.