(First Published June 2017)
In this day and age, our eyes are working overdrive. Not only are our eyes being bombarded by various environmental factors, but many of us spend hours every day working on a PC or messaging on our phones or playing video games. Whatever it is, our eyes have to work hard all the time. So, why not use some natural remedies to help your tired eyes rejuvenate and relax. This will also help the long-term health of your eyes!
Cucumbers
An oldie, but goodie is the simple remedy of putting cold sliced cucumbers on your eyes. If you don’t have any cucumbers on hand, any cold compress or a cold towel will work as well. Your eyes can relax, by shutting them. The coolness will reduce any puffiness or redness around your eyes. If you do use cucumbers, they will provide the added benefit of moisturising and rejuvenating your skin. This is also a great way to de-stress. No more than 15-20 minutes should suffice for this treatment.
Rinse your eyes
Your eyes can get tired or irritated from environmental factors, such as pollen or dust as well. This means that rinsing your eyes with water can help get rid of some of these environmental factors. Some eye doctors will recommend an eye cup or even a medicated rinse. The eye cup does make rinsing your eyes easier, but you can use a small cup or shot glass that will fit over your eye. If you are using a medicated rinse, make sure to get professional advice on how to use it and how often. Rinsing your eyes too often, can actually irritate your eyes, by drying them out.
Tea bags
The cold tea bag method is actually used more for puffy eyes, rather than tired eyes, but still can help you relax. Basically, steep two tea bags in hot water for 2-3 minutes, remove them from the hot water and put them in your refrigerator to cool down – about 20-30 minutes. Then lay down and place one cold tea bag on each of your eyes for 15-20 minutes. Basically, the caffeine in the tea helps shrink blood vessels and this helps reduce the puffiness around your eyes. Of course, like the cucumber remedy, this is a good way to relax as well.
Look far and near
Many people are not aware of this very simple remedy. Since most people sit in front a PC for hours every day, your eyes end up focusing on something close up for long periods of time. This tires eyes out, by tiring the focusing muscle of the eyes. Instead, make an effort once every 30 minutes or so to look out the window or elsewhere in your room, i.e. change the focus of your eyes, by looking somewhere far away. This helps the focusing muscles in your eyes to relax and making them less tired.
Generally, it helps, if you can stop looking at a screen for at least several hours a day – whether that is your PC, laptop, TV or cell phone – to let your eyes relax naturally!
