How To Reduce Computer Eye strain and Improve Your Vision
· Blink, Drink and Splash at the Sink - The flicker rate of monitors causes our eyes to blink less and thus dry out. Writers, try getting into the habit of blinking every time you read or type a period. Designers, use the moving of an image as your reminder. Drink plenty of water and make a point of wetting your eyes every time you use the restroom.
· Don't Use Your Eyes - Close your eyes whenever you can. If something is loading or you need time to think, close your eyes. While closed, keep the eyes turned upward to prevent sleepiness. If you're typing a rough draft, try doing it blind. Experiment with your computer's voice synthesizer for reading long on-line documents or reviewing your own work.
· Palming - Whenever you have a minute, cup your palms over your eye sockets (without touching the eyes). This total absence of light will give your eyes a true rest. Rarely does the average person experience total darkness. Sleeping in the pitch black is highly recommended for strengthening vision.
A Super-Technique for Relearning How to See
Retype an excerpt from a piece of writing, such as an inspirational quote, a grammar rule, or a spelling definition.
1. Print the excerpt out in small print. As small as you can read when held at arms length.
2. Cut this out and tape it across the top of your monitor.
3. Sitting back, take the first letter in the excerpt and mentally trace an outline around it. Include every nook of the particular font.
4. Now close your eyes and visualize the character as filling your entire field of vision. Imagine it is pitch black on a pure white background. See the edges of the character as being very sharp.
5. Open your eyes and trace the letter once more. Then read the entire line.
6. Repeat this a few times throughout the day. When you feel your vision is sharper, print out another quote at a decreased point size. Reading small print is like lifting weights with your eyeballs. This technique has created microscopic vision in its most serious practitioners. Many legally blind people, after intense practice with the Bates Method, now have driver's licenses.
Unlike Spiderman, we need to work for our "spidey"-powers.
About the Author: John A. Manley is a freelance copywriter specializing in the alternative healthmarket. He writes microsites, long and short sales letters, brochures and articles for ezines/newsletters. You can visit his copywriting site at www.holistiCopy.com.
John also writes science fiction and poetry, and draws fine art portraits. You can visit his other website at www.creativityrising.com.