Wouldn’t it be wonderful if spending fifteen minutes a day on an easy eye exercise could let you throw away those spectacles, flush those contacts down the drain and never again be dependent on any visual aids in order to see clearly without suffering any impairment.

If you scan the internet you are very likely to come across sites that claim just that – buy the program, the course, the CD-ROMs, the videos, the books and even audio tapes, then follow

It does not seem to matter whether you are short sighted (myopic), long sighted (hyperopia), or rely on bifocals, you can be old or just a child, this or that self directed eye exercise course will do the trick and if not entirely satisfied there is always a money back guarantee.

There does not seem to be any clinical evidence based on an acceptable or recognized sample size to back up the claims of the eye exercise lobby. There is however, anecdotal evidence which is hard to verify, that a self-directed eye exercise regime has made considerable improvement or even restored perfect vision.

It should also be noted that in the State of Iowa USA, a consumer lawsuit has been filed by the state Attorney General alleging that an a company marketing a self directed eye  exercise program used a combination of misleading marketing tactics, exaggerated claims of effectiveness, false implications of scientific validity and misleading consumer testimonials.

Nevertheless the practice of eye exercising to improve vision is centuries old and who are we to pass judgement on this or any other ancient therapy? Just think of the number of times you have read or heard about a drug breakthrough brought about by a link with a traditional  herbal remedy.

It was not that long ago when  professional medical practitioners scoffed at the thought that a natural herbal remedy could be a cure and at best was only a placebo.

Who knows? If you follow an eye exercise regime diligently you could be throwing out the glasses and contacts or maybe lowering your dependency on them. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Self directed eye exercise programs should not be confused with the practice of Vision Therapy. To put it simply, vision therapy, sometimes called visual training, behavioral optometry or development optometry, is a combination of eye exercises and visual aids, such as tinted or corrective lenses carried out under the supervision of a qualified eye doctor or optometrist.

The therapy is widely used on children who have a vision problem or even to treat learning difficulties. Eye care practitioners are not united on the benefits of Vision Therapy but if you have a child whom you suspect may have a problem then you should investigate this treatment and do be sure to get more than one qualified opinion.

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Using highly accurate measuring instruments and very sophisticated surgical procedures it is now possible to remove a defective natural lens from an eye and replace it with a soft lens implant that can restore perfect or near perfect vision.

This procedure is known as Clear Lens Replacement (CLR) surgery.

For a century or more, surgeons have had the skills to remove the lens from an eye, mainly to restore some sort of impaired and unfocused vision to cataract sufferers.

A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, vision blurs and eventual blindness occurs.

With the advent of modern computerized measuring equipment, accurate to one hundredth of a millimeter, not only can cataract sufferers have excellent vision restored but virtually any body suffering from visual impairment such as short or long sight can enjoy the benefits of lens replacement surgery.

What Will The Surgeon Do?

A few days prior the operation, the surgeon will take measurements that will allow the computer to calculate the dimensions of the artificial replacement lens. This procedure is painless.

Before operating a general but light anaesthetic is administered and the surface and eye area is numbed. A very small incision is made through the surface tissue of the eye to enable the natural lens to be removed.

This is done by using an instrument that very gently sucks out the tissue and can take a little time. The surgeon then inserts the prepared soft lens implant into the eye, puts a light dressing over the area and the job is done. The process is in most cases painless.

Normally the surgeon will operate on only one eye and wait around two weeks before operating on the other as a precaution against the rare risk of a complication

Generally speaking patients are in and out of hospital in an hour to an hour and a half and suffer no more than mild discomfort.

Eye Surgery Aftercare

After removing the protective dressing the morning following the operation you will be able to drive and read without any problem – providing you remember to remove the appropriate lens from your eyeglasses!

The wonderful experience of being able to see clearly after a lifetime of wearing glasses is unforgettable and can take some getting used to.

The eye may water or have a slight itch for a while after the operation. Your surgeon will take into account this possibility and prescribe the appropriate medication.

Do not rub your eyes and do not indulge in any active exercise and avoid any heavy lifting for six weeks after the operations. By this time the eyes should have settled down to normality.

Reading and long distance sight will no longer need the aid of contacts or eyeglasses and no problems with discerning colors or night driving should be experienced.

Are There Any Risks to Eye Surgery?

As with any invasive surgical procedure there is always a small risk of infection. Should the eye become infected after the operation in most cases it can be quickly and successively treated although some discomfort is likely to be experienced.

Do have an in depth discussion with your eye specialist with an emphasis on any risks before deciding to undertake CLR surgery.

The Long Term Benefits

The feeling of freedom after being dependent on visual impairment aids takes time to become adjusted. Many will have a greater feeling of self confidence as there will be no more fears of losing or breaking their glasses or the embarrassment of groveling around for a lost contact lens.

There are very real cosmetic benefits. You will never again have to worry about spectacle frames that suit you or your eye make up choice of color. Applying your make up will be so much easier and most importantly you will not have spectacle frames and their lenses obscuring your most important beauty feature – your eyes.

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Dealing with conjunctivitis is not easy but knowing the facts will help you to understand what causes it and hopefully to treat it.

Commonly known as ‘pink eye’, conjunctivitis is any inflammation that occurs in the clear tissue that covers the white surface of the eye and inner layer of the eyelid (conjunctiva).

Men, women and children of all ages, even the newborn, can suffer from one of the forms of pink eye.

Irrespective of the cause, the condition, apart from being unsightly, can be extremely uncomfortable. Irritation can be severe, not dissimilar to the discomfort a foreign body in the eye produces, accompanied by a watery or thick yellow/white discharge.

It is important to remember that conjunctivitis is highly contagious so take care over personal hygiene and avoid contact with others.

Symptoms of Conjuctivitis

Common pink eye symptoms are: -

• A gradual onset of noticeable red soreness in one or both eyes.
• Itchy, gritty feeling in one or both eyes.
• Tears or a yellowish discharge that can form a crust after sleeping and is difficult to remove.

Duration of Conjunctivitis

If untreated conjunctivitis usually lasts for two to three weeks although it can resolve itself in as little as two to three days. Early treatment can clear the condition sooner.
Causes of Conjunctivitis

Bacterial or viral infections are the most common causes. Others include foreign bodies, tobacco smoke, use of contact lenses, cosmetics or chemical splashes entering the eye, and allergies.

In infants the cause may be a blocked or incompletely opened tear duct.

Risks of Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis as a result of a bacterial or viral infection is highly contagious, especially among children. Risk of passing on the infection can last for seven to fourteen days after its first appearance.

Resist rubbing the eyes, wash hands frequently, avoid touching others, towels, face cloths, pillows etc, should not be shared with others and washed and changed at least daily. Throw away used mascara and other eye cosmetics and do not use any one else’s.

Although uncommon, conjunctivitis may be a sign of a serious underlying eye disease.

Unless advised by a doctor, never cover red eye with a patch as it can only encourage increased infection.

Treatment

• Bacterial Conjunctivitis

This form of pink eye can be treated with antibiotic eye drops or alternatively, for children and infants, with an antibiotic eye ointment that is easier to apply. In either case consult your physician for the recommended medication and be sure to complete the course even if the symptoms clear up, if not the infection can re-occur.

A significant improvement can be expected within 24-48 hours.

• Viral Conjunctivitis

In common with other viral infections the condition cannot be cured by treatment and must run its natural course. However your physician will advise on the best treatment to alleviate the symptoms. Expect a gradual worsening of the condition for the initial 3-5 days before the symptoms gradually improve and clear on their own, usually within a further two to three weeks.

• Allergic Conjunctivitis

If your doctor diagnosis this condition, there is a variety of eye drops that can be effectively prescribed, ranging from anti inflammatory, antihistamines, steroids and others.

Although it is highly recommended that medical advice is sought as soon as possible after the symptoms appear, it is possible to gain some relief by applying a clean cloth dampened with warm water to the closed lids of the affected eye.

No form of conjunctivitis is likely to have any long term effect on the vision or eye health of adults and older children, but do remember that it is highly contagious, take precautions not to pass it on. Children should either be kept from school or teachers advised that the child has conjunctivitis. In the case of infants seek immediate medical attention as soon as any symptoms are noticed.

Red eye is an uncomfortable and unpleasant infection that can strike without warning. The sooner sufferers obtain and act on qualified medical advice, the quicker and more effective the relief.

However, if you feel that you don’t want to go to see your doctor you could always try some natural remedies .

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Asensible healthy diet will go a long way towards maintaining clear beautiful sparkling eyes for a lifetime and will significantly slow the onset of deteriorating vision and other eye problems.

You are never too young and it´s never too late to start a healthy dietary regime to help protect your eyes from risk.

There are many people who have good eyesight into their eighties and beyond.

Aging does not automatically mean that your eyesight will diminish but as aging progresses changes can occur that may weaken the ability to see. This can occur as early as the teen years if not earlier.

Sensible precautions to avoid eye strain by spending too long staring at a computer screen, reading small print in bad light, avoiding smoky ill ventilated atmospheres and so on are obvious.

What is less well known is the importance of diet to protect the eyes. The effects of the right food for your eyes is essential for optimum eye health.

Fish Oil

may help to protect and promote healthy retinal function and has been found to assist in preventing the onset of Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of blindness. Cod Liver Oil or fish oil capsules taken daily as a regular addition to your diet is probably the least likely to be overlooked.

Salmon, Trout, Herrings and any other tasty oily fish can make an occasional and enjoyable meal to supplement the capsules.

Fresh Vegetables and Fruit

are very important in helping to maintain effective vision health. Green leafy vegetables contain carotenoides, principally Beta-carotene and Lutein. Both are antioxidants and are found in spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, collard greens, and similar. Egg Yolks also contain beneficial carotenoids.

Berries

Dark berries, such as blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, cranberries and bilberries will have a beneficial effect by strengthening the capillaries that carry nutrients to the eyes.

Avoid the fats found in many processed and baked foods These will include margarines, fried foods, doughnuts, cookies, pastries, french fries, and biscuits. These non beneficial fats, known as Trans Fat should not be confused with Omega-3 fatty acids found in Salmon, Trout, Tuna and other oily fish which can decrease the risk of eye disease.

Age Related Macular Degeneration

(AMD) is a slow but progressive degeneration of central vision for which there is arguably no cure. Risk factors for AMD include genetic inheritance, smoking, high blood pressure or simply advancing age. It is the most common cause of blindness.

Many sufferers of AMD or who are at risk of the disease have no factors that can they can control to mitigate or avoid the onset of the disease with the possible exception of nutrition. Studies have shown that individuals with the highest consumption of dark leaved green vegetables rich in carotenoids, such as raw spinach or kale had a significantly lower chance of developing AMD than those who ate these foods the least.

High levels of antioxidant vitamins and zinc can also be effective in lowering the risk of developing the disease and can also slow its progression.

There is a school of thought that the bilberry or blueberry can prevent or even reverse AMD and sufferers are advised to investigate this as a possible treatment.

These studies clearly show the importance of nutrition in prevention and slowing the development of AMD.Do obtain qualified medical advice before taking high dose nutritional supplements for the control of AMD as there may be other risk factors, not associated with eye care, to take into account. This is particularly important for smokers.

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We believe that these following  exercises will help to keep your eyes clear and sparkling and delay the onset of age lines around the eye area. We do not know whether eye exercises will help improve vision impairment or delay the onset of age related vision problems but we can but hope.

Points to remember before starting the exercises: -

• Find as quiet a space as possible.
• Ideally the area should have subdued lighting or shade so try to avoid  strong  sunlight or intense artificial light.
• Sit in a comfortable chair or on the floor but it is important to keep your back and neck straight – good posture is a must.
• Breath deeply, steadily and easily.
• Consciously relax your body, limb by limb if you find it easier, but not forgetting to keep the back and neck in line.
• Be positive and focus your mind on the good results you are going to get but avoid feeling stressed by concentrating too hard.
• Many find that soft chill out music puts them in the right frame of mind. An MP3 player is ideal for the job.

During the Exercises

• Maintain your body position.
• Continue to breathe deeply and regularly.
• Stick to your planned schedule of exercises. They need last no more than three to four minutes.
• Do not be tempted to increase the time on a whim. If you feel you will benefit from a longer time and your eye muscles are not tiring just increase by thirty seconds and stay with that for a few days before deciding whether you want to increase the time again.
• Blink rapidly between exercises.
• When you finish stand up and have a good stretch.

After the Exercises

• Keep to your eye exercise schedule. There are no hard and fast rules but if you can regularly find a few minutes every two or three hours during the working day to exercise the eyes this will be more beneficial than a once in the morning and once at bedtime routine.
• This is important. If you are working at a computer take a break every hour at least and do a short routine of palming and rapid blinking.
• Blinking is an important function in maintaining eye health so try to remember to blink often throughout the day, particularly if working for long periods on a computer or other close intensive work and also look away and refocus on a distant object every few minutes.

There are seven points around the perimeter of each eye socket, one or more of which can be stimulated with the finger tips for a few seconds at any time of the day or night.

The Chinese believe that this will help to smooth the flow of energy and clear any blockages and so benefits the eyes.

1. Point one is at the inside corner between the eye and nose.
2. Point two is the inside end of the eyebrows above the inside corner of the eye.
3. Point three is half way along the eyebrow directly above the center of the eyeball.
4. Point four is at the end of the eyebrow.
5. Point five where the bone meets the outside edge of the eye socket.
6. Point six is half way between the outside corner and the mid point of the eye socket.
7. Point seven is on the edge of the socket below the middle of the eyeball.

Be gentle when massaging these points with your finger tips and only spend a few seconds on each. Most people can feel an immediate benefit when stimulating these acupressure points but this may only be because the blood flow to the area has been increased, whatever the reason the result is well worth a few moments of your time.

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The primary purpose of tears is to clean and lubricate the eyes.

Tears are secreted from the lacrimal glands through ducts to the surface of the eyes between the eyeball and the lid.

The lacrimal gland, one for each eye, is located at the back of the top eyelid. When we blink, tears known as lacrimal fluid, are distributed over the eye surface.

The lower eyelids have minute orifices called puncta on their margins and bottom corner that collect tears and pass them down to the inner nose.

This is the reason that the nose runs if there is an excess of tears caused for example by crying, laughter or peeling onions.

As the flow of tears increase so the eyes flood as the puncta cannot cope and the excess of tears run down the cheeks.

It is important that the eye surface (cornea) is kept continually moist and nourished by tear fluid which at the same time washes away any dust or other small foreign particles that are virtually a constant in our modern world.

Another important function of tear fluid is to fight any bacterial infection that can attack the eyes.

Tears consist of water, mucin, lipids, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lipocalin, immunoglobulins, glucose, urea, sodium and potassium.

Tears form three distinct coatings on the eye surface, each having a specific and important function in normal circumstances. This coating or film is known as the precorneal film.

• The outer layer or lipid layer is responsible for preventing the surface from drying out by forming a hydrophobic barrier to slow down evaporation. At the same time this barrier retains the tears from running onto the cheeks.

• The middle layer, known as the aqueous layer, fights infections and assists in spreading the tear film over the eye surface.

• The inner or mucous layer function as the water-bonding layer that is responsible for even distribution of all three layers over the eye surface. It also contains mucus that helps to protect the cornea.

Healthy tear production is essential for eye health. The older we are the less tears we produce.

Curiously and very misleading is the fact that although the eyes are watering profusely, we can still be suffering from a lack of healthy tear fluid over the entire surface of the eyes.

Should this be occurring without any noticeable cause do go and see your eye consultant to have it checked out. Ignoring the symptoms, which may not appear constant, can lead to sight problems.

Depending on the sufferer’s condition, ophthalmologists can provide either a cure or hold the condition in check. The inner puncta sometimes blocks but can be restored to normal by laser treatment.

Various eye drops such as

Optive Lubricant Eye Drops

or

Soothe Lubricant Eye Drops

are available that encourage sufficient tears to keep the eye surface healthy.

are available that encourage sufficient tears to keep the eye surface healthy.

Insufficient or thin tear fluid levels have caused problems to contact lens wearers but modern technology has largely overcome this problem as contacts have become more flexible, disposable or oxygen permeable

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Combined with a regular eye exercise program there is no reason why a computer operator’s eyes should not be beautiful, sparkling, clear and at all times – so stick with it!

Exercise 1.

Start by a simple palming routine.

1. Place the palms of your hands over the area surrounding your eye sockets with the fingers lightly crossing on the center of your forehead.
2. With your eyes closed, gently and lightly rotate your palms over the area changing direction from time to time continuing for two or three minutes. This increases the blood flow to the eye muscles and that will relax and restore vitality to your eyes.

Exercise 2.

1. Sit or stand at the end of a room or outdoors and simply let your eyes roam, focusing on one object and then another at different distances in your field of vision, and all the while keeping your neck and back straight and body relaxed.
2. Continue for two to three minutes or until you feel you have had enough. This scanning lets the focus of your eyes regain flexibility after the near work on the computer.

Exercise 3. 

1. Another exercise to get your focusing improved after intensive computer work.
2. Hold a pencil, finger or thumb in front of your nose and within comfortable near focus range, then find an object ten to fifteen feet away and focus on that.
3. With each deep breath alternate your focus between your pencil/finger and the distant object repeating fifteen times.

Exercise 4.

1. A relaxing exercise that reduces tension in the shoulders, neck and face muscles.
2. Still breathing deeply and with your eyes closed allow your head to gently drop down to rest your chin on your chest as you breathe out.
3. As you breathe in, gently and slowly roll your head to the right and exhaling return your chin to your chest.
4. Repeat to the left always remembering to exhale deeply as you return your chin to the chest and inhale deeply as you roll your head to either side.
5. Do not hurry the movements, take it nice and easy. You should feel a pleasant relaxing effect after four or five head rolls.

Exercise 5.

1. You will probably need to finish your computer session to carry out this routine and nor is this strictly an exercise but the benefits are too good to ignore.
2. You will need two small bowls, one filled with hot but not scalding water the other filled with ice cold water from the fridge or with ice cubes in it.
3. Soak a face cloth in each bowl and start by applying the hot face cloth to your closed eyes for thirty seconds and then repeating with the cold face cloth for another thirty seconds.
4. Alternate between the two for two to three minutes and then gently massage dry your eyes with a soft towel.
5. Your eyes should become clear and sparkling and you should have a wonderful feeling of well-being.

There are some excellent brands of eye drops that can be applied at any time to help alleviate the symptoms of eyestrain and fatigue and they can be particularly helpful to intensive computer users.

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Eye exercising combined with a proper diet can reduce, even eliminate the eye strain, headaches and other symptoms related to computer use.

Before eye exercises can become properly effective it is absolutely necessary to set up the computer workstation correctly.

By doing so, unnecessary eyestrain, body fatigue and tension can be greatly reduced.

Follow these steps:-

• Site the computer, or adjust your seat, so that the screen is just below eye level.

• Adjust the screen brightness and contrast to give the best viewing conditions. The default setting on your screen controls is usually close to optimum.

• Tilt the screen to eliminate glare and reflections or fit an anti-glare screen.

• It is best to have your back to a window or bright artificial light, if this is not possible then the further to one side the better. Anywhere is better than having the light source directly in front of you.

• If copying, have the copy material at the same level as the screen and have a shaded table lamp that can be adjusted to illuminate the copy document without shining on or causing reflections on the computer screen.

• Correct posture at the workstation will also help to reduce stress symptoms, physical discomfort and associated eye fatigue.

• Chairs should have adjustable back support and height controls to allow for the feet to rest flat and the thighs to be parallel to the floor.

• The workstation should be high enough to provide ample clearance for the knees.

• The keyboard should be situated so that the wrists and forearms are parallel with the floor and a separate raised wrist support will provide added comfort.

• Take a break at least every two hours and give yourself fifteen minutes to relax your eyes, body and brain and follow these few eye exercises remembering to breath deeply and steadily to help your body and mind to relax.

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Despite contact lenses to correct visual impairment being available for many years, constant developments have given wearers an ever widening choice that includes ease of use, convenience, sight correction and cosmetic enhancement.

If you are considering contact lenses or even if you are an existing user it is worth getting up to date knowledge of the variety of lenses available before visiting your Ophthalmologist, Optometrist or Optician.

You should always bear in mind that contacts are medical devices that require specialist fitting and aftercare. Only suitably qualified eyesight consultants should prescribe contact lenses so if in any doubt check out the qualifications.

Most people with the types of visual impairment that can be corrected by contact lenses will have very few, if any, wearing problems providing that they are measured and fitted correctly.

Contact lenses can be prescribed for replacing Bi-focal spectacles. They are known as Toric lenses and are available as extended wear, disposable or traditional reusable lenses.

All contact lenses are available in a variety of colors whether they are used for vision correction or simply to cosmetically enhance eye color.

Sadly in rare cases the shape of the eye or other considerations can cause problems and consequently contact lenses will not an option.

Types of Contact Lenses

• Traditional Reusable Lenses

This type has an extended life for six months or longer before needing to be replaced.

Prescriptions for these lenses and all others will depend on the physical measurements of the eyes and the requirement to correct the visual impairment.

It is an important consideration to bear in mind that the more frequently you replace your lenses the healthier and more comfortable your eyes will feel.

Substances occurring in tears, such as protein and calcium will build up on the surfaces of lenses and must be cleaned after each days wear.

If not carefully cleaned and kept in a sterilized container the eyes will become more prone to infection and the lenses will also become gradually more uncomfortable to wear.

There are a variety of excellent proprietary lens cleaning and storage solutions available at pharmacies.

Contact lenses can also be used to change eye shape such as bulging.

• Disposable Lenses

Obtainable for up to two weeks wear before being discarded and replaced with fresh lenses.

Now the most popular type of contact lens and recommended by eye care practitioners as the healthiest lens option.

Daily disposables have now become an affordable option, will never need cleaning or after care so no build up of deposits are likely to occur that lead to eye infections.

However disposable lenses can be cleaned and there are some excellent products available but disposables can save you the time, effort and expense of doing this and the health risks are lessened.

• Gas Permeable Extended Wear Contact Lenses

As these lenses allow more oxygen to reach the eyes they may be worn continuously for up to thirty days without removal including overnight wear to extend their usage time.

The most convenient of all contact lens types. Should be disposed of after use. Watch out, as there are still some brands that only allow for seven days continuous wear although they are becoming less available.

• Frequent Replacement Contact Lenses

These lenses should be replaced monthly or quarterly and are not suitable for overnight wear.

A well qualified vision practitioner should recommend the most suitable and comfortable type of contact lens to suit the shape of the eye and the wearer’s needs without obligation or charge.

Today, with the incredible advance in modern science, it is possible to have a clear lens replacement that is able to actually restore almost perfect, if not perfect vision.

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Yoga practitioners believe that many eye problems particularly those that develop later in life are caused by a loss of elasticity in the eye muscles.

As these muscles become more rigid their ability to allow the lens of the eye to focus at different distances becomes reduced and vision deteriorates and the incidence of eyestrain increases. The following ancient eye exercises are based on the Hindu Art of Yoga.

Exercise 1

• Breathing deeply and steadily and keeping the head relaxed but still, roll the eyes and look up and then look down.
• Next look as far to the right as you can and then repeat to the left followed by looking up to the right then diagonally downward to the left, up to the left then down to the right, across to the left and finish to the right.
• Repeat several times but stop if you begin to feel uncomfortable, continuing to breath deeply and calmly and keeping the head still but relaxed.

Exercise 2 - Eye  rolling

• Keep the head still and looking straight ahead think of a clock directly in front of you and start by looking up to twelve o’clock then begin to roll your eyes slowly round your imaginary clock in a clockwise direction gradually speeding up after each round.
• Stop after four or five rounds depending on your comfort level and then repeat in an anti clockwise direction. Don’t forget to blink.

Exercise 3

• Hold your index finger or a pencil directly in front of your nose and as close as you can so that it is in sharp focus.
• Look into the distance and find a point that you can also see clearly.
• Switch your focus several times between the two quite quickly several times blinking between each eye movement.

Exercise 4

• After finishing the exercises it is important to relax the eye muscles after the work they have undergone.
• Squeeze the eyes shut as tightly as you can, the tighter the better even if it means screwing up your face, and keep this squeeze on for three to five seconds before opening and blinking rapidly a few times.
• This short exercise enables the muscles around the eyes to become deeply relaxed and helps to relievetension.

Exercise 5 - Palming

This is the final exercise and one that you are probably familiar with but may not know how to do it correctly. Very few will not have rubbed their palms over their eyes to relieve a headache, eyestrain or some emotional event and most will have experienced some relief.

Here’s how to do it to get the maximum benefit

• Sit down and rest your elbows on books piled high enough on a table so that your neck and spine are straight, start by relaxing your shoulders and consciously move down your arms, trunk and legs relaxing each part as you go but remembering to keep the spine and neck straight and continuing to breath deeply and calmly.
• Place the palms of your hands over your closed eyes with the fingers of one hand lightly crossed over the other on your forehead.
• While still breathing deeply, relaxing, and keeping the back and neck straight gently rotate the palms over and around the eye sockets.
• You can carry out this exercise as often as you like and for as long a time as you feel comfortable with. Not only do the eye muscles benefit but it is believed that this exercise can help to relax the entire nervous system.
• Tip: Some say that vigorously rubbing the palms together for a short time immediately before starting to palm can add to the benefits, something to do with charging the palms with static electricity but we doubt that the original yoga practitioners five thousand years ago knew why or how this would work.

Yoga combines specialized body poses with deep controlled breathing and meditation to relieve stress and improve body condition.

Most importantly yoga promotes physical and mental self-discipline and it is both important and helpful to keep these facts in mind when carrying out Yoga based eye exercises.

Remember to blink frequently while carrying out the exercises and particularly at the end of each routine as this helps to relax the eye muscles.

The exercises are best carried out while lying down on a firm mat or sitting with the spine erect and body relaxed.

Yoga can also help to drive away over eye headaches.

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Something in the eye! It happens to all of us from time to time, whether it is an eyelash, dirt, grit, paint or any one of 100s of foreign bodies the result is the same. Discomfort at the least, excruciating pain at worst.

One of two things can happen when a foreign body gets into the eye. It can either stay on the surface or penetrate into the eye.

Penetrating Foreign Bodies

Strangely enough if a small sharp object breaks through the eye surface it is often less painful than a foreign body lying on the eye. In some instances it does not become an immediate cause for concern until complications arise at a later date.

Most penetrating eye injuries are caused when using or around machinery or hammering when small particles of metal or wood traveling at high speed are flying around. Protective goggles should be worn in such an environment but we don’t live in a perfect world so accidents are bound to happen.

What can you do about Penetrating Foreign Bodies?

If you suffer or even suspect that a foreign body has penetrated the outer eye layer go without delay to the nearest treatment center at work, your doctor, or ophthalmologist. Doing nothing can lead to loss of vision, premature cataracts and damage to the retina so do not take any chances, delay is dangerous.

Surface Foreign Bodies

Any number of small particles can cause problems, often painful, when they become trapped or attached to the surface of the eye, sometimes under the eyelid.

In general these foreign bodies are blown or fall onto the eye, sometimes they are quick and easy to remove, other times they just seem to want to cause as much difficulty and accompanying pain as possible.

Foreign bodies lying on the eye surface very rarely result in a serious or sight threatening condition.

Action to Take

There are do’s and do nots when dealing with superficial foreign bodies. Of course if you happen to be near a doctors surgery or hospital a qualified nurse will have to hand all the necessary aids to painlessly remove the offending particle. The same applies to the local optician and in many countries the pharmacy or chemists can sort the problem.

But being practical or not wanting to cause a fuss what is the best way to remove the lash, or grit or whatever on your own?

The first objective is to be able to see the foreign body. It may be stuck under an eyelid or in the depths of a corner.

• Wash your hands thoroughly.
• Lie the thumb and forefinger on the upper and lower eyelids and very gently lift and close the lids several times, nine times out of ten this will allow any particle stuck under a lid to loosen and be easily seen on the visible eye surface.

More often than not anything in either corner of the eye will also become easier to locate. Now comes the difficult part,.

• A mirror is a must and do not be tempted to use any object that is the remotest bit solid, even a cotton bud must be used with extreme care. I normally use the corner of a clean handkerchief to pick off the foreign body unless I can rinse it out with clean warm water to start with, fine if I am at home but I don’t carry an eye bath around with me! Best of all is a reliable friend with a steady hand – no problem.

Never, never, take chances with the safety of your eyes. They are arguably your most valuable asset and deserve the very best of attention so if in doubt seek qualified advice, better to see than be sorry.

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