Career Advice Columnists

Roll your eyes

Have you ever noticed how many hours you have spent on staring at computer monitor or phone? I am sure it is part of your daily life, and the more you stare at the monitors, the more you are straining your eyes.

When we breathe, we may not realize how important each and every breath means to us. When we see, we may not realize how precious and lucky we are to be able to see the world. Eyes are one of the most important parts of our body. We shall never take our vision for granted and strain our eyes all the time. Staring at monitor for long hours could lead to blurred vision, double vision, dry red eyes, eye irritation, headaches or neck / back pain. If you have experienced some of the above symptoms, most probably you are having computer vision syndrome (CVS). CVS is not a specific illness or problem, it is a term for general eyestrain and discomfort due to long-time usage of computer. Continuously working in front of computer requires focus at the monitor, at times you might shift your gaze at documents and back to the monitor, and it is very tiring for your eyes as they need to accommodate to different level of light and objects. It is also very easy concept for us to understand that continuous repetition of action could cause injuries or over-stress to our body, same for our eyes.

If you ignore the symptoms, it will definitely affect your vision as well as your work performance. Therefore, start loving your eyes.

Protecting your eyes starts with the food on your plate. Eating green leafy vegetables, eggs, nuts, salmon, oily fish, non-meat protein sources, oranges and other citrus fruits etc., these food provide nutrition to our eyes and brain.

There are also Yoga eye exercises which should be followed every day at least once to keep your eyes healthy and maintain good eye-sight.


Yoga Eye Exercise 1: Rotation

1. Start from centering the vision
2. Look to the right
3. Look Up


4. Look to the left
5. Look down
6. Rest with closed eyes

@ Practice 10 to 15 rounds and go for opposite direction.
@ Can practice for less rounds if you find it tiring at the beginning stage.
@ Practice during morning or evening time, do not practice at work while your eyes are already strained.
@ Can be practiced everyday


Yoga Eye Exercise 2: Opposite angles
1. Take a fist and release your thumbs on both hands.
2. Left hand on your knee and right hand up at an opposite angle.
3. Start by gazing from your right hand, without moving your head, and move your gaze very slowly to the other hand.
4. Travel your gaze back up to the right hand.
5. Repeat for 10 to 15 rounds
6. And rest by closing your eyes.

@ Practice 10 to 15 rounds and go for opposite direction.
@ Can practice for less rounds if you find it tiring at the beginning stage.
@ Practice during morning or evening time, do not practice at work while your eyes are already tired.
@ Can be practiced everyday


Same for the other side.


Yoga Eye Exercise 3: Far to close
1. Make a fist and release your thumb.
2. Stretch your hand straight in front of your face.
3. Fix your gaze at your thumb.
4. Move your thumb slowly towards your nose.
5. Keep staring at your thumb while your thumb is moving close.
6. Move your thumb slowly back to starting point in the same way.

@ Practice 10 to 15 rounds and go for opposite direction.
@ Can practice for less rounds if you find it tiring at the beginning stage.
@ Practice during morning or evening time, do not practice at work while your eyes are already tired.
@ Can be practiced everyday