Our eyes work throughout the day tirelessly, yet they are one of the most neglected part of our body.
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Too much UV radiation from the sun is a real threat to vision. It can damage the eye's surface tissues, the cornea, and the lens.
Cataracts and eye cancers can eventually form from too much UV exposure. Luckily, wearing 100% UV or UV400 protection sunglasses is an effective way to protect your eyes while enjoying the outdoors.
There are other factors that can damage your eyes that may include eyeball tattooing, staring directly at the sun without protection, playing sports and games without proper safety gear, swimming in contact lenses, and sleeping in contact lenses, among others.
Our eyes work throughout the day tirelessly, yet they are one of the most neglected part of our body. With increasing screen time, inadequate sleep patterns, and unhealthy lifestyles can strain eyes and cause vision-related problems. According to Ayurveda, eye health is closely associated with overall well-being, digestion, sleep, and daily lifestyle habits.
Certain everyday habits may gradually deteriorate eye health and lead to discomfort, dryness, and fatigue. Using digital devices or reading in dim lighting may compel the eyes to work harder thus causing strain and fatigue. Maintaining proper lighting while working, studying, or reding can alleviate unnecessary stress on the eyes.
Diet also plays key role in maintaining healthy vision. A deficiency of nutrition rich food may impact eyes over time. Foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc may support healthy vision.
According to a report featured in American Academy of Ophthalmology, “Too much UV radiation from the sun is a real threat to vision. It can damage the eye's surface tissues, the cornea, and the lens. Cataracts and eye cancers can eventually form from too much UV exposure. Luckily, wearing 100% UV or UV400 protection sunglasses is an effective way to protect your eyes while enjoying the outdoors.” 1
There are other factors that can damage your eyes that may include eyeball tattooing, staring directly at the sun without protection, playing sports and games without proper safety gear, swimming in contact lenses, and sleeping in contact lenses, among others.
Recently, Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda took to her Instagram account and focused on two habits that may be harming your eyes. She said, “2 mistakes that are damaging your eyes and you need to stop these habits right away.” She said, “2 mistakes that are damaging your eyes, and you need to stop these habits right away." 2
1. Washing Your Hair With Hot Water: The Ayurveda expert said the first habit that may be harming your eyes is washing your hair with hot water.
She said, washing hair with hot water can be “tempting during the winters, but when you wash your hair with hot water, you are heating up all the sensitive nerves in your head region and your optical nerves are especially heat sensitive. It damages and weaken your eyesight. It is always advisable to use either cold water during the summers or lukewarm water during winters to wash your hair.”
2. Staring At The Computer Screen For Too Long: Dimple said the second habit that may be quietly impacting your eye health is scrolling the screen for too long without any break.
She said, “You are using your short-range optical nerves. The optical nerves are anywhere between 1 to 30 mm behind the eyes. You need to look away from your computer screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at something that is 20 ft away. It is called the 20-20-20 rule. This helps in exercising your long-range optical nerves and thus preventing any eye damage.”
The Ayurveda expert revealed some useful and beneficial vision care tips that you can practice to improve your eye health.
Hold some water in your mouth and splash some cold water on your eyes. This helps in releasing all the heat in your mouth and you can spit it out. This is the first thing you must do every morning.
You can also wash your eyes with tender coconut water. Apply cucumber juice and organic rose water. This helps in reducing heat in your eyes. Remember, your eyes are the seat of the of pitta, pitta is the fire element in the body and this usually is experienced in the eyes in the form of dullness, redness, dark circles, and stress.
You can also boil triphala in water, strain it well, and splash it in your eyes. This helps in reducing the eye heat and also killing any kind of unhealthy bacteria. We also have an Ayurvedic eyedrop called Elaneer Kuzhambu, which is basically herbs cooked in tender coconut water. This is also very good for the eyes.
You can increase intake of foods like almonds (5 to 9 almonds) per day, carrots, and carrot juice in your diet. These two foods are excellent for eye health as they are good source of vitamin A, vitamin E which help in improving your eye sight.
You can also use an Ayurvedic organic kajal which is made with almond oil. This helps in cooling the eyes down and improving your eyesight.
FAQs
What daily habits can damage eye health according to Ayurveda?
Ayurveda highlights two main damaging habits: washing hair with hot water, which heats sensitive optical nerves weakening eyesight, and staring at computer screens for extended periods without breaks, straining the short-range optical nerves. Additionally, excessive UV exposure, improper use of contact lenses, and lack of protective gear during activities can harm eyes.
How does excessive screen time affect eyesight and what is the recommended remedy?
Prolonged screen time overworks short-range optical nerves, causing eye strain and fatigue. The 20-20-20 rule is recommended: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to exercise long-range optical nerves, reduce strain, and prevent damage.
Can poor sleep or lifestyle factors impact eye health?
Yes, inadequate sleep and unhealthy lifestyles can contribute to eye strain, dryness, and fatigue. Ayurveda associates eye health with overall well-being, including proper digestion and sleep. Balanced lifestyle habits support healthy eyes and reduce the risk of vision problems.
What Ayurvedic remedies can help improve and protect eye health?
Ayurvedic practices include splashing cold water on the eyes after holding water in the mouth, washing eyes with tender coconut water, applying cucumber juice and organic rose water, using herbal triphala water or Elaneer Kuzhambu eyedrops, consuming vitamin A and E-rich foods like almonds and carrots, and applying organic almond oil-based kajal to cool and improve eyesight.
How can wearing sunglasses help protect eyes from UV damage?
Wearing sunglasses with 100% UV or UV400 protection shields eyes from harmful UV radiation that can damage the cornea, lens, and surface tissues. This protection reduces risks of cataracts, eye cancers, and other UV-induced vision problems, especially during prolonged outdoor exposure.
American Academy of Ophthalmology|20 Worst Things for Your Eyes
Ayurveda expert Dimple Jangda via Instagram|2 habits that may be harming your eyes
Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health or treatment options.
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