In today's digital age, prolonged screen time has become an inevitable part of daily life, leading to increased cases of eye strain and discomfort. It is also referred to as digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome and can result in symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches, and neck pain. Hence, to combat these issues, we have listed five simple eye exercises that you must add to your routine that can provide significant relief and improve overall eye health.

The 20-20-20 rule is a simple yet highly effective exercise designed to reduce eye strain from prolonged screen use. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. This exercise helps relax the eye muscles and reduces the fatigue associated with focusing on a screen for extended periods.

- Set a timer or use an app to remind you to take a break every 20 minutes.

- During the break, shift your gaze to an object approximately 20 feet away.

- Focus on the object for at least 20 seconds before returning to your screen.

Blinking is a natural way to moisten the eyes and reduce dryness and irritation. However, people tend to blink less frequently when staring at screens, leading to dry eyes and discomfort. Blinking exercises can help maintain eye moisture and alleviate strain.

- Every 20 minutes, close your eyes completely.

- Keep them closed for a couple of seconds, then open them slowly.

- Blink rapidly a few times to spread the tear film evenly across the eye surface.

Palming is an excellent exercise for relaxing the eyes and reducing stress. It involves using the warmth of your hands to soothe and relax the eye muscles. This exercise is particularly beneficial for relieving digital eye strain and calming the mind.

- Sit comfortably at your desk or in a chair.

- Rub your palms together vigorously to generate warmth.

- Close your eyes and gently place your warm palms over your closed eyes without applying pressure.

- Ensure no light enters your eyes and hold this position for a minute or two.

- Repeat the exercise several times throughout the day.

Eye rolling is a simple exercise that helps improve eye flexibility and reduces tension in the eye muscles. This exercise can be done discreetly at your desk and is an effective way to break the monotony of continuous screen time.

- Sit comfortably and close your eyes.

- Slowly roll your eyes in a circular motion, first clockwise, then counterclockwise.

- Perform this exercise for a few minutes, taking care to keep the movements slow and controlled.

- Open your eyes and blink several times to relax.

Focus-shifting exercises help improve the ability of your eyes to adjust between different distances, which can become challenging after prolonged screen use. This exercise strengthens the eye muscles and enhances focus flexibility.

- Hold a pen or your thumb about six inches from your nose.

- Focus on the pen/thumb for a few seconds.

- Shift your focus to an object approximately 10-20 feet away, holding the focus for a few seconds.

- Alternate between focusing on the pen/thumb and the distant object several times.

- Repeat this exercise multiple times throughout the day to keep your eye muscles active.