Many people spend a large amount of time staring at screens every day, which can seriously strain the eyes, an associate professor of nursing said yesterday.
National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences School of Nursing associate professor Hsu Shu-chen (徐淑貞) said watching a ball game or binge-watching a series can cause eye strain.
Long rides or flights can strain the eyes even more, as factors such as bumpy and shaky cabins or poor lighting might exhaust the eyes and increase the risk of developing myopia (nearsightedness), she said.
Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei Times
A brightness level of 700 to 1000 lumens is considered ideal for reading or looking at screens, and people should sit up straight and ensure that the book or screen is about 35cm from their eyes, Hsu said.
Adults and children should take regular breaks from screens, she said, adding that for every 20 minutes of screen time, people should try to look at something far for at least 20 seconds.
The easiest way to rest your eyes is to close them, or leave the screen and go for a walk, stretch, drink water or go to the restroom, she said.
To relieve eye strain, people should consume foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, D and E, and zinc to help them produce tears, improve optic nerves, cornea and sclera health, protect the retina’s photoreceptor cells, and avoid macular degeneration, she said.
These foods include dark green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, plant oil, milk, eggs and oysters, she added.
Aside from food consumption, people can apply a warm towel to their eyes for about five to 10 minutes before going to sleep to help relieve eye strain, Hsu said, adding that people can also rub their hands together and place them over their closed eyes for the same effect.
People can also use their fingertips to massage the acupuncture points in the inner part of their orbital bone and below the eye sockets, or the temples, which would stimulate their nerves, improve blood circulation and relieve strain, she said.
They should not directly put pressure on their eyeballs, she added.
Taking a break from looking at a screen and going outdoors is also a good method to relieve eye strain, Hsu said.
Taking a walk can also help relax the mind and allow the eyes to look farther, and relax eye muscles, she added.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man