How to Naturally Protect Your Eyes Against Computer Related Eye Strain

Do you spend most of your day staring at a computer monitor? If so, you may already be familiar with the effects of computer eye strain. The headaches, watery eyes, light sensitivity, and burning can make the job of making a living even more difficult than it already is. Fortunately, there may be a natural way to protect your eyes when you stare at a computer monitor all day. A new study suggests that supplementing with lutein may help to protect your eyes from the irritating effects of monitor glare.

This study which was published in the British Journal of Nutrition, supplemented thirty-seven healthy volunteers with lutein for a three month period. One group received low dose lutein supplements (6 mg/day), while a second received double the dose. (12 mg/day).  A third group served as the control group. At the end of the twelve week period, contrast sensitivity, a measure of visual health, was improved in the groups receiving the lutein, but not in the control group.

This is encouraging news if you need to protect your eyes from the effects of chronic computer usage. This isn’t the first time that lutein has been in the spotlight for promoting visual health. This natural carotenoid found in some green leafy vegetables has been the focus of a variety of studies relating to vision. Several studies had shown it may reduce the risk of blindness due to macular degeneration of the eye which is the most common cause of blindness in the older population. Studies have also shown that lutein may protect the eyes from cataracts.

Although this study used lutein supplements, you can protect your eyes by getting high quantities of lutein in your diet. Lutein is abundant in green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, kale, turnip greens, spinach, and broccoli. If you’re not able to get a high quantity of green leafy vegetables in your diet, there supplements available. Although there is evidence that lutein may beneficial for eye health, more studies are needed before supplementation could be recommended routinely. Although it looks promising, larger scale trials are needed to definitively confirm its role in protecting the eyes from damage.

Until then, the best approach may be to increase your intake of green leafy vegetables so you’re getting natural sources of lutein as well as the other benefits that a diet rich in vegetables has to offer. This is a simple and safe way to protect your eyes from damage as well as the rest of your body. Next time you’re at your grocery store, don’t forget to pick up some leafy produce.