An increasing number of people are suffering from eye strain due to long hours of working on a computer or browsing on a smartphone, such as writing becomes blurred in the evening'', a heavy pain in the back’’, and ``it’s hard to keep your eyes open’’. Eye fatigue is not just local fatigue, but can lead to stiff necks, headaches, and general fatigue. Introducing the medical mechanism of a hot eye mask and practical self-care that dramatically resets overworked eyes.
Mechanism of oil layer secretion and blood circulation promotion brought about by steam heat (40℃, 10 minutes)
The ciliary muscles, which control the focus of the eyes, are constantly tense and fatigued by constant staring at a screen. Another thing that cannot be overlooked is the decline in the function of the “meibomian glands” located at the edges of the eyelids. Meibomian glands are sebaceous glands that secrete an oil film that prevents tears from evaporating, but when the oil hardens due to cold or fatigue, the tears dry up, resulting in dry eye. Research in the ophthalmology field also recommends ``warming the eye area with steam heat at approximately 40℃ for 10 to 15 minutes.’’ The heat containing water vapor easily penetrates deep into the skin, melting the hardened oil in the meibomian glands and normalizing the quality of tears, as well as restarting blood flow to the ciliary muscles and relieving tension from the root.
Easy at home! How to make a steamed towel and how to use commercially available eye masks
Heat care can be started immediately with familiar items.
- Superb steamed towel made in the microwave: Wet a face towel with water, wring it out tightly, wrap it in plastic wrap, and heat it at 500-600W for about 30-40 seconds. Place it on the inside of your wrist and let it cool down to a comfortable temperature, then place it on your eyes in a clean plastic bag to make it stay warm longer.
- Commercially available disposable/rechargeable eye masks: During breaks at the office or before going to bed, disposable eye masks that generate heat just by opening them or USB rechargeable eye masks are convenient. If you choose a fragrance that you like, such as lavender, your parasympathetic nervous system will be more dominant.
Clear your vision by doing eyeball exercises and pressing pressure points (sun and bamboo) right after warming up your eyes.
Once your eye area has warmed up and blood circulation has improved, combine it with some simple self-care.
Use your thumb to press up on the sanchiku'' located on the inside of your eyebrows for 5 seconds, then gently massage the sunchiku’’ at your temple in a circular motion with your fingertips. If you finish by stretching your eyeballs by slowly moving them up, down, left and right, your focus adjustment function will be reset and you will experience clearer vision.