The 20/20/20 Rule: Take time to stretch your eyes!

How many of these have you done in the last 24 hours:  Check email?  Respond to text messages?  Binge on Netflix?  Do some homework? Participate in a Call of Duty marathon?  Ordered dinner through your favorite app?  Read a good book? Did a little online shopping? Play a game on your tablet?  Fact checked on your smartphone?  Colored in a coloring book?   

We give our eyes a workout every single day and, as with any workout, we need to make sure we get in the habit of stretching our eyes to help prevent strain, injury, headaches, and fatigue.   While looking at electronics, reading, or anytime you intently focus your eyes you should be practicing the 20/20/20 rule.  

Every 20 minutes, take a break for 20 seconds, and look at something that is 20 feet away.  

It’s an eye stretch - you’re stretching your vision away from your close intent focus, it gives your eyes a break, helps prevent eye strain, and helps you be more alert overall.    We recommend setting a timer when you know you’re going to be working intently on something as a good reminder to stop, look away for 20 seconds, and rest those eyes.   The 20/20/20 rule is an easy small thing you can do to give you more pep and help save your vision from long term wear and tear.