Our eyes are our window to the world. It is through this pair that we see beauty and it is just proper to take good care of them.
As we age, so do our eyes. Common changes in your vision as you age include:

• Reduced sensitivity to light. You might notice that you need brighter lighting near your favorite reading chair or at your workstation.
• Decreased visual acuity (sharpness). Colors appear dim, and glare forms when light shines directly at you. This might cause you to avoid night driving.
• Difficulty reading small print. The lens in your eye becomes less elastic and loses its ability to focus — a condition called presbyopia. You might need reading glasses or a magnifying glass to read small print.

Besides these changes to your eyes, aging makes you more prone to developing eye diseases that could impair your vision. While we cannot stop this symptom that comes with age, the good news is we can prevent early onset of vision problems through proper eye care.

Proper eye care
When we are still young or are still seeing clearly, it's easy to overlook routine eye care — but it is important to care for our eyes even at an early stage. Regular eye exams give your eye care professional a chance to help you correct or adapt to vision changes, as well as detect eye problems at the earliest stage.
It's also important to think about common vision problems as you age, from difficulty reading small print to cataracts and glaucoma. Knowing what's normal — and what's not — can help you promote the best eye care.

Eyestrain
Eyestrain occurs when your eyes get tired from intense use, such as driving a car for extended periods, reading or working at a computer.
Although eyestrain can be annoying, it usually isn't serious and goes away once you rest your eyes. In some cases, signs and symptoms of eyestrain can indicate an underlying eye condition that needs treatment. Although you may not be able to change the nature of your job or all the factors that can cause eyestrain, you can take steps to reduce eyestrain.

When to see a doctor
If home treatments don't work to relieve your eyestrain symptoms, see your eye doctor. See your doctor if you have ongoing symptoms that include:

• Eye discomfort
• A noticeable change in vision
• Double vision
• Headache

Common causes of eyestrain

• Extended use of a computer or video monitor
• Reading for extended periods
• Other activities involving extended periods of intense focus and concentration, such as using a microscope or driving a vehicle
• Exposure to bright light or glare
• Straining to see in very dim light

Using a computer for long periods is one of the most common causes of eyestrain. This type of eyestrain is called computer vision syndrome. In some cases, an underlying eye problem such as eye muscle imbalance or uncorrected vision can cause or worsen computer eyestrain.

Treatments and drugs
Generally, treatment for eyestrain consists of making changes in your work habits or your environment.

• In some cases, eyestrain may improve if you get treatment for another, underlying eye condition.
• For some people, wearing glasses that are prescribed for specific activities, such as using a computer or reading, may help reduce eyestrain.
• Your doctor may suggest that you do regular eye exercises to help your eyes focus at different distances.

Lifestyle and home remedies
A few simple adjustments in how you read, work or surf the Internet can give your eyes a much-needed rest. Consider these simple tips to reduce eyestrain.

When doing close-up work, make sure you have light that's well directed on what you're doing. Use a brighter light source if you need one, especially if you have reduced vision from an eye condition such as macular degeneration. When reading, try to position the light source behind you and direct the light onto your page. If you're reading at a desk, use a shaded light positioned in front of you. The shade will keep light from shining directly into your eyes. When watching television, keeping the room softly lit may be more comfortable than having a high contrast between the TV screen and the surrounding environment.

Tips for computer work
Computer use is a common cause of eyestrain. If you work at a desk and use a computer, take some of the strain off your eyes by making sure your work space is set up in an appropriate and eye-friendly way.

• Adjust your monitor. Position your monitor directly in front of you at least 20 inches (51 centimeters) from your eyes. Some research suggests that a distance of 35 to 40 inches (89 to 102 centimeters) may be even more beneficial. If you need to get close to read small type, consider increasing the font size. Keep the top of your screen at eye level or below so that you look down slightly at your work. And if you wear bifocals, you may have a tendency to tilt your head backward so that you can see through the lower portion of your glasses. To adjust for this, consider lowering your monitor a few inches or buying glasses designed for computer work. Finally, adjust the contrast and brightness on the monitor to a level that's comfortable for you, making sure the letters on the screen are easy to read.
• Check the lighting and reduce glare. Bright lighting and too much glare can make it difficult to see objects on your screen and strain your eyes. To check glare, sit at your computer with the monitor off. This allows you to see the reflected light and images. Note any intense glare. The worst problems are generally from sources above or behind you, including fluorescent lighting and sunlight.
• Keep your monitor clean. Wipe the dust from your computer screen regularly. Dust on the screen cuts down on contrast and may contribute to glare and reflection problems.
• Position your keyboard properly. Place your keyboard directly in front of your monitor. If you place it at an angle or to the side, your eyes have to focus at different distances from the screen, a tiring activity.
• Keep reference materials nearby. Place reading and reference material on a document holder beside your monitor and at the same level, angle and distance from your eyes as the monitor is from your eyes.

Some practical tips on eye care

• Take eye breaks. Throughout the day, give your eyes a break by forcing them to focus on something other than on your computer screen. A good rule of thumb is to follow the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take your eyes off your computer and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Do other work, such as phone calls or filing, during this time. Try to stand up and move around at least once every hour or so. If possible, lean back and close your eyes for a few moments.
• Blink often to refresh your eyes. Because many people blink less than normal when working at a computer, dry eyes can result from prolonged computer use. Blinking produces tears that moisten and lubricate your eyes. Make a conscious effort to blink more often.
• Consider using artificial teardrops. Over-the-counter artificial tears can help prevent and relieve dry eyes that result from prolonged sessions at the computer. Your doctor can suggest which drops might be best for you. Lubricating drops that don't contain preservatives can be used as often as you need. If the drops you're using contain preservatives, don't use them more than four times a day. Avoid eyedrops with a redness remover, as these may worsen dry eye symptoms.
• Improve the air quality in your workspace. Simple changes that may help prevent dry eyes include using a humidifier, turning down the thermostat and avoiding smoke.
• Practice relaxation. Ease muscle tension with this relaxation exercise: Place your elbows on your desk, palms facing up. Let your weight fall forward and your head fall into your hands. Position your head so that your eyebrows rest on the base of your palms, with your fingers extended toward your forehead. Close your eyes and take a deep breath through your nose; hold it for four seconds then exhale. Continue this deep breathing for 15 to 30 seconds. Perform this simple exercise several times a day.
• Massage your eyelids and muscles over your brow, temple and upper cheek once or twice daily. This maneuver can be performed with your bare hands and fingers or can be done using a warm towel over closed eyes. Gently massage your upper eyelid against your brow bone for about 10 seconds. Follow by massaging your lower eyelid against the lower bone for 10 seconds. This process can stimulate your tear glands, which may help prevent dry eyes. Massaging the muscles in the area around your eye (orbit) also helps relax those muscles, which may reduce some of the symptoms of eyestrain.
• Get appropriate eyewear. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure the correction is right for computer work. Most lenses are fitted for reading print and may not be optimal for computer work. Glasses or contact lenses designed specifically for computer work may be a worthwhile investment.

Source: Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 2005 - All under http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/