8 tips on preserving your eyesight
In her latest column, SaWachka from our Russian community provides some helpful tips on maintaining good eye sight - valuable information for us multi-tabling robots!
Author: sawachka our Miss Russian Community finalist.
Our two-week vacation in Turkey was a success! Oh what a success, the all-inclusive hotel, the hot sun and the water...lots of water. But, alas, my holiday is over now, and when we returned home it was time to get back on the grind. For a whole month now my boyfriend has replaced me with a computer, to catch up with his poker.
However, instead of hitting box office totals, my favourite poker player got astigmatism and now needs to wear glasses - not so good for EV.
There is a valuable lesson to be learned from this. Our eyes are the instruments through which we not only see the world around us, but also make money.
Everyone knows that vision is easier to preserve than it is to recover, but as long as we aren't affected by this problem, we don't attach importance to it - and for good reason.
In this article, I've gathered 8 tips on how to save your vision. I emphasise the word "save" because vision is a gift that must be cared for. If you have existing problems you should consult a specialist.
Rest
I'll start with the most relevant counsel for grinders. Regardless of the discipline, players playing 10 hours a day will suffer from burning, redness and fatigue of the eye.
All this can be avoided though, as long as you take a rest and break up your sessions. By rest, I mean darkness.
To create complete darkness, just make or buy a simple bandage made from dense fabric and cover your eyes. Let them rest for 4-5 minutes.
An alternative could be the exercise "palming" which is very simple.
Straighten your arm and use the palm of your hand to shield your eye from the light. During the exercise your eyes must be closed and your palms relaxed, so there is no pressure created on your eyes. Just relax and picture a tranquil landscape, then after a few minutes open your eyes.
Food
Proper nutrition is vital to the health of any human being. Here are a few examples of foods proven to have a positive impact on your eyes and vision:
Blueberries
Blueberries significantly increase visual activity, help to reduce fatigue from prolonged periods in front of a computer screen and even help prevent eye diseases.
Nuts
Nuts have anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which has a positive impact on the health of your eyes. To see this impact in action, try eating a small cup of nuts every couple of weeks.
Products containing Lutein
Lutein is very useful for the eyes and protects them from UV light. It's found only in plants, so you'll need to fill your diet with leafy green vegetables and plenty of fruit to benefit.
Of course, this is only the tip of the iceberg where food is concerned, but you have to start somewhere!
Gymnastics for the eyes
Make it a rule to do eye gymnastics for at least 15 minutes a day, however ridiculous it may sound. I don't think it's necessary to explain the details of the exercises in this article, because on the internet you can find a good selection and choose one that suits you.
Relaxation
Install "f.lux" - a special program that will change the colour of your screen according to the time of day - on your computer.
I personally use this program and no matter how long I'm on my laptop for, my eyes never feel tired or under any strain. Initially it might be a bit unusual, but after a while you'll wonder how you ever functioned without it.
Workplace
Most computer users pay little attention to their workplace, but the average computer user isn't a poker player. We carefully take everything into account, the choice of monitor, mice, keyboards etc. But sometimes we forget about the organisation of all these things.
There are a few simple things that you should do with your workplace to minimise the burden on your eyes.
Firstly, when you're working at the computer the monitor should be placed slightly below eye level. This will reduce the evaporation of the liquid in the eye, reducing the likelihood of dry eye syndrome.
Second, make sure you aren't exposed to sunlight shining in your eyes through a window. Just use blinds or thick curtains to shut out the direct light.
Third, place the monitor and keyboard a reasonable distance away from your head - the gap should be at least 50-60 centimeters.
It's really easy to comply to these recommendations and the profit you'll earn health wise is well worth the effort!
Protection from the sun
Protect your eyes from bright sunlight using good sunglasses, especially when you're on holiday!
Large areas of water powerfully reflect the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Don't buy budget sunglasses, because they won't shield you properly and they may actually cause you physical pain.
Visually friendly HUDs
HUD pop-ups are of great importance to all poker players. It's very important that they contain the correct information, but also that it is visually pleasing. They should be soaked in neutral colours and the statistics should be clear every time you look at them, so that your eyes aren't suffering any discomfort trying to stare at fuzzy images.
If you're unsure about how to make your own pop-up, you should head to our forum to seek some advice.
Special glasses for computer work
There are glasses out there specifically designed to help people sat at computers for long periods to work without discomfort.
They won't repair damaged vision, but they'll make your time spent in front of a monitor a whole lot easier.
GUNNAR Optiks, a Californian company, is a highly recommended brand among poker players. I used them throughout my time studying, and can tell you that you won't regret taking a chance on buying a pair.
Follow these simple tips and your vision won't let you down! Our vision, along with our overall health, is the most important possession that we have - we must take care of it!
