Been staring at your computer all day? Especially as we age, long periods of intense visual concentration can leave us with tired, bleary, bloodshot eyes and acute blurry vision. This excess of the fire element is generally considered an imbalance of pitta dosha. You can correct this with a balancing Ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurvedic Treatments for Eye Fatigue

Here are some tips that can help relax and restore your eyes.

• You can do an ayurvedic treatment called Netra. Get two eye cups from your local pharmacy (for use in rinsing the eyes). They look a little like egg cups, except they fit right over your eye sockets. Sterilize them by soaking in rubbing alcohol or boiling in water. Then fill half full with warm (body temperature) ghee (clarified butter). Place one cup over one eye and lie down on your back for a few minutes so that your eye is completely submerged in the liquid ghee. Have a towel handy to wipe up any drips. Open your eye, and so some gentle eye exercises for a minute or so: look as far left as you can, then right, then up, then down, then cross your eyes, etc. Having the ghee in your eye doesn’t hurt or sting, but it does make your eye water profusely. This is an effective way to clean out debris, cool blood shot eyes, and re-lubricate dry eyes. When finished, sit up, remove the eye cup, and relax for a few minutes before repeating with the other eye.

• If doing a Netra seems too complicated or over-the-top, roll up a few ice cubes into a damp washcloth and place it over your eyes for five minutes. Relax with your eyes closed.
• Get some natural light in your eyes. Before going to bed at night, sit in a dark room with a lit candle a couple feet in front of you at approximately eye level. Meditate while gazing at the flame for ten minutes or more. You can also do a few minutes of sun-gazing just after sun-rise, and/or just before sunset (within thirty minutes of each) when the sun’s rays won’t cause any harm. (Don’t stare at the sun if it’s uncomfortable at all – your body will let you know if you’ve missed your window of opportunity and the sun is too high in the sky.)
• Regularly attend a “restorative” yoga class at your local yoga studio. This is not a workout class but rather a series of postures that put the body in positions that are optimal for healing. Using lots of props that allow muscles to relax, a restorative class maximizes blood flow to the internal organs of the torso and head. If you are a raging Pitta (a.k.a. Type A personality) it will go against your grain to pay money to lie around and relax for an hour, but you need to find a way to do it anyway. Go twice a month at least – preferably once a week.
• Of course, there’s always meditation. Every day find time to sit quietly. Close your eyes and relax for ten minutes or more, mentally watching your breath move in and out of your body. Notice any tension in the body and see if you can let it go – and for the purpose of healing the eyes, make sure to be aware of your face. Is your jaw clenched? Your cheeks? Mouth? Eyes? Let everything relax. Regular meditation is always indicated, no matter what bodily conditions you may be experiencing.