Eye Care, Eye Exercises And Eye Check-ups Lead To Clear Vision Lifelong
March 18, 2008
Eyesight is taken for granted. Only when eyes are strained, we rub them and pretend the tiredness will go away. But this is not the right approach.
Eye care is essential throughout our lives not because we don’t want to wear spectacles but it helps us maintain a clear vision at old age as well. People suffer from various eye problems due to neglect, unhealthy diet and genes. Some common eye related problems are
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Presbyopia (middle-age sight/reading glasses)
- Astigmatism
- Poor night vision
- Strabismus (crossed eye)
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Photo sensitivity (sensitivity to light)
- Eyestrain, headache and burning eyes,
Eyes are subjected daily to pollution, extreme sunlight, bright lights, glare from monitor screen, television and hours of reading. We only decide to give the eyes rest when we sleep.
10 Basic Eye Care Tips:
1) Splash eyes with water after you get home. This is the best way to cleanse the eyes naturally. There are drops available too which help to remove the grit but use them only after consulting with a good optician or ophthalmologist.
2) Make sure you read in correct lighting without putting any strain. There should be no shadow on the book you are reading.
3) The print of the book should be legible. The size of the fonts should be large enough so that you are not forced to squint to read it.
4) Watch TV in a well-lit room.
5) Wear sunglasses so that they shield eyes from the bright sun’s glare and also protect the eyes from dust.
6) Those wearing contact lens should not wear them while sleeping. Use the solution provided with care to store the lens.
7) Avoid wearing cosmetic lens (fake colored lens) which is worn as fashion accessory.
8) Eye makeup like eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara should be used only of known brands. The products case should be shut lightly after use and should be disposed within a year of use. These are usually breeding grounds for bacteria which cause eye infection.
9) Eye makeup should be removed before bedtime. Use a well known product to remove eye makeup.
10) Eat a well-balanced diet with contains fresh fruits and vegetables like papaya, oranges, carrots. These contain vitamin A, beta carotene and essential minerals which are good for vision. This is especially for today’s teenagers who aim for a waive thin physique without understanding about its consequences on the overall wellbeing.
Eye Exercises:
There are many simple eye exercises given by specialists but some of the easiest ones which can be done by all without any side-effects are:
1) Look away from your computer screen, television and stare outside the window. A change of scenery really helps to relax the eyes.
2) Another exercise is to close the eyes tightly as much as possible. This helps the eye muscles to contract. Hold this for few seconds and release. Blink the eyes few times.
Eye Check-up:
According to Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, a clinical correspondent for American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) said “Many eye diseases progress without any warning signs. Gradual changes in vision can affect a person’s ability to function independently and have confidence in their abilities. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. That is why nothing replaces a comprehensive baseline eye exam. People of any age who have symptoms of eye disease due to family history, diabetes or at high blood pressure should consult their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked.
It is just due to sheer laziness that people tend to overlook their eye care regime. Hope these tips have helped you to realize and understand the importance eye care, eye exercises and the need to get regular eye check-ups.
©Nayna, 2007-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Legends Of Lord Ganesh Part 7
March 13, 2008
We continue in our mission to provide various stories that has been forwarded to us through centuries by word of mouth and through numerous books. We hope that you have enjoyed reading six legends already posted in our blog last year. The following story is about Krodhasura and how Lord Ganesh teaches him a lesson that we will never forget.
Lord Ganesh’s Lambodara incarnation is Satya Swaroop (An embodiment of himself) representing Shakti Brahma (Cosmic Energy Personified) and His vehicle is the mouse. Lord Vishnu had taken the form of an attractive woman named Mohini (This form was taken during the churning of the ocean to procure ambrosia.) This enchanting appearance mesmerized Lord Shiva. When Lord Vishnu transformed to his usual self, giving up the form of the woman, the yearning mind was distressed. At that moment, these feelings of lust and desire took the form of a dark-skinned demon with copper-coloured eyes.
This demon went to Shukracharya and said, “O Master, please accept me as a disciple and kindly give me a name.”
The teacher contemplated for a while and decided to name his new promising student as Krodhasura. The mentor groomed him well, imbibing in him all the essential knowledge. Then he got Krodhasura married to Shambharasura’s beautiful daughter named Pritikay.
One day, Krodhasura went to his teacher with joined hands and said, “With your permission, I would like to conquer and rule the entire cosmos. Please initiate me with a mantra which will enhance my success.”
Shukrarcharya was proud of his disciple’s request and gave him the Surya Mantra. Krodhasura bowed before him and set off to the forest. There, he stood on one leg and reiterated the mantra. The devoted demon was untouched by the changes of the weather and continued his penance through the intense summer, heavy monsoon and freezing winter. He constantly chanted the mantra without flinching inspite of his bodily pain.Thousand years of hard-core penance, finally touched Surya Dev’s heart and he manifested before him. Krodhasura prostrated with sincere devotion.
Seeing the Sun god pleased, he said, “O God, I want to be immortal to conquer and control the entire universe. Please grant me this boon so that I am always victorious and remain undefeated in all my battles.”
“And so it shall be,” said Surya Dev and vanished.
Krodhasura returned home and visited his Guru to pay his respects. Shukracharya was proud of his disciple and coronated him as the ruler of Avashpuri. Few days later, he informed all the demons that he wanted to conquer the entire universe and Brahman (Cosmic system). All his subjects were very pleased and excited with their king’s plans and made preparations to set forth for this victorious journey.The demon king easily captured earth. Next, he proceeded to Amravati (Abode of Lord Indra). The gods fled and in this way he had heaven under his control. Next, he spread his dominance in Vaikuntha Lok (Abode of Lord Vishnu), Mount Kailash (Abode of Lord Shiva) and established his mighty kingdom. The power hungry Krodhasura also conquered the palace of Surya Dev, Surya Lok. The Sun god had no choice but to surrender as he was the one who had bestowed him with this boon.
The gods and the sages were deeply affected by this catastrophe. They felt helpless and prayed to Lord Ganesh. Our Lord was pleased with their collective prayers and manifested before them.
“Gods and sages do not despair. I will destroy his pride,” said Lord Lambodara.
There was an intense battle between Krodhasura and Lord Lambodara. The gods too joined in to destroy the demonic army. Slowly, one by one the valiant fighters of the demon king started collapsing on the battlefield. Witnessing this condition of his brave soldiers, Krodhasura fell at the feet of our Lord and asked for His forgiveness.Kind-hearted Lord Lambodara forgave him.
With His divine touch, the demon king turned into a sincere devotee and led a devotional and peaceful life in the nether world. The gods were ecstatic and sang the praises of Lord Lambodara.
©Nayna, 2007-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Holi, The Festival Of Colors-Learn How To Manage Your Hair And Skin On This Day
March 9, 2008
Holi is few weeks away and this is a good time to plan how to celebrate it. The best way to spend this day is to be a part of it and that means getting bombarded with all the colors of the rainbow. It is enjoyable when you are celebrating it with your friends, family, good music and a wide spread of sweets and savories.
The following day, the world gets to know how you spent your Holi. Your complexion has the hues of various colors, your hair and nails are dry and brittle. The problem is Holi colors are made of various combinations of chemicals which are detrimental to the skin. Gone are days when Gulal (Red color of the Holi powder) was made only with crushed rose petals. These are only available in Vrindavan, Mathura, Nathdwara where devotees play Holi with Lord Krishna using only the purest form of gulal. But in most metropolitan cities getting such original gulal is impossible.
Here are some easy ways in which your skin and hair can be kept safe. It is not a guarantee because it is impossible to know which color contains what type of toxic chemicals and how they will react with your skin type.
1) Maintain a healthy, daily skincare regime which includes cleansing, toning and moisturizing. This makes the skin supple and soft. Read “Tips To Flaunt A Fresh Glowing Skin”
2) On the day of Holi, mix your sun block with a layer of cream not moisturizer. The cream should be thick so that it provides a coating and doesn’t allow too much penetration of the toxic colors.
3) Apply the mixture of sun block and cream evenly and gently massage it on your face, neck, arms, feet depending on which parts of the body will be exposed to the color.
4) Hair should be oiled well. Oil acts as a barrier and doesn’t make the hair dry and brittle. It doesn’t allow the color particles to settle on your follicles and scalp.
5) You can also protect your hair wearing a bandana. It would make you look a little stylish and protect your scalp.
6) Make sure that you shampoo your hair immediately after you finished playing Holi and use a good moisturizing conditioner. This will help to manage your hair again.
7) Nail care is a must during Holi as the color sediments remain in the cuticle for long periods of time. Make sure that your nails are neatly trimmed. Apply a coat of polish or a liquid cuticle guard with calcium and minerals.
8) After you finish playing with colors. Remove the polish, soak your nails in warm water, clean underneath the nails with a cuticle brush and moisturize them with a good cuticle cream.
Happy Holi !!
©Nayna, 2007-2008. All Rights Reserved.
