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May 2008
Fitness for the eyes
In a blink of an eye
Our eyes, the mirrors of a radiant soul, and features of inner and outer attractiveness, are under a great deal of stress. Even while you sleep, they do not fully rest. And during the day, thousands of visual stimuli compete for our glances. Air pollution, air-conditioning and cigarette smoke additionally stress the conjunctiva. Reason enough to take a close look at what our eyes do – and to also dedicate ourselves to the topic of eye care.
How the eye functions
Six different muscles keep your eyes moving. The iris and lens respond immediately to changing light conditions or a change in viewing direction. They permanently adjust your vision acuity to different distances. At a record speed of 250 milliseconds, the proverbial reflex of the eyelid spurts. And the highest vision achievement goes one step further: 50 to 60% of the cerebral cortex is active in order to process signals from the optical nerve. Furthermore, the brain constantly coordinates information from the eyes along with signals from other senses. That is why a rest for the eyes is also beneficial for the mind.
Improved vision
Pamper your eyes on a routine basis by looking into the distance. This relaxes the lens muscles and means the eye does not have to move as much to adjust. Not only people who work in front of computer monitors should remember to blink. Blinking moistens the eyes and cleanses the cornea. And when no one is looking: Do a big yawn once in a while. This moistens your eyes and relaxes your facial muscles.
Through targeted responses from other senses, such as touch, you give your eyes some relief. Reading and learning are easier when combined with other sensations. Even on the Internet, printing out a page is easier on your eyes than reading text on the computer screen. By the way, you can find the print function for the NIVEA magazine at the end of each page.
Look better
Beautiful eyes are a true eye-catcher. People with relaxed eyes look more radiant, more awake and open. Lightly dabbing your eyes with your fingertips and tapping around the eyes with your knuckles stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles. A massage on the forehead and temple, combined with light pressure on the bridge of the nose, works wonders.
Circuit training the facial muscles also helps the eyes: Raise your eyebrows and simultaneously look up. Then move your eyebrows and look in the opposite direction. Laughing activates more facial muscles than almost any other facial movement. Draw the corners of your mouth upwards and then let them fall again. If you repeat this exercise in front of the mirror a few times, it will soon happen as if on its own.
