Soothing Dry, Scratchy Eyes

Your ancestors roamed the Great Plains with their sight set on the horizon. Or at least they didn't have cubicle walls or big buildings blocking their views. You probably spend your days staring at a computer screen, which can leave eyes red, fatigued, and scratchy hours before it's time to pack up. Fortunately, it's easy to keep your peepers as fresh as just-picked corn.

On your way to work: Do the movie-star thing. Put on a big pair of knockout shades -- they'll heighten your wow factor and prevent tears from evaporating. You need those tears even on the happiest days: Any decrease in their presence ups dryness.

At lunch: Eat more omega-3 fats (from salmon, walnuts, avocados, DHA supplements, and omega-3 eggs) than omega-6 or saturated fats (from beef, white bread, and standard eggs). This shift in balance may decrease inflammation in the tear glands and other parts of the eye -- a likely driver of dryness. And omega-3s fight dry macular degeneration, the forerunner to the leading cause of blindness.

At your desk: Adjust your computer screen so your eyes look slightly down at it. That way, the opening between your lids stays small, which reduces your dry-eye odds. And be aware that your eyes widen and you blink less frequently when you're absorbed in your work, so make a conscious effort to blink. Also, check out what the rest of the staff is gossiping about every 2 hours. Walking around for a 10-minute break from your computer can be enough to stave off uncomfortable eyes (and might get you some valuable info).