Read the following instructions to take care of your eyes:


1. When writing, reading or sewing, too strong a light is as great an evil as one too dim.



2. Artificial light (lamplight) should never fall on the face – it should fall upon the work (book, cloth etc.) It should be clear, steady, soft and white. It should come from the left side.



3. Sunlight is the best light for the eyes. It should not fall directly upon the work as too bright illumination on the work is undesirable. The glare of this light affects the eyes. If you study in sunlight you should assume such a position that your shadow falls on object of study and your eyes are protected from direct light. Shadows should not be harsh. They should be soft. Soft shadows can be obtained by indirect illumination e.g. by sitting in a room near sunlight. Sunlight, like artificial light, should come from the left side.



4. While studying, books, notebooks etc. should be placed at a distance of about 37 cms. from the eyes. (If you have a tendency to keep your books etc. at a closer range, have your eyes examined.)



5. Don’t read in the shadow of a tree which has a thin shade i.e. where shaded spots are freely mixed with bright spots.



6. Reading in bright moonlight or candle-light or by the fireside causes a lot of strain on the eyes and consequent damage to the eyes.



7. Don’t study in a reclining pose.



8. Don’t read while travelling in a railway train, motor vehicle or a tonga (a vehicle pulled by a horse). Movements and jerks of these vehicles do not allow proper fixation of the words and it takes a greater effort to read them.



9. Don’t read immediately after meals as at that time more blood is directed to the digestive system. Reading at that time may upset your digestion. You can read after taking rest for at least fifteen minutes after meals.



10. Don’t read if you are suffering from acute fever or immediately after convalescence.



11. Intermittent rest is essential during a prolonged period of study. During this interval you should keep on blinking your eyes. By the process of blinking, the eyes are kept moist and all particles of dust are washed away. Blinking gives the eyes the needed rest. The process of blinking should be frequent and effortless.



12. After a period of study for an hour or so, close your eyes, relax for a while, and repeat God’s name. Or you may get up and walk for a few minutes. This will give rest to your eyes.



13. Don’t move on hot and sunny summer days or during a dust storm unless you have protected your eyes with suitable goggles.



14. While travelling in a railway train, do not look towards the direction in which the train is moving. By doing so, little pieces of stones may fall into your eyes.



15. Smoke is very injurious to the eyes.



16. Sprinkle your open eyes with clean and cold water daily.



17. If an eye is injured accidentally, an eye surgeon should be contacted immediately, otherwise the other eye might also be endangered.



18. If the doctor advises that you should wear glasses, you must. The belief that wearing of glasses further weakens the eyesight is baseless.



19. Consumption of alcohol and other intoxicating drinks may lead do permanent blindness.



20. You should have your own towel and handkerchief. You should never use others’ towels etc.; nor should you allow others to use yours. Using others’ towels and handkerchiefs is one of the reasons of spreading of diseases of the eyes.



21. Deficiency of Vitamin A in diet may lead to night-blindness and local disease of the eyes.
    

    The following articles of food are rich in vitamin A:
    
    Milk, curd, butter, ghee, whole (unpolished and un-milled) rice, sprouted pulses, sprouted gram, yellow maize, red palm oil, green leafy vegetables, yellow and orange coloured vegetables, fruits, apricots, peaches, sweet potatoes etc.

22. When you have some eye-trouble, you must give adequate rest to the eyes.



23. Never carry a baby in bright sunlight unless you have shaded his eyes with a clean piece of cloth or with an umbrella.
    

An addendum by the D.L.S. Hqrs.