What My Tired Eyes Taught Me About Paying Attention
AIThis post was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

TL;DR

Prime Big Deal Days · Oct 6–7Offer from Amazon

Get workout gear delivered free — and shop member deals

  • Fast, free delivery on millions of items
  • Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
  • Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Start your free Prime trial Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

In a personal essay published by Tiny Buddha, Ayurvedic medical student Joey Dua recounts burning eyes after long hours of screen-based study and how the discomfort prompted him to change his habits. He says breaks, closing his eyes and looking into the distance helped him notice his pace and surroundings, while stressing that he cannot claim those practices are proven therapies.

Ayurvedic medical student Joey Dua says recurring burning eyes during long nights of screen-based study prompted him to change how he took breaks and to question whether hours of concentrated work amounted to genuine attention. In a personal essay published by Tiny Buddha, Dua describes his experience, but does not present it as medical evidence that Ayurvedic eye practices treat eye strain.

Dua writes that during his second year of Ayurvedic medical school, his eyes began burning around 9 p.m. He was preparing for exams with lecture slides, reference texts and practice questions on electronic devices, and says he spent 12 or 13 hours a day reading screens. At first, he rubbed his eyes, blinked and returned to studying, treating the discomfort as something to work through.

He recalls one winter evening when a brief power flicker made him look up from his laptop. For a few seconds after the lights returned, he had difficulty focusing on a wall across the room. He says his vision cleared shortly afterward and describes the episode as not medically dramatic. What unsettled him, he writes, was realizing he could not remember when he had last looked at the distant view outside his window.

Dua says he tried practices described by his professors, including resting closed eyes beneath warm hands, gazing at a distant object, splashing his eyes with cool water and fully closing his eyes during the day. He explicitly cautions that he cannot say these practices are proven therapies and that some have been little studied. He presents the changes as personal experience: the pauses helped him notice tension, shallow breathing and how often his attention remained fixed on a screen.

At a glance
reportWhen: Personal essay; the source does not giv…
The developmentJoey Dua’s Tiny Buddha essay describes how recurring eye discomfort during screen-heavy study led him to reconsider the difference between sustained screen focus and broader attention.

Screen Study and the Cost of Narrow Focus

Dua’s account describes his experience of eye discomfort during extended screen-based study and how he sometimes continued working despite it. He connects his eye strain not only with studying, but also with eating without much attention, skimming friends’ messages and continuing to scroll during calls with his mother.

That connection is the essay’s central reflection, not a clinical finding. Dua argues that he had confused hours of concentration on one task with attention in a wider sense. His description may resonate with readers who feel absorbed by close-up work while missing breaks, conversations or the world around them. The article does not establish how common this experience is or show that his practices produce the same results for others.

His account also draws a clear line between an individual’s observations and evidence of treatment. Readers can understand what prompted him to change his routine without interpreting the essay as proof that palming, distance gazing or cool-water splashes prevent or cure eye problems. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms may call for advice from a qualified eye-care professional.

Amazon

blue light blocking glasses for computer use

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

A Student’s Screen-Heavy Study Routine

Dua places his experience during his second year of Ayurvedic medical school, when exams were approaching. He writes that his coursework had moved onto screens, with study materials spread across a laptop and phone. At the same time, he was learning Shalakya Tantra, the Ayurvedic branch he describes as dealing with the eyes and head.

In his account, he could recall teachings about factors said in Ayurveda to aggravate the eyes, including prolonged close work and too little rest, while continuing to study late into the night himself. That contrast led him to recognize a gap between what he was learning and how he treated his own discomfort. The essay gives no clinical examination, formal diagnosis or measured assessment of his vision.

Dua identifies himself as a BAMS student and says he runs Darakhtveda, an Indian Ayurvedic brand whose first product is I-Care Eye Drops. The source provides that background but no clinical data about the product. His essay focuses on his study habits and personal reflections rather than reporting research or making a substantiated product claim.

“I was not paying attention. I was narrowing it.”

— Joey Dua, in his Tiny Buddha essay

Amazon

eye relaxation and eye strain relief products

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

What the Personal Account Cannot Establish

The essay does not say whether Dua sought an eye examination, received a diagnosis or had his symptoms assessed by a clinician. It also does not provide a publication date, a study of the practices he describes or evidence that they reduce eye strain for other people. His brief difficulty focusing on the far wall is described as resolving within seconds, but the source does not establish its cause.

It remains unclear how often the burning occurred, how long it continued after he changed his habits, or whether other factors contributed. Dua says his eyes still get tired and that he remains a student using screens. His account supports claims about what he experienced and how he interpreted it, not a general medical conclusion.

Amazon

distant focus eye exercise tools

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Dua Continues Studying With Breaks

Dua says screens remain part of his education and that his eyes still become tired. His reported response now is to pause rather than push through: he may close his eyes or go to the window and look at the neem tree and rooftops. He describes this as an ongoing adjustment, not a cure.

The source does not announce a study, medical assessment or planned follow-up that would test the practices’ effects. For readers, the next development in Dua’s account is therefore personal: whether he continues to make room for breaks amid his studies. Anyone with persistent or concerning eye symptoms would need individualized guidance from an appropriate health professional rather than relying on the essay as treatment advice.

Amazon

cool eye splash bottles

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Key Questions

What happened to Joey Dua’s eyes?

Dua writes that his eyes began burning around 9 p.m. during a period when he studied using screens for 12 or 13 hours a day. The essay does not report a clinical diagnosis.

What did Dua change in response?

He says he began taking pauses, closing his eyes and looking at distant objects, among other practices. He describes these as parts of his personal routine, not as proven treatments.

Does the essay show that Ayurvedic eye practices treat eye strain?

No. Dua says he cannot claim the practices are proven therapies and notes that some have been little studied. The essay recounts his experience rather than presenting clinical evidence.

Did Dua say his eye symptoms went away?

No. He writes that his eyes still get tired. He says he now responds by pausing rather than pushing through the discomfort.

Source: rss

Wellness content on this site is informational and not a substitute for professional medical guidance.
FALL

Fall Picks

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

You May Also Like

Try A Tai Chi Expert’s Go-to Morning Routine To Release Tension And Boost Focus

Tai Chi teacher Brian Thompson shares a five-move morning routine to release tension and boost focus, with step-by-step instructions.

Nursing Home Beds Are Disappearing. That’s A Problem.

Nursing home bed availability is declining nationwide, raising concerns about elder care access amid ongoing industry challenges.

USMNT Soccer Star Weston McKennie Shares His Game Day Ritual: ‘Look Good, Smell Good, Play Good’

USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie reveals his game day routine, emphasizing looking good, smelling good, and playing well before matches.

The Confidence That Comes From Showing Up, Not From Results

Discover how showing up consistently builds genuine confidence, regardless of immediate results. Learn practical tips to embrace effort and resilience today.