Eyes are likely burning, itchy, or tired. Eyestrain is a common condition but it is not usually serious. It occurs when your eyes hurt from being overworked beyond your capacity. It occurs when the muscles of our eye do not receive enough rest, hydration and protection against the strong glare of the screens for prolonged periods.
Over time, the eyes tend to hurt and feel tired. There are people who feel them so overloaded that they start to heat up and experience constant eye strain. This can be due to prolonged exposure to harmful rays, glare, and air pollutants. To learn more about fatigued eyes and how to improve this condition, read on.
The most common symptoms are sore or irritated eyes, trouble focusing, dry or watery eyes, blurred or double vision, and increased sensitivity to light. Neck, shoulder or back discomfort may also appear. All of these symptoms can reduce your productivity and affect your daily activities.
Why does visual fatigue appear?
Anything that requires heavy use of the eyes can cause exhaustion. Some of the most common are reading (especially on a device with a screen), writing on a computer or paper, and driving. Eyestrain can also appear if you look at bright light or spend time in a place that is too dark, as is often the case at night when looking at your mobile phone.
Your eyes may tire easily if you stare at a screen, smartphone, or game console for long periods of time. Your eye doctor might call this computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain . It affects the majority of people who use a technology device, and the problem is expected to increase as more people use smartphones and other portable digital devices, forcing your eyes to work harder than usual as they struggle to focus.
Digital devices can also be linked to eye strain because we tend to blink less frequently when looking at a computer screen. People usually blink about 18 times a minute. This naturally cools the eyes, and failure to do so can lead to dry, tired, itchy, and burning eyes.
Yes. In addition, we stay awake for many hours working, eyestrain can worsen considerably. Sleep refreshes the eyes with essential nutrients. So a bad night’s rest favors repeated eye irritation. If this is prolonged in time and an attempt is made to alleviate it with artificial treatments, we could continue to aggravate the problem. Experts recommend identifying the source of the problem before treating symptoms.
You are more likely to have this condition if you already have eye problems, if you need glasses but don’t have them, or if you use an incorrect distance measurement for your computer. Screen work becomes more difficult as we age and the lenses of our eyes become less flexible. Around age 40, the ability to focus on objects near and far will begin to disappear. This is known as presbyopia.
How can fatigue eye be prevented?
To avoid having this problem in the eyes, we can make some simple changes in our day to day. For example, there are some measures that we must take into account when we use a computer screen . Experts advise placing the screen about 50 – 60 centimeters away from your eyes and slightly below eye level. It is also advisable to regularly clean the dust and fingerprints from the surface. Smudges can reduce contrast and create problems such as glare and reflections.
It is even advisable to choose screens that tilt and turn, as well as use a glare filter for your screen.
In the office or work environment you can also make slight changes, such as changing the lighting to eliminate glare and strong reflections. It is recommended to use an adjustable chair and place a document holder next to your computer screen. Also, you should get up every 20 minutes, look at something 20 meters away, and clear your eyes for 20 seconds. You should also remember to blink and take breaks.
But it’s not all about digital devices. Eye strain can be reduced with a good eye care routine . Apply a washcloth soaked in lukewarm water to tired, dry eyes. You can use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry and use a humidifier to improve the humidity of the environment.
Of course, if you have eye fatigue or pain and it doesn’t go away naturally, see an eye doctor to make sure it’s not due to a deeper medical condition.
The best treatments for eyestrain
In many cases, changes like the ones we discussed above are all you need to do to treat eyestrain. If you experience severe or prolonged eye fatigue, discuss the condition with a doctor. You may need corrective lenses or it could be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.
Sometimes extreme or chronic eye strain may require glasses that block blue light from a digital display to protect the eyes. For these glasses, you need to visit an optometrist, who will perform an eye exam and then advise on a custom pair of computer glasses. Without a doubt, they are preferable to contact lenses, since they do not dry out or discomfort the eyes when wearing them for long periods of time.
Spending a large amount of time in an activity that requires constant focus puts you at risk for eyestrain. You may have a higher risk of eye strain if you work with computers as part of your job. Children who spend a lot of time with digital devices may also experience eyestrain or other conditions, such as irritability or behavior problems.
