Chronic Dry Eye Symptoms
It can be very helpful to have a full understanding of the most common chronic dry eye symptoms in order to seek appropriate care once it occurs and to prevent the condition from worsening. However, identifying the chronic dry eye symptoms can be difficult, as the exact symptoms differ based on the exact cause. Nonetheless, there are certain chronic dry eye symptoms that are the same regardless of what caused them.
In most instances, chronic dry eye has a very slow onset, and the symptoms may not even be noticeable at first. However, once the symptoms of chronic dry eye progress, they can quickly become problematic and much harder to treat.
The following are the most common chronic dry eye symptoms that typically occur regardless of the exact cause:
- Red, dry eyes
- Eye fatigue
- Watery eyes
There are multiple chronic dry eye symptoms, and the absence of one or more of the symptoms does not suggest that chronic dry eye is not the issue. Instead, if two or more of the above symptoms exist simultaneously, then there is a good chance chronic dry eye is the issue.
Eye Disorders Focusing Problems
Problems with focusing are the most common eye disorders. These occur when the image of what you are looking at does not focus precisely on the back of the eye and appears blurry. The main types of refractive errors are myopia , hyperopia or hypermetropia , astigmatism and presbyopia .Refractive errors occur when there is a mismatch between the length of the eye and its optical power. These mismatches usually originate during childhood and are thought to be affected by both hereditary and environmental influences.
There May Be A Link Between These Seemingly Unrelated Conditions
Having both dry eyes and migraines may not be a coincidence. Dry eyes don’t cause headaches or migraines, but there may be a connection between the conditions.
Research suggests migraine attacks may be longer and more severe in people with dry eye syndrome than those without it. There are also similarities in the underlying mechanisms that cause dry eyes and migraines or headaches to occur.
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What Is Eye Strain
Eye strain is a common condition caused from intense use of your eyes, such as reading or driving long distances. In recent years, the main common cause is extended use of computers or other digital devices, such as cell phones or iPads. This type of eye strain is called digital eye strain.
Eye strain can cause discomfort, but is usually not a serious condition. Many steps can be taken to reduce or prevent eye strain.
Stinging Or Burning Eye Pain
Eyes need adequate lubrication to feel comfortable, and blinking plays a crucial role. That’s how meibum, the oily substance that keeps the eyes lubed up, is released. When people engage in activities requiring intense focus, they may not blink enough. Or they may not sufficiently close their eyes when they blink. That may be one reason dry eye patients experience a burning sensation in the eyes or on the eyelid margins.
“When you have tears that evaporate readily, it leaves the cornea desiccated, and that gives you a sense of burning,” says Dr. Maskin.
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What Causes Eye Strain
You can get eye strain from:
- using computers, smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles for a long time
- driving for a long time
- reading for a long time
- straining to see things when the light is bad
- being tired or stressed
- not wearing your glasses or contact lenses, or wearing unsuitable glasses or contact lenses
- medical problems with your eyes
Eye strain is uncomfortable, but it usually goes away if you rest your eyes. It is not a disease.
Adjust Computers And Phones
Set your screen so it is just bright enough. The contrast should be comfortable for reading. When working at a computer, sit an arm’s length from the screen.
Adjust the font size on your phone or computer. A font that is too small can be hard to see. A large font takes up too much space on the screen, making it hard to read large documents. Use a clear, easy-to-read font.
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When To See A Doctor
Dry mouth and eyes arent usually a serious problem on their own, but if they appear with other symptoms or continue despite symptom management, it might be time to see a doctor. They could be the result of isolated problems with your eyes or mouth, or the result of a more serious chronic condition.
Are There Any Sjogren’s Syndrome Complications
Sjogrens can take a toll on multiple organs throughout the body, including the lungs, liver, and kidneys. You might develop a persistent cough or come down with recurrent bronchitis, for example.
The worst complication is obviously lymphoma, Dr. Akpek notes.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the affects the bodys infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes. In Sjogrens, these are the cells that attack the bodys moisture-producing glands. Why these cells become cancerous is unclear. But people with Sjogrens are much more likely to develop lymphoma than folks in the general population.
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Prevention Of Eye Strain
You can help prevent dry eyes and minimise the risk of tired or sore eyes while reading or using a computer. Tips include:
- Take regular breaks.
- Look around at objects that are at different distances.
- Remember to blink often.
If this doesnt help, see an optometrist to find the underlying cause of the problem. Treatment may include eye drops, exercises or glasses.
Vaginal Dryness And Infections
When you have Sjogrens, it gets dry down there, too. And when vaginal secretions dry up, problems begin to surface. You might come down with yeast infections or have vaginal pain, burning, or itching.
The normal flora is disturbed and abnormal germs take over, Dr. Akpek explains.
Vaginal dryness, of course, in common during menopause. Unfortunately, Sjogrens can makes things even worse for you, causing pain during sex, for example.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome And Your Eyes
You may not have heard of it, but you may be suffering from it. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is extreme fatigue that lasts more than six months. It is an intense tiredness and weakness that does not improve quickly with rest. It can also become worse if the sufferer attempts physical activity or mental exertion. Its estimated that millions of people worldwide suffer from CFS, but the exact number is unknown because so many cases go undiagnosed. Another thing you may not know is that CFS can be connected to eye health and vision.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can sometimes be hard to diagnose because the symptoms are common in many illnesses. The eight main symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are extreme fatigue, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain , headaches, memory or concentration problems, exhaustion lasting more than one day after physical or mental exertion, and enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits.
There are other symptoms that can occur, but they do not present themselves in every person suffering from CFS. These include the inability to think clearly, balance issues , allergies , irritable bowels, chills and night sweats, mood problems , and visual disturbances . CFS is a mysterious disease that affects people differently, and it can also affect their vision in a variety of ways.
Tired Eyes And Blurred Vision
If you spend a long time using a computer or watching television, your eyes can become tired and your vision blurred.Using a computer does not cause permanent damage to your eyes. However, working on a computer is a demanding visual task that can cause eye discomfort. If you have an uncorrected vision problem, this can make computer use uncomfortable and can lead to blurred vision and eye strain.Whenever you concentrate on a computer screen or watch television, you tend to blink less. This can lead to your eyes drying out. It is made worse if you are in a dry environment, such as a heated or air-conditioned office.
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Put More Space Between Yourself And Your Computer Screen
Do this exercise: Open your laptop and sit at your desk. How close to your keyboard are you sitting? The monitor should be about 25 inches away from your face. Remember the ciliary muscle? That muscle has to work harder to focus on the screen when youre any closer than 25 inches. Dont go looking for a measuring tape. Instead, stretch out your arm and position your screen an arms length away.
If your screen is too close, youre more likely to scooch forward in the chair to bring your eyes in alignment with the screen. This can make you round your back, lean into the screen and slouch your body, resulting in a sore neck or more frequent headaches.
How To Relieve Tired Eyes
While a good nights sleep is key to recharging your eyes, sometimes rest is not enough to relieve eye discomfort or eliminate the symptoms of eye fatigue.
To relieve eye irritation, flush out your eyes with a saline rinse or water. Or, apply a warm washcloth to both eyes. Using eye drops can also help relieve any dryness or itchiness and bring some moisture back to your eyes.
To help prevent tired eyes at work, take breaks from staring at your screen. Look off into the distance periodically to let your eyes rest and refocus, or go for short 20-minute walks throughout the day for a change of scenery.
Also, consider changing the position of your computer screen so that it sits 2026 inches away from your face, and clean your computer screen regularly and reduce glare.
On long drives, stopping briefly can let your eyes rest and readjust, and make sure you dont have any issues with night vision before driving long distances at night.
Page published on Sunday, February 9, 2020
Page updated on Wednesday, May 11, 2022
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Vision And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The visual disturbances associated with CFS cover a variety of types. People who suffer from CFS most commonly report blurry vision. Some people also complain of itchy, watery eyes, while others have a real problem with dry eyes. People experiencing itchy or dry eyes often rub their eyes, which only causes more redness and more discomfort.
Other vision issues include problems with being able to focus on items, not being able to focus from a distance, tracking lines of print, ghosting of images, tunnel vision , inability to judge distances, and eye floaters. Clearly, this condition can make it difficult to see properly. You can try some eye exercises to help strengthen your focus muscles, but remember to seek medical attention as well.
Sufferers of CFS who have experienced any of the above problems should see a doctor for an examination. After studying many patients with CFS, doctors have found that patients also often suffer from poor oculomotor control. This means eye movements that are normally quick become slow and sometimes jerky. Sometimes it is difficult for a patient to move their eyes from one object to another.
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Doctor My Eyes Are Always Tired
Everyones eyes feel tired on occasion. But, if you are continually struggling with eye fatigue, its easy to become frustrated. You might experience physical eye discomfort, have double or blurred vision, or have headaches day after day.
In most cases, the cause of eye tiredness isnt serious. However, there are situations where eye fatigue could signal a significant issue that needs to be addressed. Heres a look at what can cause tired eyes as well as insights into when you should see a doctor.
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Eye Problems And Headaches
Headaches are generally a sign that something is wrong. However, there are many possible causes of headaches. Some of these are visually related, such as an uncorrected refractive error .Your doctor can get valuable information from the nature of your headaches. They may ask you questions such as:
- When do the headaches arrive?
- How bad are they?
- Where are they? For example, are they in your forehead area or around the sides of your head?
- What triggers seem to start them?
Having an eye test is a good starting point when trying to narrow down the reason for headaches. If examination of your eyes is normal, see your doctor for further investigation.
Fatigue Or Dry Eyes How To Tell The Difference
Caption: Do you often feel that your eyes are irritated or get red eyes? Do your eyelids feel heavy or have the sensation of a foreign object in your eye? Don’t brush these symptoms off as just eye fatigue, you could have dry eye syndrome. The Singapore National Eye Centre explains explains.
Dry eye syndrome is part of the natural ageing process. But this condition doesn’t just affect the elderly, it affects those going through hormonal changes.
People suffering from certain ocular and systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems, and those on medication such as antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure pills and antidepressants, are also more likely to have dry eyes.
Lifestyle too can play a part. Constant exposure to smoke, wind and dry environments may also lead to dry eye. This was shared by the Singapore National Eye Centre , a member of the SingHealth group.
Dry eye syndrome is a condition that is often easily missed. Many do not know they have it and just brush off the symptoms as eye fatigue or tiredness.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
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Red or irritated eyes
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Eyelids which feel heavy or have a sensation of sand or a foreign object in the eye
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Occasional blurring of vision
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Watery eyes which may be a secondary reaction to irritation of the eye
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Importance of tears
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What Are Tired Eyes
Tired eyes are a common result of extended eye strain, like staring at a screen all day or driving long distances.
Tired eyes will not cause permanent eye damage, but it’s still important to recognize the symptoms of tired eyes so you can make changes to retain and improve eye comfort.
Unsurprisingly, your eyes probably feel heavy and fatigued after staring at a computer screen for long periods of time. According to The Vision Council, 32% of the 80% of Americans who use a digital device have experienced fatigue and tired eyes, also known as eye strain.
And drivers know that staring at that yellow line on the highway or even at the horizon can create a similar effect.
Other causes of eye fatigue include being exposed to poor lighting or having a slow eye-blinking rate.
Here’s what you need to know about tired eyes and eye fatigue:
The Dry Eye/migraine Link
One study looked at almost one million U.S. veterans, mainly men diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. They looked at the link between chronic pain conditions and dry eyes. The study found dry eyes were more common in those with a chronic pain condition.
The frequency of dry eyes also increased as the number of chronic pain conditions a participant had increased. This suggests that having dry eyes may be an indication of a chronic pain condition, such as migraine.
Most other studies examining the link between migraine headaches and dry eye syndrome have been fairly small, but they still provide some insight into the possible connection between the two conditions.
Amongst the most notable findings:
- Length of migraines: A study of 58 people with migraines found those with dry eye had longer migraine attacks and had been dealing with migraine longer than those without dry eye.
- Severity of migraine attacks: Some research shows that migraine attacks may be worse when you also have dry eyes, and dry eye syndrome may contribute to continuing migraines.
- Increased risk in those who experience migraine with aura: Several studies found an increased frequency of dry eye syndrome in people with migraines compared to the general population. This association seems even more significant in people with migraines with aura.
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Why Are My Eyes Tired All The Time
Tired eyes are primarily caused by intense or overuse of the eyes in some capacity.
Staring at computer screens, televisions and mobile devices is a major cause of ongoing eye fatigue. Americans spend as many as 12 hours a day staring at screens! No wonder our eyes are so tired.
Computer glasses, or blue-light glasses, may help reduce eye strain caused by constantly at screens at work and digital devices at home.
Additionally, those who drive long commutes are more likely to experience eye fatigue because they are forced to focus in one direction for extensive periods of time.
Tired eyes can also be the result of lack of sleep, reading without taking breaks, exposure to dry air, straining to see in dim lighting and having uncorrected vision.
Once you’ve isolated the possible cause or causes of your tired eyes, make some changes to give your eyes a bit more rest.
For example, evaluating your sleep habits is a great place to start. Getting enough sleep at night should reduce your eye strain.
And if you tend to stare at the computer screen for too long, take a break . Check your work environment, too, as your eyes may benefit from more or less light.
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