What Are The Symptoms Of Eye Fatigue

Being Exposed To Bright Light And Glare

For those who work outside for long hours each day, it can be very helpful to wear sunglasses. This prevents the sun from causing eye strain symptoms such as sore eyes, blurred vision and headaches. Those who are exposed to bright light areas often are at a higher risk of eye strain and other eye fatigue conditions.

Healthy Diet And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Healthy eating can heal the body of a multitude of ailments. For people suffering from CFS, a healthy diet will help rebuild their body strength. A diet full of vitamins and minerals will help the body and eyes regain their vigor. If you dont think you can get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals into your diet every day, consider taking a supplement, such as the Rebuild Your Vision Ocu-Plus formula.

However, you should consult your doctor before beginning a supplement regimen. This is especially true if you are currently taking any medication to treat the other symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. You dont want to accidentally combine supplements or medications that will counteract or even negatively affect each other.

Another way a CFS sufferer can help overcome their illness is to refrain from overdoing it mentally and physically. It is very tempting to do a lot on a day when you are feeling better, but you will probably pay the price for it later by exhausting yourself. Take it slow every day and enjoy the small victories you experience on the way. A rested CFS sufferer tends to go into remission sooner than one who continues to push themselves beyond their limit. Going into remission means that you could experience a longer period of experiencing few to no symptoms of CFS.

Our Rebuild Your Vision Ocu-Plus Formula Contains All 17 Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbal Supplements to Improve Your Eye Health!

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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Exposure To Dry Moving Air

Since dry eyes is one of the most common symptom of eye strain, it makes sense that exposure to dry moving air is one of the more common causes. When on the computer, phone or TV for an extended amount of time, it is important to keep moisture in your eyes. Blink often and try and prevent the air from getting too dry whenever possible.

Adjust Your Computer Display Settings

Adjusting the display settings of your computer can help reduce eye strain and fatigue. Generally, these adjustments are beneficial:

• Brightness: Adjust the brightness of the display so it’s approximately the same as the brightness of your surrounding workstation. As a test, look at the white background of this Web page. If it looks like a light source, it’s too bright. If it seems dull and gray, it may be too dark.

• Text size and contrast: Adjust the text size and contrast for comfort, especially when reading or composing long documents. Usually, black print on a white background is the best combination for comfort.

• Color temperature: This is a technical term used to describe the spectrum of visible light emitted by a color display. Blue light is short-wavelength visible light that is associated with more eye strain than longer wavelength hues, such as orange and red. Reducing the color temperature of your display lowers the amount of blue light emitted by a color display for better long-term viewing comfort.

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Wear Prescriptive Computer Glasses

Sometimes, for chronic eye fatigue or extreme eye fatigue, taking a break from the screen, using eye drops, and changing the lighting just doesnt help enough. An additional solution may be wearing glasses which block excessive blue light from a digital screen to protect your eyes.

For these glasses, you want to visit your optometrist, who will carry out an eye examination and then provide you with a pair of customised computer glasses. These glasses are preferable to wearing contact lenses, since they do not dry up, nor make your eyes uncomfortable by wearing them for long periods of time.

Chronic Eyestrain Headaches Signal The Need For An Eye Exam

Headaches have many causes, but frequent headaches that happen after a long period of computer screen time, reading, or driving may indicate a vision problem. For anyone experiencing symptoms of eyestrain, a comprehensive eye exam by a trained ophthalmologist is the best way to diagnose the cause of the discomfort.

The most common types of headaches are tension headaches or migraines. These primary types of headaches are rarely associated with vision disorders. However, if a headache frequently occurs after an extended period of doing a task that requires concentrated vision, eyestrain is the likely cause. Eyestrain is a common condition, especially now that computer screens and other digital devices are a part of daily life and work. Use of digital devices for a long, uninterrupted period is the main cause of computer vision syndrome, or digital eyestrain.

Eyestrain Symptoms

• Watery, itchy, or dry eyes
• Eye fatigue
• Headache around eyes and/or behind eyes
• Greater sensitivity to light
• Stiffness and pain in neck and shoulders

An occasional eyestrain headache usually is not cause for concern, but if the pain and associated symptoms become chronic or severe, then an underlying condition may be the source. Only a comprehensive eye exam will reveal those conditions and how they should be treated, says Michael Callahan, MD, an ophthalmologist at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital.

Looking Deeper

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What Causes Eye Strain

The medical term for eye strain is asthenopia. The symptoms of ocularfatigue, tired eyes, blurring, headaches, and occasionally doubling of the vision are brought on by concentrated use of the eyes for visual tasks. Some people, while concentrating on a visually intense task such as reading fine print, using the computer for hours at a time, or trying to see in the dark, unconsciously clench the muscles of their eyelids, face, temples, and jaws and develop discomfort or pain from overuse of those muscles. This may lead to a vicious cycle of tensing those muscles further and causing more distress. Other people attempting to do similar visual tasks may have no symptoms at all.

Common precipitating factors for the onset of eye strain include extended use of a computer or video monitor, straining to see in very dim light, and exposure to extreme brightness or glare. Many people will blink less than normal when performing extended visual tasks. This decreased blinking may lead to dryness of the ocular surface and symptoms of dry eyes.

Refractive errors may produce the symptoms of eye strain.

The inability to make both eyes work together in a binocular fashion may also generate the symptoms of eye strain. However, most individuals who have limited or no binocular vision have no such symptoms.

What Else Could It Be

The symptoms of ME/CFS are similar to those of other conditions.

If you think you may have ME/CFS it’s important to see a GP to make sure you get a correct diagnosis. A GP should also be able to refer you to a ME/CFS specialist if they think it would help you.

Page last reviewed: 29 October 2021 Next review due: 29 October 2024

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What Are The Different Types Of Eye Strain

Eye strain is a common condition that is affecting increasing numbers of the population. The reasons for this can vary, but there are many ways you can improve this condition at home.

What is eye strain?

Also known as asthenopia, this is a symptom, rather than a condition. It refers to the group of symptoms that occur after you use your eyes for an extended period of time. This could be from activities such as being on the computer, reading or any other times when you need to concentrate or have an intense focus for an extended time. You will not be able to strain your eyes by coughing or any similar practices. Some people may also get eye strain when exposed to bright light or glare or if they need to strain to see in very dim light. It has become more prevalent recently thanks to the modern office life and reliance on computers for long periods of time during the day.

What are the symptoms of eye strain?

What is astigmatism?

This is when the cornea, or front surface of the eye, is not curved properly. So, one half is flatter than the other. This can lead to blurred vision and as your eyes try to compensate, you may suffer from eye strainIf you are suffering from eye strain, your optometrist may undertake an eye sight exam to rule out any conditions that could be causing your problems. They should check for astigmatism, which can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

What is computer vision syndrome ?

What Are The Causes Of Eye Strain

Eye strain symptoms are becoming more and more common due to the increased usage of digital technology. You are at a higher risk of developing eye strain symptoms if:

• You are required to be in front of a computer screen for extended amounts of time.
• Required to drive for long durations of the day
• Exposed to extreme levels of light on a consistent basis

Since more jobs require extensive use of computers and more high school and college students are required to complete their schoolwork online, it is understandable that we are beginning to see an increase in the number of individuals suffering from eye strain symptoms. Once aware of the causes of eye strain symptoms, however, those who suffer from eye strain can begin to take the steps necessary to treat the symptoms and can even prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Here are the more common causes of eye fatigue and eye strain symptoms:

• Staring at your computer screen, tablet or mobile device
• Reading without pausing to rest your eyes
• Driving long distances
• Being exposed to bright light and glare
• Poor vision

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Causes & Risk Factors

Viewing a computer or digital screen often makes the eyes work harder. As a result, the unique characteristics and high visual demands of computer and digital screen viewing make many individuals susceptible to the development of vision-related symptoms. Uncorrected vision problems can increase the severity of computer vision syndrome or digital eyestrain symptoms. Viewing a computer or digital screen is different than reading a printed page. Often the letters on the computer or handheld device are not as precise or sharply defined, the level of contrast of the letters to the background is reduced, and the presence of glare and reflections on the screen may make viewing difficult.

In most cases, symptoms of CVS occur because the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilities of the individual to comfortably perform them. At greatest risk for developing CVS are those persons who spend two or more continuous hours at a computer or using a digital screen device every day.

Problems With Thinking Learning And Planning

Some people with MS have problems with thinking, learning and planning, known as cognitive dysfunction.

This can include:

• getting stuck on words
• problems with understanding and processing visual information, such as reading a map
• difficulty with planning and problem solving people often report that they know what they want to do, but can’t grasp how to do it
• problems with reasoning, such as mathematical laws or solving puzzles

But many of these problems aren’t specific to MS and can be caused by a wide range of other conditions, including depression and anxiety, or even some medicines.

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What Is An Eye Fatigue Or Eye Strain

An opthalmological condition that occurs due to strain in the eyes due to constant focus in the tasks like reading, writing, driving or working on a computer is called eye fatigue. Eye fatigue is also known as asthenopia or eye strain. It cannot be termed as an eye disorder, as it is a symptom.

Eye fatigue or eye strain is an acute symptom which goes away easily through relaxing the eyes. However, recurring eye fatigue or eye strain may be a symptom to an eye disorder.

Get A Comprehensive Eye Exam

An annual comprehensive eye exam is the most important thing you can do to prevent or treat computer vision problems. During your exam, be sure to tell your eye doctor how often you use a computer and digital devices at work and at home.

Measure how far your eyes are from your screen when you sit at your computer, and bring this measurement to your exam so your eye doctor can test your eyes at that specific working distance.

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Look Away Frequently Or The 20

Often eyestrain occurs when you engage in a single activity for too long a period of time without a break. You should shift your focus to something other than the activity every 20 minutes. What you focus on should be 20 feet away, and you should look at it for at least 20 seconds. This is known as the 20-20-20 rule.

You should not only look away every 20 minutes, but also make sure to turn away from an intense activity for several hours during the day. If you have to work at a screen or drive a long distance for multiple hours, make sure to balance that activity with others that demand different uses of your eyes. For example, take a walk outside in the natural light during your lunch break if youve spent the whole morning working on a computer.

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How Can You Prevent Eye Fatigue

Make some simple changes to:

Your computer screen:

• Place it 20-26 inches away from your eyes and a little below eye level.
• Regularly clean off dust and fingerprints from the surface. Smudges can reduce contrast and create problems like glare and reflections.
• Choose screens that tilt and swivel.
• Use a glare filter for your screen.

Your work environment:

• Place a document holder next to your computer screen.

Your work habits:

• Try the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Post a note that says “Blink” on your computer as a reminder.
• Take regular breaks from computer work.

Your eye-care routine:

• Apply a washcloth soaked in warm water to tired, dry eyes .
• Use artificial tears to refresh your eyes when they feel dry.
• To help prevent dry eyes while indoors, use an air cleaner to filter dust and a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

If you have eye fatigue or pain, see an eye doctor to make sure a deeper medical condition isnât to blame.

If the problem doesnât go away, make an appointment for a full eye exam. The doctor can make sure your symptoms arenât linked to a problem like an eye muscle imbalance or dry eye. They can also tell if your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date and good for computer use.

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How Do I Treat Tired Eyes

Regardless of how well you take care of your eyes, you will, someday or the other, feel an eye strain. Occasional eye fatigue can be managed without having to visit the eye doctor, but if it persists, then you must schedule an appointment with your ophthalmologist.

First aid for eye strain and tired eyes include:

• Closing your eyes for at least five minutes to allow them some rest
• Going off to sleep
• Using artificial tears to lubricate them
• Removing contact lenses

Why Does It Feel So Good When You Rub Your Eyes

Rubbing stimulates the eyes‘ lacrimal glands, which creates lubrication and gives some relief. And there’s more than just the feeling of an itch vanquished, pressure on the eyes actually stimulates the vagus nerve. That reflex slows down your heart rate and can take you from tired to downright snoozing.

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What Is Asthenopia

Asthenopia is more commonly known as eyestrain or ocular fatigue. Its a common condition that occurs when your eyes become tired from intense use. Staring at a computer screen for long periods or straining to see in dim light are common causes.

Most of the time, asthenopia isnt serious and goes away once you rest your eyes. Sometimes, asthenopia is related to an underlying vision problem, such as astigmatism or farsightedness .

Asthenopia symptoms can vary from person to person depending on the cause and any underlying eye problems. The most common symptoms include:

• pain around the eyes

Most of the time, asthenopia can be treated by making a few changes to your environment and lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you treat asthenopia at home.

How Is It Treated

A few simple changes to your workspace can improve your symptoms and prevent new problems:

Cut the glare. Change the lighting around you to reduce the effect on your computer screen. If light from a nearby window casts a glare, move your monitor and close the shades. Ask your employer to install a dimmer switch for the overhead fixtures if they’re too bright, or buy a desk lamp with a moveable shade that casts light evenly over your desk. You can also add a glare filter to your monitor.

Rearrange your desk. The best position for your monitor is slightly below eye level, about 20 to 28 inches away from your face. You shouldn’t have to stretch your neck or strain your eyes to see what’s on the screen. Put a stand next to your monitor and place any printed materials you’re working from on it. That way, you won’t have to look up at the screen and back down at the desk while you type.

Give your eyes a break. Follow the 20-20-20 rule. Look away from the screen every 20 minutes or so and look at something around 20 feet away for about 20 seconds. Blink often to keep your eyes moist. If they feel dry, try some eye drops.

Tweak your settings. You don’t have to live with the factory-installed presets if you’re uncomfortable. Adjust the brightness, contrast, and font size until you find whatâs best for you.

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