Eye strain, also called asthenopia and eye fatigue, refers to tired eyes due to the intense use of your eyes for an extended period. For example, reading, looking at digital screens or driving for long hours.
Even though eye strain is not a serious issue and doesn’t cause permanent eye damage, it can cause discomfort. You can do many things to prevent or ease its symptoms by making some lifestyle changes, such as resting your eyes, using lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) regularly etc. Sometimes, eye strain can also be a sign of an underlying eye condition.
Eye strain symptoms
Eye strain symptoms can affect your eyes and other body parts. Some of the most common eye strain symptoms are:
- Itching, burning, tired or sore eyes
- Dry, red or watery eyes
- Eye discomfort
- Double or cloudy vision
- Difficulty keeping your eyes open
- Increased light sensitivity (photophobia)
- Twitching eyelids
- Difficult to concentrate
- Pain in the back, shoulders or neck
- Headaches
Eye strain causes
Eye strain is generally caused when you do close-up work for long time periods. People who have any eye condition, such as eye muscle imbalance or uncorrected vision, may feel more eye strain.
In recent years, eye strain is mostly caused by the use of digital devices (like tablets, smartphones, televisions and computers) for a prolonged time period. This type of eye strain is called digital eye strain or computer vision syndrome and is quite common.
Below are some of the common causes of eye strain causes:
- Driving or doing activities that require focus for long hours
- Reading without resting your eyes
- Staring at digital screens
- Playing video games
- Doing detailed work, like crafting, sewing or writing
- Uncorrected vision (refractive error) or dry eyes
- Less blinking
- Glare or bright light
- Trying to see or work in dim light
- Exposure to dry moving air from an air-conditioner, heating system or fan
- Fatigue or stress
Please note: If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, we advise booking an eye exam to better understand the cause of your eye strain.
How to relieve eye strain at home?
You can prevent or relieve eye strain symptoms by following these helpful tips:
- Pick the right eyewear: If you work at a computer for long hours, go for contact lenses or glasses that are especially designed for computer work. You can also consult an optometrist to learn about tints and lens coatings that can help you. Always use the correct glasses prescription, when over the age of 40 years old this may include an extra power for reading.
- Adjust the lighting: While watching television, use soft lights to reduce eye strain. While doing close work or reading, place the light source behind you so that you get direct light on your reading material or any other task. If you’re sitting at a desk, then you should use a shaded light in front of you, so that you do not get direct light into your eyes.
- Take regular breaks: Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes whenever you’re doing some focused work. Look away from the task, digital screen or page.
- Limit your screen time: Ensure you reduce your own as well as your family’s screen time, particularly those who often binge-watch for long hours.
- Use lubricating eye drops: These drops can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. You should use them even if you do not feel anything in your eyes, so that your eyes stay hydrated and keep your symptoms at bay. You can use preservative-free eye drops frequently, depending on your needs. Make sure you don’t use them over four times a day.
- Improve the air quality: You can prevent dry eyes by avoiding smoking and using a humidifier. You can also tweak the settings of your thermostat to reduce the amount of air blown.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if I have eye strain?
You will know if you have eye strain when you have itchy, sore, tired, dry, burning, blurry or watery eyes. Also, you will find it hard to focus on something far away after working on close-up tasks. Apart from this, you can get double vision, light sensitivity, headaches or sore back, shoulders or neck owing to muscle tension.
How to tell the difference between dry eye and eye strain?
You can know if you have dry eyes or eye strain, if you have the following symptoms:
1. Dry eyes result in irritated, red or stinging eyes. They provide a gritty sensation with mucus around the eyes or light sensitivity.
2. Eye strain can be caused by tired eyes, cloudy vision and discomfort, without any inflammation or dryness. They also lead to headaches, shoulder or neck pain, or strained or dry eyes.
Does eye strain heal itself?
Eye strain heals on its own. Temporary eye strain can be treated with some simple lifestyle changes. You need to see your eye doctor if you experience permanent, long-term or severe eye strain.
Disclaimer: The advice in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical care or an in-person check-up. Please check with an eyecare professional before purchasing any products or remedies. For information on our article review process, please refer to our Editorial Policy.
Dr Alastair Lockwood is an experienced ophthalmologist and eye health advisor. The major focus of his career is on preventing sight loss caused by glaucoma and other serious eye conditions. Along with undergraduate training at Cambridge University and clinical training at Oxford University, Alastair has also completed an MRC-funded PhD at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Dr. Alastair combines surgical expertise with a passion for research, regularly advising his patients on various eye care concerns and prescribing dry eye treatments and eye care products.
