EYE FATIGUE – FOCUS

Tired eyes! What happens to us when we push ourselves too hard?

Have you ever felt your eyes feel heavy, tired, or itchy? Or do they make you want to rub them constantly? Well, you're most likely experiencing eye strain ! It's like the "tiredness" our eyes feel after prolonged exertion, like when we exercise hard or study for hours!

The symptoms of tired eyes can vary greatly from person to person, but there are a number of common complaints:

• Red or swollen eyes! Like you've been crying or haven't slept well!
• A feeling of weight or heaviness in your eyes or eyelids! As if you had sand or something heavy on top of you!
• Itchy eyes and that irresistible urge to rub them! But be careful, rubbing too much isn't good!
• A feeling of grit or something stuck in your eye! How annoying!
• Dry eyes! Feeling rough and lacking lubrication!
• Dark circles and bags under the eyes! While they're sometimes caused by lack of sleep, they can also appear due to eye strain!
• Eye pricking and/or moderate pain! It feels like tiny needles are being stuck in your eyes!
• Headaches that are clearly caused by the strain on your eyes! They start after reading a lot or staring at a screen!
• Blurry vision that comes and goes quickly when you rest your eyes! It's like your eyes need a break to focus properly again!

Strabismus, when the eyes don't agree! How does it affect eye fatigue?

Remember when we talked about strabismus, the condition where your eyes don't look in the same place? Well, this can make eye strain even greater and contribute to eye fatigue. When your eyes aren't properly aligned, your brain has to work harder to merge the two images it receives, and this extra effort can be very tiring. Plus, if a lazy eye is associated with strabismus, the eye that's working harder has to compensate for the lack of sharpness in the other, further increasing fatigue!

How to relieve eye strain?

There are several things you can do to relieve those tired eye symptoms!

• Take regular breaks! If you're working on the computer or reading a lot, take breaks! Turn off the screen, look up, and stare at something far away for a few minutes to relax your eyes. It's like a "break" for your vision!
• Get your vision checked by an optometrist! It's essential to know if you need glasses or contact lenses. And if you already wear them, make sure you have the correct prescription! Wearing the wrong prescription can put a lot of strain on your eyes!
• Be aware of visual ergonomics! The distance and angle between your eyes and the computer screen are extremely important. Ideally, the screen should be at eye level or slightly below, at a distance of about 50-70 centimeters. Good posture also helps!
• Blink more often! When we're focused on a screen, we tend to blink less. And blinking is like giving your eyes a natural "wash," keeping them hydrated. So, make an effort to blink more! If you're feeling dry, you can use artificial tears to lubricate your eyes.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Eyestrain

1. What exactly is eye strain or asthenopia? Eye strain is the tiredness or strain your eyes experience after prolonged visual exertion, such as reading, working on a computer, or driving for long periods of time.
2. What are the most common symptoms of eyestrain? Symptoms include red or swollen eyes, a feeling of heaviness, burning, a gritty sensation, dry eyes, headaches related to eye strain, and temporary blurred vision.
3. Why does prolonged screen time cause eye strain? When we look at screens, we tend to blink less, which can cause dry eyes. Additionally, constantly focusing on the screen and the blue light emitted can tire our eyes.
4. Can strabismus (crossed eyes) contribute to eye strain? Yes, strabismus can require the brain to work extra hard to align images, which can increase eye strain.
5. What can I do to quickly relieve eye strain? Taking regular eye breaks, blinking frequently, and using artificial tears if you experience dryness can help relieve symptoms quickly.
6. Is it necessary to wear glasses or contact lenses to avoid eye strain? If you have a refractive problem (nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism), using the appropriate correction is essential to avoid eye strain and reduce eye strain.
7. What is visual ergonomics and how does it help prevent eye strain? Visual ergonomics, or Visual Hygiene, refers to maintaining a proper distance and angle between your eyes and the screen, as well as good posture, to reduce eye strain and prevent eye fatigue.
8. How often should I take visual breaks if I work a lot on the computer? The 20-20-20 rule is recommended: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (about 6 meters) away for at least 20 seconds. It's also good to take longer breaks every hour.
9. Is dry eye always related to eye strain? Dry eye can be a symptom of eye strain, especially when working with screens, since we blink less. However, it can also have other causes.
10. When should I see an eye care professional if I have eye strain? If eye strain persists or is accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pain, double vision, or sudden changes in vision, it's important to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist to rule out other causes and receive appropriate treatment.