Eye strain is really common. It happens when our eyes get tired from intense use. This could be after you’ve driven for long periods or if you stare at a computer screen and other digital devices like many of us do at work all day.
This is why the moniker of “digital eye strain” has been adopted by many people in recent years. It is also known as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It is a collection of vision and eye symptoms that come from the extended use of digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and e-readers.
Below, we’re covering everything you need to know about eye strain. From the causes and symptoms to prevention methods and potential treatment options if your eye strain is linked to other eye conditions.
What Causes Eye Strain?
There are a number of risk factors for eye fatigue and strain. An eye muscle imbalance can contribute to eye strain, for example. As can wearing the incorrect prescription if you wear glasses.
Here are the most significant contributing factors for eye strain:
- Looking at digital screens
- Reading without pausing to rest your eyes
- The reduced contrast of digital screens compared to print can make reading on screens more difficult
- Driving long distances (and any other factors requiring focus for extended periods)
- Bright light or glares
- Dim light and blue light – poor lighting conditions, screen glare, improper viewing distances, and uncorrected vision problems can exacerbate symptoms
- Having an underlying eye condition such as uncorrected vision (refractive errors) or dry eyes
- Being stressed, tired or fatigued
- Being exposed to dry air from a fan, your car’s heaters or an air conditioning system.
Digital Eye Strain
If you use a computer all day, there is a chance that you have digital eye strain. People who look at a screen for more than two hours in a row every day are much more likely to experience eye strain.
This is because:
- We typically blink less when using a computer (3-5 times less often!)
- Look at screens at distances or angles that strain our eyes
- Use devices that have a glare or reflection that means we need to focus more
- Use devices with poor contrast
Eye strain occurs when you’ve focused for long periods, but certain factors can worsen the symptoms, like using digital devices. This form of eye fatigue can be annoying and frustrating but isn’t usually serious.
For most, taking regular breaks is enough to clear up the symptoms of eye strain that affect day-to-day life, but in some cases, further treatment is needed.
Let’s explore the symptoms and then look at ways of preventing eye fatigue and strain.
The Symptoms of Eye Strain
Eye strain symptoms can include:
- Double or blurred vision
- Burning, itchy, tired or sore eyes
- Dry or watery eyes
- Feeling that you can’t keep your open
- Sore neck, shoulders or back
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Difficulty concentrating
Can Eye Strain Be Prevented?
Making simple changes to your daily routine can be enough to eliminate eye strain altogether.
Change Your Eye Care Routine
A few alterations to your eye care routine can be enough to altogether remove temporary eye strain, for example:
- If you wear contacts, give your eyes a break by wearing glasses once or twice a week
- Ensure you get an eye exam every year (or when your eye doctor recommends), but it’s even more critical if you have dry eyes or eye strain, as this could be a result of changes to your prescription.
- When your eyes feel dry, you can use eye drops to help lubricate them.
- Use an air cleaner to filter out dust in the air
Change Your Work Environment
If you think that work may be causing your eye fatigue, there’s plenty that you can do, including:
- If possible, change the lighting in your office to get rid of glare and reflections
- Use an adjustable chair
- Use a glare filter on your digital screen
- Use screens that tilt
- Clean your screen regularly
Change Your Habits
Whether you suffer from eye strain more at work or home, there are ways to change your habits that can do wonders, including:
- Use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
- Take a 15-minute break after every two hours you spend on your device
- Remember to blink – stick a post-it note on your computer screen that says ‘blink’ as a friendly reminder
- Stay hydrated
Eye strain treated or managed by changing certain habits and aspects of your daily life can be improved very quickly. If these changes have little to no effect on your eyes, lubricating eye drops like artificial tears can help, but seek advice from an eye doctor before treating these kinds.
Eye Strain Treatments
The prevention methods above are usually enough to ease and calm eye strain symptoms. However, sometimes, the treatments are more involved.
If you suffer from eye strain symptoms a lot and haven’t had your eye tested in a while, you should. The symptoms of eye strain are not exclusive to this eye condition. So, while your burning eyes, blurred vision and other symptoms might be caused by digital eye strain, you should get your eyes tested if you aren’t sure.
If your eye doctor confirms that you have an eye condition you weren’t aware of, there are plenty of treatment options available to you, including:
Prescription Glasses or Contact Lenses
Eye strain isn’t just caused by using a screen and poor lighting; it can also be caused by overcompensating for poor eyesight. If you find yourself squinting at a screen or while driving, it’s time to get an eye test.
You should wear glasses or contacts more frequently if you already wear them. There is also a chance that your prescription has changed. So, it’s worth booking one if it’s been a while since your last eye exam.
Laser Eye Surgery
If you’d like to say goodbye to glasses, laser eye surgery is the way to go. Laser eye surgery won’t cure eye strain (unless your glasses were wrong, in which case it will help), but changing your habits can relieve the symptoms. This surgery can help with underlying eye conditions and let you live without glasses or contact lenses.
At Focus, we provide stress-free laser eye surgery in London and have a 100% success rate for 20/20 vision for all common short-sighted prescriptions.
If you’d like to take steps to a clearer future without glasses, Focus is here to help. Read our laser eye surgery reviews to see what others say about our laser eye services.
Uncorrected vision and prolonged use of digital devices are among the biggest causes of digital eye strain symptoms. So, if you’ve been suffering from eye strain for a while, get an eye test, find out what’s going on with your eyes and then explore the different treatment options available.
When Should You See a Healthcare Provider?
If self-care treatments for eye strain aren’t helping you, it’s time to see an eye doctor or go for an eye test. This is an indication that eye strain isn’t the only issue, and further investigation is needed to determine what is causing the symptoms you’re experiencing.
The Complications Related to Eye Strain Symptoms
While frustrating and annoying, eye strain doesn’t usually have any long-term consequences and isn’t severe. However, if you’ve been suffering from eye strain and want to take steps to reduce the symptoms in your life, follow the prevention methods above and ensure you book an eye test soon.
If you need to wear glasses or contacts, ensure that your prescription is up-to-date.
If you want to enjoy a life free from prescription glasses, look into laser eye surgery. Find out whether you’re eligible for laser eye surgery, the eye conditions laser eye surgery can treat, and more on our website.
For a free consultation, please get in touch.
