If you’ve ever noticed a heavy, sore sensation around your eyes after spending time using a screen, you were probably dealing with eye strain. It’s a common problem that often occurs when you focus intensely on something for too long without taking breaks.
The symptoms of eye strain typically last for a few hours or a day, depending on the severity of your strain. In some situations, eye strain can persist, and symptoms may reoccur for several days. Preventive measures are key to maintaining comfortable vision.
What Causes Eye Strain?
Most of us use screens every day—whether for work, school, or entertainment. It’s easy to forget to take a break here and there, but this can affect our eye comfort and overall health.
Focusing on near work for too long can cause our eyes to work harder than normal, causing eye fatigue. Spending too long using screens can often lead to digital eye strain.
The intense focus required for using screens often strains the delicate muscles inside your eyes. These muscles, which are used for focusing your eyes and controlling vision, need regular breaks to function properly.
Think of the last time you held something heavy for too long. Eventually, it becomes harder to keep your muscles tense, and they weaken.
Similarly, your eyes struggle when they’re forced to focus at a set distance for too long. And when combined with poor lighting, posture, and brightness levels, your eyes can quickly become exhausted.
Symptoms & Risk Factors
Some common causes include:
- Spending long periods on computers, smartphones, or watching TV.
- Focusing on tasks like reading or studying for too long.
Additionally, certain factors can contribute to worsening
- Improper lighting
- Excessive glare
- Poor posture
- Uncorrected vision issues
It’s worth noting your situation may vary. If you regularly deal with eye strain, try paying attention to your screen habits. Identifying your personal triggers makes it easier to take preventive action to avoid strain in the future.
Why Am I More Prone to Digital Eye Strain?
When you look at a screen, the letters and images aren’t necessarily as crisp or precisely defined. The contrast between the text and the background is also lower, forcing your eyes to strain more to read.
Glare and reflections can also add excess stimuli for your eyes, making viewing uncomfortable.
How Do Vision Issues Worsen Eye Strain?
Uncorrected or under-corrected vision problems can place additional strain on your eyes, potentially exacerbating discomfort and blurry vision.
Even if you already wear glasses, you may notice they’re not ideal for screen viewing. Most glasses are designed for general use and may not be optimized for intensive near work like working on a computer.
You may also naturally tilt your head to try to see clearer, affecting your posture, which in turn leads to neck and shoulder pian.
The Symptoms Of Eye Strain
When your eyes are strained, you may notice feelings of heaviness and soreness. It might feel like your eyes weigh twice as much as normal or like something is pressing against their sides.
Other common symptoms of eye strain include:
- Blurry or reduced vision
- Watery or dry eyes
- Headaches
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Tension around your eyes
- Sensitivity to bright light
- Difficulty focusing on objects
Symptoms typically go away once your eyes are fully rested. The discomfort tends to last for a few hours, though it may persist for longer, depending on the extent of your strain.
If you notice significant discomfort at any point or sudden pain, visit your optometrist. These aren’t typical symptoms of eye strain and could indicate something more serious.
Tips For Preventing Eye Strain
Resting your eyes, staying hydrating, and avoiding excessive screen time can help reduce your symptoms.
Preventing eye strain comes down to making mindful changes to your routine. Here are some easy tips to follow:
- Practice the 20-20-20 rule by looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of screen time.
- Adjust your screen’s brightness and contrast to reduce glare.
- Make your workspace lighting even, without harsh glares or shadows.
- Position your screens at arm’s length and slightly below eye level for comfort.
Find Relief From Eye Strain
While eye strain is a common problem, we can help you manage and prevent this condition in the future. Small changes often go a long way in reducing your discomfort!
Relief is within reach. If you’ve noticed significant discomfort, eye strain, or any other unusual eye symptom, contact our team at Great Hills Eye Care. We’re ready to help you find clearer, more comfortable vision.
