Eye Strain: All the Things One Must Know About!

Jun 04, 2019

Asthenopia or Eye Strain

Asthenopia, commonly known as eye strain, is a widespread problem that occurs when eyes feel tired after long and/or intensive use. For example, while reading closely, driving, working on the computer for long, etc. Eye strains can be stressing for many as it leads to a headache and pain in the eyes.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms include:

hurting eyes that become sore and itchy
severe headache
blurred or double visions
watery or dry eyes
high sensitivity to light
difficulty in concentrating or focusing
difficulty in keeping the eyes open

Causes

Common causes of eyestrain include:

constantly looking at digital device screens
reading without resting the eyes
driving for long hours
sudden exposure to bright lights
trying to focus in an inadequate amount of light
having other eye vision-related problems
being stressed & tired
exposure to dry moving air from a fan or air-conditioning system

Digital Eye Strain: The Rising Cause

Today, digital eye strain is prominent among all the people suffering from the condition. This is one of the rising causes and a prominent factor behind eye strain. Usage of digital devices like computers, at length, can lead to the condition of eyestrain. The eyestrain due to digital devices is known as digital eyestrain. People who work before computer screens for two or more hours constantly every day can feel the stain in the eyes. Computers affect the eyes severely and make the person more prone to the condition of eye strain. Also, there are different other things one does that can cause eyestrain. Some of them include:

blinking helps in moistening the eyes, however, people blink less while using the computer.
viewing screens at less than the required distances or and even at bad angles
using reflective devices
watching screens at lower than adequate brightness and contrast
bad setup of the computer

Treatment

Generally, the right way to cure the problem is to change the lifestyle or a few daily habits. However, some people also need specific treatment for underlying conditions like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Doctors also recommend specific eyeglasses to do certain activities like, reading and using a computer. These eyeglasses reduce the eyestrain. Apart from that, there are some eye exercises as well which one must follow.

Lifestyle & Other Remedies

Following are the things that one must imply in their day-to-day activities to avoid the risk of eye strain.

Adjusting the lights can be helpful. Proper lighting can make the eyes stress less and watch things with ease. Neither too bright nor too dim lights will work. One must go for softly lit lights.
A tip while reading can be taking care of the light source. One must put the light source behind in order to put direct light to the object or the book. However, when one is reading on the desk, the light must be kept in front. This helps in avoiding the direct light from shining directly in the eyes.
Taking regular breaks must be there in between the tasks. When someone is closely working on something, taking occasional breaks is important. This helps in relaxing the stressed muscles and reduces the risk of eye strains. One can place the elbows on the desk and face the palms up. Now, one can place the head in the palms, while making the fingers touch the forehead. Afterward, one must close the eyes and take deep breaths while holding it for 4-5 seconds. Repeating the same for 15 to 30 seconds to avoid the risk of eyestrain is favorable. One can do this easy exercise many times a day.
Limiting the screen time can be one of the effective ways to stay clear of the eye strain. Children must follow this and should not continuously watch a screen for long hours. Children must be aware of the extended times and how and when to take regular breaks while watching screens.
Using artificial tears can help in the prevention of dry eyes. One can even use them to clean the eyes and keep them properly lubricated. Doctors can help in suggesting the right kind of eyedrops as per the condition of the eyes. However, one must avoid using the eye drops as redness removers as that may worsen the eyes.
If someone is driving long distances, wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses and also UV protection is useful.
Improving the air quality of the space around is also helpful. Some of the changes that can help to avoid the risk of dry eyes include, using a humidifier, modifying the thermostat to decrease blowing air, and changes like avoiding smoke. If one has the habit of smoking, quitting the same will be helpful. Leaving the space or shifting the chair to a separate area can help to reduce the amount of dry air coming on the eyes and face.
Choosing the right eyewear is important. If one requires eyeglasses or contacts for working on a computer, investing in good quality glasses or contact lenses made specifically for computer work is of utmost importance. One can ask the optometrist about all the lens coatings & tints to choose the best.