Eye strain is a common condition that occurs when your eyes get tired from long periods of focus, causing discomfort and potentially pain.
Eye strain can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the cause and severity. In most cases, symptoms improve once you rest your eyes and take a break from visually demanding activities. Relief can occur within minutes to a few hours. For mild cases, symptoms typically resolve within an hour after stopping intense eye-focus activities.
However, more severe cases may persist for several days, especially if the underlying cause isn’t addressed. You should consult your eye doctor if you frequently experience prolonged eye strain or severe symptoms. They can identify the root cause and recommend appropriate treatment options to help alleviate your symptoms and prevent recurrence.
Potential Underlying Causes of Eye Strain
Long periods of visually demanding tasks, like working on a computer, require our eyes to work harder than normal. This puts excessive strain on our eyes, quickly leading to eye fatigue.
Common factors that can cause eye strain include:
- Prolonged screen time: With the rise of technology, many people spend hours a day looking at screens for work or entertainment. This can lead to overworking your eye muscles and causing strain.
- Poor lighting: Insufficient or harsh lighting can cause you to squint or strain your eyes in order to see properly.
- Uncorrected vision problems: Unaddressed vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism can contribute to eye strain.
- The wrong prescription: On the other hand, having an outdated, underpowered, or overpowered prescription can also cause eye strain.
Common Symptoms of Eye Strain
In addition to the general feeling of discomfort or pain in your eyes, other common symptoms associated with eye strain include:
- Headaches: Often manifesting as a dull ache, headaches caused by eye strain can occur in the forehead, temples, or behind the eyes.
- Blurred vision: You may experience difficulty focusing on objects or notice that your vision is slightly blurry.
- Dry eyes: Extended screen time or intense focus can reduce blinking and lead to dry, irritated eyes.
- Sensitivity to light: Bright lights or screens may become more bothersome than usual.
Tips to Alleviate Eye Strain
Even with increased screen use, there are still steps you can take to help alleviate eye strain and prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some helpful tips:
- Take frequent breaks: It’s important to give your eyes a rest by taking regular breaks from activities that require intense focus, such as reading, writing, or staring at a computer or phone screen for extended periods.
- Blink often: We tend to blink less during long periods of focus, so make a conscious effort to blink more often. Blinking is essential as it helps to lubricate the eyes naturally, keeping them moist and preventing them from becoming dry and irritated.
- Adjust lighting: Make sure your workspace is well-lit but not excessively bright. Proper lighting reduces glare and minimizes eye strain. Use curtains or blinds to limit glare from windows and position overhead lights to avoid direct reflection on your screens.
- Use proper posture: Maintain good posture by keeping your computer monitor at arm’s length and slightly below eye level. This not only ensures a comfortable viewing angle but also helps reduce strain on your neck, shoulders, and back.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule: To help prevent digital eye strain, every 20 minutes, take a break for at least 20 seconds and look at something 20 feet away. This simple practice can help relax and refocus your eyes to combat fatigue.
- Use artificial tears: If you experience dry eyes, using over-the-counter artificial tears can provide quick, temporary relief. They help replenish moisture, alleviate discomfort, and keep your tear film healthy.
- Get regular eye exams: Schedule regular checkups to monitor your eye health. These exams can help detect and address any potential vision problems before they develop into more significant issues.
Prioritize Your Eye Health with Calgary Trail Vision Centre’s Comprehensive Care
Eye strain is a common issue that affects many people, especially those who spend long hours working on computers or focusing on small details. By taking steps to reduce eye strain and regularly visiting an optometrist, you can maintain good eye health and prevent any potential problems from escalating.
At Calgary Trail Vision Centre, we are dedicated to helping you maintain optimal eye health. Our team of experienced optometrists offers comprehensive eye exams and a wide range of products and services to address your vision concerns. Prioritize your eye health and contact us today to schedule an appointment.