Tired eye is another term for what is commonly known as eyestrain, ocular fatigue, or asthenopia. When eyes feel achy, weak, or heavy due to intense use.
WHAT CAUSES TIRED EYES?
Tired eyes can come from any number of activities. Some of the most common include;
- Too little sleep,
- Allergies,
- Working on the computer for too long,
- Poor lighting conditions,
- Stressed or fatigued,
- Exposure to dry moving air, such as a fan, air conditioner,er or heater.
- Underlying eye conditions, such as dry eye or uncorrected refractive error.
- Driving a car for prolonged periods of time,
- Reading for long periods, or
- Any other activity that may require the eyes to maintain intense focus for long periods of time.
SYMPTOMS OF TIRED EYES:
- Eye redness or irritation
- Dry eyes
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Pain around the eyes
- Headaches that may be aggravated by using your eyes
- Vertigo
- Twitching of facial muscles
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Feeling of heaviness in the eyes
TREATMENTS FOR TIRED EYES
Tired eyes are annoying most times. There are a few ways to prevent eye strain. They include;
- Get enough sleep
- Check your lighting: a high amount of contrast will put more strain on your eyes, so whether you are reading, watching TV, or working on the computer, make sure you have the room lit evenly, so your eyes don’t have to work as hard.
- Ensure that your glasses or contact lens prescription is up-to-date. The prescription of the eye has natural changes over time
- Take breaks using the 20-20-20 rule by shifting your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.
- Sit at arm’s length, approximately 25 inches from the computer screen.
- Position your screen so your gaze is slightly downward.
- Use a matte screen filter to reduce glare when looking at a glass screen.
- Adjust your screen settings, including brightness, contrast, and type size so that it’s easier to see.
- Use artificial tears: Artificial tears help keep your eyes lubricated, which can relieve or prevent dry eyes caused by straining.
- Blink often to help replenish your eye’s own tears
- Keep your screen clean. Dirty screen with finger prints and other debris can strain your eyes even more.
- Improve your space’s air quality: Making changes to the air quality in your surroundings, such as using a humidifier, can help prevent dry eyes. Avoid having air blowing directly at your face. You can do this by moving your chair away from heating and air conditioning vents or moving fans or space heaters. When driving, position vents away from your face.
- In an attempt to reduce the possible harm and potentially negative effects of extended blue light exposure, eyeglass manufacturers have developed eyeglass lenses with blue light special lens coating which helps to relieve eyestrain.