Eye strain
Eye strain (asthenopia) is the set of symptoms that appear when the eyes work for a long time without breaks, especially up close. With computers, smartphones and tablets it has become very common: it affects most people who spend many hours in front of a screen.
What are the causes?
- Uncorrected vision problems or glasses that are no longer suitable: astigmatism, hyperopia, early presbyopia
- Many hours at the computer without breaks
- Inadequate lighting or reflections on the screen
- Dry eye: in front of a screen we blink less
- Poor posture and a screen that is too close or too high
How to recognise it
- Burning, irritation, dryness or watering
- Vision that temporarily blurs while reading
- Heavy, sore eyes
- Headaches, especially at the end of the day
- Difficulty concentrating
Why does it occur?
To see well up close, the eyes must constantly focus and converge. If they do this for hours, or if there is a small vision problem to compensate for, they get tired. In addition, in front of a screen we blink less: tears evaporate faster and the surface of the eye dries out.
How to reduce eye strain
- Have your eyes checked: the cause is often a small uncorrected problem or a prescription that needs updating.
- Lenses suited to close work: there are lenses designed for people who spend many hours at the computer, including those who do not yet need progressives.
- 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look into the distance, at least 6 metres (20 feet) away, for 20 seconds, and blink.
- Posture and screen: screen at about arm's length and slightly below eye level, with no reflections.
- Artificial tears if your eyes feel dry.
- Blue-violet light filters: some people find them more comfortable in front of screens.
If symptoms are frequent or do not improve, see an ophthalmologist as well.
Tired eyes at the end of the day?
Often all it takes is an updated prescription or a lens designed for close work. Book an eye test at Ottica Paoletti in Pieve di Soligo.
Or discover our eye drops and artificial tears.