Have you experienced symptoms of tired eyes, such as dry eyes, watery eyes, heavy eyes, irritation or itching? Perhaps you've been staring at a screen for too long? Tired eyes occur when you overstrain them by focusing for too long at the same distance, for example during prolonged screen work or reading a book.
You will tense the muscles around your eyes more when you concentrate in front of a screen, book, or steering wheel. Many people also experience headaches or pain around their eyes after prolonged concentration. Fortunately, there are many good tips to prevent and relieve the symptoms.
What causes tired eyes?
Screen time: One of the biggest culprits behind tired eyes is excessive screen time. When you spend a long time in front of your computer, tablet or mobile, you don't blink as often as usual, which dries out your eyes more and makes them tired.
Bright light: You can also get tired eyes due to bright light or glare from the screen. Screens also emit blue light, which can cause further strain on your eyes.
Lack of sleep: Lack of sleep can also make your eyes more vulnerable to irritation and fatigue. So make sure you get enough sleep to relieve eye fatigue.
Long drives: You will typically experience tired eyes after a long drive, where you have been concentrating behind the wheel at the same distance. Remember to take breaks along the way – and feel free to wear sunglasses if the sun is shining, as they reduce the reflection of light.
Constant focus: Monotonous work that requires constant focus at the same distance and without breaks can also cause eye fatigue. This is often seen in those who work with smaller objects such as dentists, surgeons or those who read a lot.
Incorrect prescription: Eye fatigue can also be a sign that you need glasses – or have the wrong prescription in your glasses or contact lenses. If your vision corrections are not correct, you force your eyes to work harder to focus, which can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness and fatigue. This can often be solved with a pair of reading glasses with the correct strength if you are longsighted.
If you are looking for new reading glasses, you can take a look at our large selection of different models, whether you prefer round reading glasses, square reading glasses or small reading glasses.
Do you have tired eyes?
The symptoms of tired eyes can vary from person to person, but the 12 most common symptoms that you have tired eyes are:
- Dryness
- Watery eyes
- Gritty sensation in the eyes
- Discharge that glues eyes together after sleep
- Redness
- Soreness around the eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Itching
- Irritated eyes
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty focusing
- Headache
What can you do about tired eyes?
Preventing tired eyes largely involves taking breaks, for example, from the screen, and giving your eyes a chance to rest. The Danish Health Authority recommends using the 20-20-20 rule when sitting in front of a screen:
- Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen
- Look at something at least 6 meters away (20 feet)
- … and hold your gaze for about 20 seconds
Another important thing to avoid tired eyes is to blink more frequently. When you blink, your eyes get moisture and are cleansed, which prevents dryness and irritation. If you often experience dry eyes, it might also be a good idea to try artificial tears (eye drops), which can keep your eyes moist and relieve symptoms.
Psst! Also get plenty of fresh air – and by going outside in the fresh wind, you increase your blink rate.
Can glasses help with tired eyes?
Glasses and contact lenses with the correct prescription will also help you with tired eyes by reducing the strain your eyes are subjected to, for example, when focusing for a long time in front of a screen. We always recommend that you have your vision tested every year by an optician. Regular eye exams ensure that your reading glasses or contact lenses have the correct strength.
Therefore... if you experience that your eyes feel tired, even if you wear glasses or contact lenses, it may be time to have your prescription checked.
When should you seek help?
If your symptoms of tired eyes persist or worsen, we recommend that you have your eyes checked by an optician or ophthalmologist, as they can perform a thorough eye examination and assess whether reading glasses, multifocal glasses, contact lenses or another treatment is needed.
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