Ever experienced exhausted eyes or have difficulty focusing your vision? You could be suffering from eye fatigue!

Eye fatigue, tired eyes, or eye strain is a common issue, especially in the digital age when focusing on a screen for hours at a time has become the norm.

If you’ve ever experienced eye fatigue, you may be wondering what causes it, the symptoms to look out for and how to prevent it in the future. If so, keep reading!

What is Eye Fatigue?

Eye fatigue occurs after prolonged periods of eye focus, such as when looking at a screen, driving or reading. When the eyes are focused for too long, the lens doesn’t get enough time to relax, leading to strained or tired eyes.

Thankfully, eye fatigue symptoms are usually temporary and can be fixed with a few minor lifestyle changes.

What Are the Symptoms of Eye Fatigue?

Eye fatigue symptoms may include:

• Sore, itching or burning eyes
• Watery or dry eyes
• Tired eyes or heavy eyelids that may be difficult to keep open
• Blurred or double vision
• Difficulty focussing
• Eye or eyelid spasms
• Headache
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Increased sensitivity to light

What Causes Eye Fatigue?

There are several factors that can cause eye fatigue. The most common causes of eye fatigue are:

• Use of screened devices such as computers, smartphones or televisions without regular breaks
• Prolonged focus on reading materials
• Driving for long distances
• Straining to see in low light
• Glare or very bright light
• Being exposed to dry, circulating air
• Stress or tiredness

How Do You Fix Eye Fatigue?

The best way to combat eye fatigue is through prevention and by making small changes to your behaviour and environment. Changes you can make to prevent eye fatigue symptoms include:

• Take regular breaks when looking at a screen, book, or anything that requires your eyes to focus for an extended period.
• Wear appropriate prescription eyewear – book an eye test to find your perfect prescription.
• Place digital screens further from your face than you would position reading material, ensure screens are clean and match the display brightness to your surroundings.
• Maintain eye moisture by blinking regularly (we often blink less when focusing) and use eye drops that improve eye lubrication or prevent dry eyes. Book a dry eye consultation with us.
• Point fans or heaters that circulate air away from your face, and use a humidifier if your environment feels too dry.

If you still experience eye fatigue after following these steps, talk with your optometrist.

Ready to book your eye test or explore our eye care options?