Eye strain

Eye strain means different things to different people. It can be experienced as burning, tension, sharp pains, dull pains, watering, blurring, double vision, headaches and other sensations.

Although eye strain can be annoying, it usually isn’t serious and goes away once you rest your eyes. In some cases, signs and symptoms of eyestrain are a sign of an underlying eye condition that needs treatment. Although you may not be able to change the nature of your job or all the factors that can cause eye strain, you can take steps to reduce eye strain.

Eye strain occurs when you over-use your eye muscles. Any muscle held in one position too long will strain.

Causes

The main causes of eye strain are:

• • Focusing the eyes for prolonged periods on a fixed object, especially one that is held close to the eyes. The eyes are designed to shift focus between near and distant objects and extended focusing on a single object can cause eye strain. Eyes are strained more by close viewing than by distant viewing. When you concentrate on a task such as reading, driving a car, working at the computer or watching television for any length of time; your inner eye muscles tighten up, causing your eyes to get irritated, dry and uncomfortable.

• • Poor lighting. Doing close work in poor light forces your eyes to focus under difficult conditions.

• • Glare, either direct or reflected, makes it difficult to see and causes strain. Direct glare is when a light source shines directly into the eyes (for example bright ceiling lights or sunny windows). Reflected glare, such as on computer screens, sometimes causes eye strain. This is because the contrast between the image you are viewing and its background is reduced by the reflected light, making it harder for your brain to interpret the image. As your eyes strain, facial and eye muscles tighten.

• • Contrast is the difference in brightness between what is being viewed and its immediate environment. Excessive contrast can lead to eye strain. This may occur if, for example, a dark screen is surrounded by a bright background such as a window or a lit wall, or if a screen shows light text on a dark background.

• • Vision problems. You may be straining to see because you need corrective glasses or because you need to update the prescription of your current glasses or contact lenses.

Treatment

The following steps will help you to treat your eye strain:

• • Place a cool compress over your eyes and lie down and relax for a few minutes

• • Keep your eyes moist. Use artificial tears if your eyes are excessively dry, but avoid eye drops meant to be used for another purpose

• • Blink frequently

• • Wear sunglasses when outside

• • Make sure your computer monitor is positioned 45 to 60 cm from your eyes and check for monitor glare

• • Do eye exercises to strengthen the muscles surrounding the eyes

• • See an optometrist if you think you need glasses. Check your glasses or contact lens prescription. Continuing eye strain may be an indication that it needs to be updated

• • Sleep a sufficient amount at night. Fatigue puts extra strain on your eyes.

 

Sources

Dahl, AA. Eye strain. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/eye_strain/article.htm.
Eyestrain. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eyestrain/basics/definition/con-20032649.

 

(Revised by M van Deventer)