OPHTHALMOLOGY

Gregory Eippert, MD

Q: Over the past few weeks I notice that my eyes always feel tired. Sometimes I have a burning sensation and blurry vision when trying to focus on my computer monitor. I also experience an occasional headache after reading or driving for a long period of time. Is this just eye strain or something else? A: The medical term for what you are describing, eye strain, is asthenopia, a group of non-specific symptoms that occur after prolonged use of the eyes. Symptoms of eye strain may include eye fatigue, soreness of the eyes, blurred vision, difficulty focusing, headaches, occasional double vision, itchiness, dryness, a gritty or sandy feeling, light sensitivity, and squinting. Eye strain, a very common condition, can occur after working on a computer, extended reading, long-distance driving, using digital devices, close-up activities or visually intense tasks, environmental factors such as wind or sun glare, internal conditions such as heating and air conditioning, and even sleep deprivation. Sometimes eye strain can be due to specific visual problems such as uncorrected refractive errors. There are a number of proactive ways to help avoid eye strain in various settings. 1) For visually intensive/near tasks, take frequent breaks and follow the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, shift your eyes to look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. 2) Get an updated prescription for your glasses or contact lenses. If you need glasses, do wear them so that you don’t have to squint or make your eyes work as hard. Using corrective eyewear will not make your eyes become dependent upon the eyewear. 3) Blink more. People usually blink an average of 18 times a minute which naturally refreshes the eyes. Studies suggest that people only blink about half as often when doing extended visual tasks. 4) Use artificial tears frequently to help keep your eyes moist and comfortable. 5) Get enough sleep. During sleep, our eyes can rest for an extended period and are replenished by nutrients. 6) In your home or office setting, adjust lighting to maximize illumination while minimizing glare. 7) When using computers, adjust the height of your chair or table so that the middle of the monitor screen is 15-20 degrees below eye level. Depending on the size, monitors should be 16-30” from your eyes. 8) For both computers and digital devices, adjust them for maximum screen resolution and brightness without glare. Use filter screens to avoid glare if needed.

Eye strain is rarely a serious condition and usually goes away after resting one’s eyes. Although uncomfortable, eye strain does not lead to damage of the eyes or change the anatomy in any way. If you have more than occasional discomfort, ongoing pain, visual loss, or eye redness, see your eye doctor for a thorough checkup and to discuss your symptoms.