Due to the continuous use of technology, people are glued to their mobile or computer screens more often. Continuous exposure to technology or traveling long distances without breaks may result in eye strain. It is pretty annoying but can go away with time by giving rest to your eyes. Even though this condition is usually harmless but it can also be caused by an underlying eye condition that needs treatment so its signs must not be ignored. Proper care must be taken to reduce the burden on the eyes.
Symptoms
The medical term for eye strain is asthenopia. Reading books for long hours may also cause eye strain. The following symptoms must be kept in mind if you feel any:
- Sore and tired eyes
- Blurry or double vision
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Migraine or headache
- Dry eyes
Causes
The most obvious cause of asthenopia is the continuous exposure to mobile or computer screens. When the eye muscles are overused, it puts pressure on the nerves causing strain on the eyes. People who have long working hours on the computer or who play computer games continuously without giving rest to the eyes by blinking may experience extreme discomfort in the eyes. Some more causes are as follows:
- Reading for a long time without a break
- Traveling long distances
- Reading in dim light
- Underlying eye problem
- Refractive errors in glasses
- Stress and fatigue
All these causes may become worse if they are ignored persistently.
Treatment
Eye strain can be treated by making small lifestyle changes.
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Adjust lightning
People may find discomfort in bright lights. It is better if you focus the light on the reading material if you want to pull an all-nighter. Also, try to light up your room with soft lights if you want to watch TV at night.
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Wear glasses
Wearing the right kind of glasses may also lessen the burden on your eyes. You can wear glasses to work on your computer at night. There are reading glasses available as well for people who like to read at night.
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Eye drops
Eye drops may act as artificial tears to treat the dryness in your eyes. These over-the-counter eye drops can be purchased from an online pharmacy in Canada on the prescription of your GP. You must keep your eyes well-lubricated to prevent any symptoms of eye strain.
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Give rest to your eyes
Try to take a break in between your long hours of working on the computer. You will feel much better by resting your eyes for a few minutes. If you are working from home, you can put a slice of cucumber on your eyes to get the cooling sensation.
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Lessen the use of computers or mobiles
As long-term exposure to computer screens is the obvious cause of eye strain so it is better to only use the devices whenever you feel the need to. Try not to use the computer devices unnecessarily. Also, make a habit of switching off your devices at night.
