Stressed and tired eyes: what causes them and how to relieve the discomfort Our eyes are subjected to various factors on a daily basis that can cause discomfort and irritation. If you've ever felt your eyes getting stressed, tired or even burning, know that there are reasons behind this eye discomfort and find out below about some effective strategies for relieving tension and regaining visual comfort. Eyestrain is eye fatigue that results mainly from overexertion. After many hours reading, working on digital screens or driving non-stop, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Pain in the eyes
• Eyes burning
• Extremely dry or watery eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Tiredness
• Neck, back and shoulder pain (postural pain)
• Headaches caused by eyestrain
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Eye twitches
• Red and itchy eyes

There are various causes of these symptoms, such as:

• Too much screen time
• Prolonged use of digital devices
• Reading without resting your eyes
• Bright light, glare in the workplace or prolonged exposure to bright light
• Working or reading in poorly lit or dark areas
• Stress and sleep deprivation
• Driving long distances without stopping to rest
• Vision problems, such as refractive errors
• Chronic dry eyes
• Glasses with outdated graduations

In some cases, to relieve eyestrain, your specialist may prescribe glasses that suit your digital and mobile lifestyle. Eyestrain can also be a sign of an eye disease or visual problem, which requires proper diagnosis and treatment. There are some self-help tips you can try to relieve or prevent eye pain, but the most important thing is to consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist first to clarify what is causing your discomfort.

1. Blink regularly when using electronic devices to keep your eyes moisturised.
2. 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds to relax the eye muscles.
3. Adequate rest: Make sure you get enough quality sleep to allow your eyes to recover during the night.
4. Hydration: Stay hydrated to help keep moisture in your eyes.
5. Adequate lighting: Make sure that the lighting around you is comfortable and does not cause excessive reflections on the screens.
6. Use of eye lubricants: Lubricating drops can be useful for relieving dryness and burning sensations.
7. Regular eye examinations: If discomfort persists, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist to assess and treat any underlying eye problems.
8. Avoid blue light before going to bed: when the eyes are exposed to a certain intensity and spectrum of blue light, the body releases less melatonin (the sleep hormone), which means you'll be more alert and awake for longer.

Wearing glasses can help reduce the feeling of eyestrain and there are now several options available, adjusted to the most varied lifestyles, which will help reduce the feeling of eyestrain.

Book an optometry appointment now with the São Ópticas team for more information and advice.