​Taking the strain out of tired eyes

Feb 24, 2021

There are various causes of tired eyes but generally speaking, if you are suffering from eye strain it would suggest you are overworking your peepers. Everything from too much screen time to driving for long periods of time, can cause tired eyes. Here we look at some of the symptoms to look out for (no pun intended) if your eyes feel tired and what you can do to help ease eye strain.

Causes of tired eyes

Any activity that requires your eyes to be focused for a long time can leave your eyes feeling tired. Unsurprisingly, this makes your computer or smartphone one of the most common causes of eye strain. It is estimated that up to 90% of people who use a computer for more than three hours a day experience ‘computer vision syndrome’.

Other causes of tired eyes include reading intensively, poor lighting, which includes trying to main focus in both dim or very bright lighting, driving, allergy and simply not getting enough sleep.

Symptoms of tired eyes

You know your eyes are tired if you’re having difficulty focusing, blurred vision (that passes), or sore, dry or irritated eyes. Other common symptoms of eyestrain include increased sensitivity to light, a feeling of heaviness in the eyes and also headaches.

Treatment for tired eyes

There are some logical precautions you can take to help relieve the symptoms of tired eyes. If you know you spend more time than you should in front of a screen, schedule in regular breaks. If you’re not getting enough sleep, address this issue first and your eyes should soon feel better.

Most people suffering from tired eyes also find relief from the use of eye drops. A. Vogel's Eye Drops with Euphrasia and hyaluronic acid, are a favourite for dry, irritated or tired eyes. Just one drop 4 to 5 times daily can help to soothe and maintain lubrication of the eyes. They are also suitable to use whilst wearing contact lenses. For extremely dry eyes try their Extra Moisturising Eye Drops with double the amount of hyaluronic acid.

A little eye cream or gel dabbed around your eye and gently smoothed into your eyelids can also help to freshen tired eyes. We love Natura Siberica’s Anti-Puffiness Eye Gel .

Our tired eyes checklist:

  1. Take regular breaks from prolonged activity, especially screen breaks
  2. Check your lighting
  3. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, make sure your prescription is up-to-date - if your eyes are constantly struggling to focus, they’ll soon feel tired
  4. Show your eyes a little TLC
  5. Make sure you get enough sleep

Should I see a doctor for tired eyes?

Tired eyes are usually an annoyance more than anything. However, if your tired eyes are unexplained, if your vision is affected – for example if your vision is blurred or you have double vision that does not go away, or you think your symptoms may be the result of an underlying medical condition, then you should speak to your doctor or eye care professional.

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