Asthenopia is a term used to describe abnormalities in the eye area, such as eye pain, dryness, or eye irritation. The cause is often from continuous and prolonged use of the eyes. In most cases, eye strain will go away on its own after resting the eyes for a period of time.
Nowadays, eye strain can be common when using smartphones, tablets or computers continuously for long periods of time. Using these devices may be difficult to avoid, but reducing other risk factors or adjusting the way you use your eyes may help relieve eye strain.
Eye strain
Symptoms of eye strain vary from person to person. Common symptoms after excessive eye use include eye pain, eye socket pain, dry eyes, itchy eyes, eye irritation, tearing, red eyes, blurred vision, or increased sensitivity to light.
These symptoms can also trigger headaches, fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, and migraines. These symptoms are usually harmless, but if they become severe and affect your daily life, you should see a doctor for further examination.
Causes of eye strain
Eye strain is caused by continuous use of the eyes for a long time. It can often occur while reading, driving, working at a computer screen, using a smartphone, being in bright light, using eyes in dark or low light conditions, working in jobs that require constant eye strain, or being exposed to wind, causing dry eyes. In addition, people with dry eyes, abnormal vision, or corneal problems may also experience this symptom.
Diagnosis of eye strain
Initially, eye strain symptoms may be detected by yourself from observing behaviors that are at risk of causing such symptoms or symptoms found after doing such behaviors. In the case of seeing a doctor, the doctor may ask about symptoms found and risky behaviors that may cause such symptoms, including checking vision or measuring eyesight values that may be the cause of these symptoms.
Treatment of eye strain
When eye strain occurs, you should rest your eyes for a while to reduce eye strain. If your eyes are dry, you may use artificial tears to add moisture to your eyes, which will help reduce dryness and irritation. In addition, you should avoid sitting in front of a fan or air conditioner. Instead, change the direction of the wind so that it does not directly touch your eyes. Also, adjust the screen brightness from various devices or the light in the room to suit the activity being done at that time.
Complications of eye strain
Eye strain is a mild symptom that can heal on its own. However, frequent eye strain can affect your daily life, work, or study. Therefore, you should avoid risky behaviors to prevent this symptom from occurring.
Preventing eye strain
You can reduce your risk of eye strain by following these steps:
- Limit the time you spend on your eyes, such as reading, working, or playing with your smartphone, and rest your eyes for at least 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
- Blinking frequently will help keep your eyes moist.
- Avoid using your eyes in dark or low-light conditions and adjust the lighting to suit your work or activity.
- When using a computer, your eyes should be 20-26 inches away from the screen, and the brightness and level of the screen should be adjusted to suit your vision, not too bright or too dark.
- Wear appropriate eyewearfor the task, such as reading glasses, sunglasses, or electronic glasses.
- Use a device to filter light from your computer screen.
- Avoid sitting in front of a fan or air conditioner, which exposes your eyes to direct wind, to prevent dry eyes.
In addition, eating foods that nourish the eyes , such as sea fish, eggs, beans, oranges, lemons, and green vegetables, may also help reduce the risk of eye strain. However, if eye strain persists for a long time or becomes more severe, you should see a doctor for proper treatment.
