What are tired eyes?

We demand a lot from our eyes: we work all day at our computer monitors, then in the evening we watch television or stare at our smartphone screens for hours. It's no wonder that many people suffer from tired eyes.

When you have tired eyes, your eyes feel fatigued. This usually occurs at the end of the (work) day, as your eyes have been straining all day. In the medical world, tired eyes are also called asthenopia.

How do I recognize tired eyes?

Tired eyes are often accompanied by the following complaints:

• A tired and exhausted feeling around the eyes

• Double vision

• Heavy or painful eyes

• Watery eyes

• Dry eyes

• Vague headache

• Blurred vision

• Having trouble focusing

What causes tired eyes?

There are several causes of tired eyes. The most common causes are:

• Intensive and prolonged screen use

• Other strenuous activities, such as reading or driving

• Fatigue

• Stress

• A refractive error that has been incorrectly corrected

What can I do about tired eyes?

You can generally easily treat tired eyes yourself. It's important to give your eyes plenty of rest.

• Make sure you get enough sleep, about 7-8 hours per night

• Follow the 20-20-2 rule. This means that after 20 minutes of screen time or close-up viewing, make sure you look into the distance for 20 seconds and go outside for 2 hours that day. This ensures you're giving your eyes enough rest, even if you work behind a screen every day.

• Choose glasses with a blue light filter. This type of glasses protects your eyes from harmful blue light and reduces exposure to blue-violet light.

• Reduce your screen time. Even though we live in a digital age, it's a good idea to reduce your screen time.

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