How to relieve eye strain: advice from an ophthalmologist

People who constantly work at a computer or sit in front of the TV may feel tension in their eye muscles. Prolonged exposure to the monitor on the eyes causes tension in the visual organs and dryness of the mucous membranes, which cause painful manifestations and redness of the sclera.

To relax muscles, experts recommend performing simple exercises that should bring relief. If the symptoms do not disappear after rest and special eye exercises, you should immediately visit an ophthalmologist.

Causes of eye strain

When working at a computer and watching TV, patients experience rapid eye fatigue. This disorder can occur in both adults and children. If existing manifestations are ignored, eye strain can affect the quality of visual functions and reduce visual acuity.

Severe eye strain can occur for the following reasons:

Eye strain in poor indoor lighting. Dim and subdued light is not recommended for use when reading, watching TV or working at the computer. When reading on the move and from monitors, irritation of the retina occurs, which is why the eyes quickly get tired.
Prolonged work with severe eye strain without breaks. The eyeballs hurt and get tired faster in people whose work is directly related to a computer monitor, since under intense stress the blood circulation in the eyes worsens.
Mental factors causing stress. When performing uninteresting work, people have to invest more energy to focus on the task. At the same moment, strong eye strain occurs. The body's internal protest against such work can cause the development of various ophthalmological disorders.

Treatment of eye asthenopia

Therapeutic measures will depend on the stage of the disease and its type.
Treatment of various types of eye asthenopia occurs as follows:

With the accommodative type of asthenopia, the use of glasses or contact lenses is prescribed. The prescription is written by an ophthalmologist.
The muscular form is eliminated using a synoptophore. This device allows you to train weakened muscles of the visual apparatus.
With the combined type, both wearing glasses and treatment with a synoptophore are combined.
With the asthenic type, treatment should include identifying the cause of the disease. Only its elimination can ensure the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. As a rule, the patient should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, improving the quality of nutrition, and changing the work schedule.
Symptomatic therapy cannot be done without treating the disease that causes asthenopia.
The neurogenic form involves undergoing treatment by a neurologist and visiting a consultation with a psychiatrist.

Depending on the stage of asthenopia, the following measures are distinguished:

At the initial stage, more rest and proper nutrition are often prescribed. It is recommended to isolate the organs of vision from work requiring excessive stress.
At the subcompensation stage, hardware techniques are prescribed. An accomodo trainer and Sidorenko glasses have an effective therapeutic effect.
The stage of decompensation is not complete without corrective optics and prescription of contact lenses. Additionally, the ophthalmologist prescribes the use of special eye drops. Their use stimulates the contractility of the muscles that affect the diameter of the pupil. For example, Tropicamide or Mydriacyl.

Mydriatics can also help in milder stages of the disease. To quickly eliminate the symptoms of eye fatigue, Visine or Systane drops are prescribed.

Symptoms

Eye strain may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

feeling of specks or other objects in the eyes;
sensation of cutting, burning;
general fatigue, poor health;
fog in the eyes;
Strong headache;
objects may appear double;
veil in the eyes;
increased lacrimation or drying of the mucous membrane;
itching;
back and neck pain;
decrease or increase in blood pressure;
twisting of joints, body aches.

If such symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help for examination. The development of such manifestations may be a consequence of dry eye syndrome, but only a specialist can determine the root cause.

Diagnostics

If you experience at least a few symptoms indicating eye strain, you should visit an ophthalmologist for an examination. The specialist will conduct an external examination of the eyeballs and also determine further actions based on the patient’s answers to the questions asked. Additionally, the ophthalmologist may need indicators of intraocular pressure and visual acuity. The following methods can be used to obtain data on pressure inside the eyes:

Using Maklakov weights is a fairly old and labor-intensive method, but it provides the most accurate data.
The use of specialized equipment, which is based on a special pneumatic meter. The procedure is quick and painless, using only an air stream.

If such a diagnosis does not show any disturbances in the functioning of the eyes, the patient is referred for examination to a neurologist, therapist and other specialists. In cases of suspected diseases of the heart and vascular system, endocrine glands and allergies, the following may be prescribed for diagnosis:

electrocardiogram;
ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
MRI of the skull;
lipid blood test;
blood test for hormones, antibodies and glucose;
skin tests to identify the type of pathogen, etc.

Treatment

If your eyes are constantly strained, experts recommend using certain treatment and prevention methods. In cases where tension is a consequence of dry eye syndrome, there is a need for special medical drops that moisturize the mucous membrane.

These include:

Visine;
Inoxa;
Artificial tear;
Oksial;
Optiv;
Systane;
Slesin;
Taufon.

If there is severe tension in the eyes, it is possible to use traditional medicine for instant relief and eliminate discomfort, pain and redness. However, before using traditional medicine, you should consult a specialist. The following remedies are effective for eye strain:

cornflowers;
clay;
calendula;
linden flowers;
birch leaves;
yarrow leaves;
seaweed;
dandelions;
plantain;
potato juice;
chamomile flowers.

Each of these plant elements is suitable for preparing decoctions and tinctures suitable for use in the form of compresses and lotions. We must not forget about nutrition. You should enrich your diet with vitamins and microelements that are beneficial not only for the eyes, but also for the whole body.

What to do if you have heaviness in your eyes

It is possible to cope with stress and improve the full functioning of the visual organs using various methods and means.

Medicines

One of the simplest and fastest ways to relieve eye strain is special drops. With their help, it is possible to narrow blood vessels and cope with visual fatigue in a short time.

If the eyes get tired from work, tear production is disrupted and irritation appears, then the person begins to rub them. The result of this is redness of the conjunctival membrane and its coloration in red. In such a situation, it is necessary to moisturize the eyes and Visine is considered one of the effective remedies. Such drops constrict blood vessels and help relieve tissue swelling. Already 8 hours after instillation, the patient feels better and a positive effect is noticeable.

The most effective medications that can help relieve eye strain are:

When it comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye, Okumetil turns into a gel. It is recommended to instill this remedy into the organs of vision in case of severe fatigue or fatigue when working at the computer. It has a fairly quick effect, stops the inflammatory process and helps prevent the appearance of edema. The effect of such eye drops lasts for several hours.
Taufon. This drug has a regenerating effect and helps normalize metabolic processes in tissues.
Oftagel. These eye drops resemble natural tears in their composition, moisturize the cornea well and help cope with irritation.
Systane. Such drops form a protective layer on its surface. This allows the patient to feel comfortable throughout the day.
Korneregel. Such drops have a viscous consistency, which ensures their long-lasting effect on the surface of the eyeball. The product is often used to relieve fatigue after prolonged work at the computer, for eye burns and dystrophic lesions of the corneal layer.
Vial. This product causes vasoconstriction and is well suited for those people who wear lenses for a long time. With their help, it is possible to cope with increased dryness of the eyes and their redness.

Any eye products in the form of drops, which can be used to relieve eye fatigue, are similar in composition to real tears and are a weak saline solution. Of course, there are some differences in the composition of the products, but they are quite insignificant. It is for this reason that there is no need to look for any specific medications if they are not indicated by a doctor.

Before dripping the medicine into your eyes, be sure to wash your hands. After this, you should look up and pull down the lower eyelid. The drug should be applied to the inner corner of the eye, then blink several times and make sure that the drug does not flow out.

Almost every medicine has certain contraindications for use. It is not allowed to instill the drug in case of individual intolerance to the constituent components, during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Gymnastics for the eyes

With the help of special sets of eye exercises, you can quickly and effectively cope with tension and fatigue:

It is necessary to place the pads of your index fingers on the outer corners of the organ of vision and perform several successive movements, as if smoothing out wrinkles. Afterwards, you need to close your eyes tightly for a few seconds, and then try to completely relax. This exercise must be performed several times during the day.
You can quickly relieve symptoms of fatigue using an exercise such as blinking your eyes. Afterwards, you should perform up to 10 circular movements in different directions. The patient needs to close his eyelids tightly and open them 15-20 times, then look up, down, right and left.

An exercise associated with yoga has a good tonic effect on the eyelids. It is recommended to perform circular rotations with your eyes several times, raise and lower them, and then try to draw a Roman V in the air. At the end of the exercise, you should close your eyelids for 1 minute and then try to blink quickly.

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine offers a large number of different means with which it is possible to relieve tension in the visual organs and improve their functioning. Before using them, it is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist.

You can relieve eye strain, redness and fatigue with the help of baths with the addition of various herbal infusions. It is necessary to pour chamomile infusion or decoction into the bath and make baths, applying them one by one to the eyes. You should throw your head back and open each eye 8-10 times. At the end of the procedure, you should perform circular eye movements, and after the skin in the area of vision has dried, apply a rich cream.

You can cope with swollen eyelids using lotions based on birch leaves. To do this, you need to rinse fresh birch leaves, pour a glass of cold water over them and leave for at least 8 hours.

You can solve problems at home using the following alternative medicine:

Ice. Frozen water cubes have a positive effect on the eyelids when they are very tired. It is best to make ice from mineral water, herbal infusion or strong tea.
Chamomile infusion. With the help of such a folk remedy, it is possible to relieve redness and inflammation of the organs of vision. To prepare the product, you need to pour 2 tablespoons of dried plant flowers into a bowl and brew them with a glass of boiling water. The resulting mass must be left to infuse for half an hour, and then filtered. It is recommended to wipe the inflamed eyelids with chamomile infusion several times a day until the unpleasant symptoms are completely eliminated.
Raw potatoes. To relieve swelling of the organ of vision and get rid of fatigue, you can grate potatoes and apply the resulting gruel to your eyelids. It is recommended to keep this mask for at least 15 minutes, then wipe the skin with ice water or chamomile decoction.

Lotions with blue cornflower infusion, which can relieve eye irritation, have a good effect. To do this, you need to pour 1-2 tablespoons of plant material into a bowl and brew it with a glass of boiling water. The resulting mixture should be infused for at least 20 minutes, then filtered. You need to moisten cotton swabs in the prepared product and apply them to the inflamed eyelids for 15-20 minutes.

Prevention

Patients who complain of discomfort and severe eye strain when sitting at a computer should remember special exercises and breaks. With the help of gymnastic exercises, it is possible not only to eliminate fatigue and tension in the eye muscles, but also to significantly improve sharpness.

In cases where discomfort occurs when trying to read something on the screen, you can make the font larger or use glasses with special protective lenses to make it easier. It is also recommended to lower the computer monitor lower than your eyes to prevent the retina from drying out, since this ensures a higher blink rate.

It should be remembered that to maintain the quality of vision, you need to properly care for your eyes. For preventive purposes, you should regularly visit an ophthalmologist at least once a year. It is necessary to provide normal warm lighting for reading and working at the computer. You need to get rid of the habit of reading while moving and lying down. We also must not forget about proper, balanced nutrition, which is no less important for eye health. You need to include in your daily diet as many foods as possible that contain vitamins and minerals needed by the entire body.

How to avoid asthenopia?

1. Take breaks from work.
Regularly look at objects located at different distances from your eyes.
This will relieve tension from one group of eye muscles and use others. For example, if you are sitting at a computer, regularly look at objects located outside the window or at the opposite end of the room. When driving a car, try to glance at the speedometer and other instruments more often. 2. Reduce exposure to glare.
Make sure your computer monitor is positioned at a 90 degree angle to the light source.
To illuminate your workplace, try to use diffused light. Try to read not only from the screen of a computer or mobile device - do not forget about paper books that do not glare. When driving a car, use special anti-glare and polarizing glasses. 3. Adjust
the contrast, brightness and color temperature of the screen.
Adjust your computer monitor and TV so that you can clearly see all the details in the image. Maintain lighting levels in the workplace so that all objects are clearly visible. Avoid using fluorescent lamps, which strain your eyes. 4. Get enough sleep.
Sleep allows your eyes to relax.
If you don't get enough sleep, allow yourself to close your eyes for five minutes several times throughout the day and let them rest. 5. Cold compresses.
A slice of cucumber or a cooled tea bag placed on the eyes relaxes the muscles and relieves tension.
6. Do exercises.
Eye strain is usually associated with poor posture. Perform a few movements to relax your neck muscles and restore blood circulation. This will also improve the function of the eye muscles.