The eyes like any part of the body are easy to strain if they are over used. If you are digging a ditch for instance your muscles would begin to ache, you would be short of breath and you might start sweating. This would prompt a break where you may have a cold drink and rest up the aching body. However because we rely on the eyes so much and effectively take our sight for granted. We rarely think that our eyes could get strained or heed the tell tale signs that indicate they need a break. This article will discuss common symptoms of eye strain, why they occur and what to do about them.



Red eyes are one of the more common signs that the eye is tired. This may be one or both of a redness in the whites of the eye or on the edge of the eyelids.

If your eyes are tearing up for no emotional reason then this could also be a sign of eye strain. This could be the eyes way of dealing with another sign of tired eyes - dry eye.

Finding it difficult to adjust your vision to another focal point is a sign of strain. This is obvious when you have been concentrating on one object for an extended period and then look at another object in the distance. You will notice that it takes longer than normal to get a clear view of the distant object, a clear sign of eye strain.

Becoming overly sensitive to the suns glare. You will find this occurring during the late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. Your ability to judge depth perception may worsen and you could get blurred vision. Again this is a sure symptom of eye strain.

Some other things you may notice include swelling. The whole eyeball may feel stiff when moving in the socket. A burning sensation is another symptom that may cause you to screw your eyes up and rub them akin to scratching an itch on the skin. Another sign may be headaches but this could be due to a host of other reasons too.

In any of these cases it might be another condition that is causing the problem. Thus follow some or all of these easy tips and you can help to relieve your tired eyes. Ensure that the eyes get a proper rest. Two simple examples spring to mind, get an adequate nights sleep and take constant breaks from staring at one object for a long time. If you think that your eyes are adequately rested but you still notice some of these common symptoms then it may be prudent to visit a doctor or optician.

The number one reason why people get eyestrain is through focusing on one point or object for too long. And in todays society that object is the computer screen. Common workplace and safety standards advice on working with computers suggests you should look away from the screen every 15-20 minutes.

This should be a conscious act that you do regularly so that it becomes a habit rather than something that you have to think about. Shift your focal point so that your eye has to make a big adjustment, look at some point in the distance. Focus on that object for a minute or so. Then look a other objects at various focal points.