Asthenopia
(eye fatigue)

information on diet, nutrition, self-help & research

Asthenopia is a word often used in the eye care profession to describe a collection of symptoms that can produce eye fatigue, red eyes, eye strain, pain in or around the eyes, blurred vision, headache and occasional double vision, usually brought on by prolonged close work.

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Symptoms

The symptoms of asthenopia include light sensivity, sensitivity to glare, headaches, tired eyes, sore eyes, and blurred vision. These symptoms are in most cases mild, but get progressively worse if the causes are not rectified.

Nutritional Supplements for Eye Fatigue

These are the most important supplements and recommendations.

Shopping Tips

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Causes

Asthenopia has prompted many occupational safety studies. Since 2000, epidemiological studies have revealed many important factors that contribute to eye fatigue. Some of the studies included up to 6,000 people with eye fatigue who identified the following causes:

insufficient lighting,
poor ergonomics and
uncorrected vision.

Improvements of the above factors helped only 50% of the patients, suggesting that other factors remained undiscovered, improvements were poorly implements, or close work had become even more visually demanding. It is unlikely that simply addressing the above three causes will be sufficient to reduce asthenopia.

More recently, the advances of information technology, software and electronics have led to the widespread use of screen based equipment or visual display terminals (VDT) especially at work or leisure, an essential interface. The problem acknowledged by the ophthalmic community is that habitual use of VDTs often leads to higher visual fatigue complaints.

Conventional Treatment

Beside removal of the cause of eye fatigue, which is often not practical, there has been little progress toward relief of this growing problem other than setting up work stations properly, and possibly getting fitted for glasses to help reduce eyestrain.

Self Help

Supplementing with targeted nutrients and taking regular breaks from near work to relax the eyes and do eye exercises can help prevent or reduce the effects Asthenopia. See our recommendations for computer eye strain

Studies

See eyestrain research

Asthenopia(eye fatigue)