Eye Fatigue

Why do our eyes get tired?

Complementary treatment   Computer habits  Diet & nutrition  Lifestyle

The eye is an incredibly refined structure that connects us to the outside world, providing roughly 80% of the information we take in. It quietly operates incredibly efficiently without our thinking about it - but this efficiency declines when the eye structure is stressed.

The eye is a delicately balanced construct of muscles controlling focus, nerves conveying information, fine blood capillaries delivering nutrients, and chemicals and enzymes that regulate how each part of the eye operates.

Happily, we can do something about it.

Conventional Treatment

  • Aspirin or pain medication
  • Stronger glasses
Computer eye strain

Complementary Treatment & Self help

We can reduce eye fatigue with a three-pronged approach.

  1. Good computer habits:
    • Breaks are important! Short, frequent breaks are better than longer, less frequent time away from the screen. Try to take breaks 2-3 minutes every 15-20 minutes, 5 minutes every 30 minutes, or 10 minutes every hour.
    • Eye exercises and massage or acupressure points, done every hour that you spend on your computer, are very relaxing and helpful.
    • We provide free eye exercises.
    • Set up your computer correctly and use a good monitor. See more details on your desktop or laptop use.
    • Use proper posture. Tucked in chin, slightly curve your neck rather than leaning forward, have your upper back fairly straight with only a slight roundedness, and hollow your low back -- but don't strain.
    • Avoid overhead lights, preference: a desk lamp.
    • Control glare lights and windows.
    • Keep your wrists fairly straight to lessen the likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome. Use a wrist support pad if that helps.
    • Cubicle inhabitant? Give it some "expansiveness" by putting a mirror on one of the walls. You'll be surprised at how much of a difference it can make.
  2. Diet and Nutrition:
    • Follow a healthy diet
    • Juicing is a great way to deliver valuable nutrients to your body. See our article on juicing/smoothies and our recipe for eye fatigue.
    • The antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin supports brain functioning and the health of the retina.
    • Other important carotenoids include lutein and zeaxanthin which are also essential for retinal health.
    • Omega-6 fatty acids, such as black currant seed oil, supports the immune system and retinal health.
    • A nutrient of the future may be fucoxanthin, which is the primary light-absorbing element in marine algae. In in-vitro and in-vivo simulations it was more effective than lutein, zeaxanthin, and blueberries in protecting vision from visible-light caused retinal damage.3
  3. Lifestyle:
    • Read important lifestyle points.
    • Minimize Dry Eyes:
      • Use homeopathic dry eye drops to help keep the eyes moist.
      • A humidifier in the winter will help keep your eyes more comfortable.
      • Remember to blink: full-blinks so that the eyelids touch briefly.
      • Check your medications for any side effects that may cause dry eyes.
      • Gently massage your eyelids, several times a day to stimulate the tear glands.
    • When reading, read from hardcopy books rather than the computer or ebook.

Related conditions

Footnotes

1. Wiki Answers
2. Note: some contact lenses restrict the amount of oxygen reaching the surface of the eye so that people with a thin tear film are more likely to experience dry eye and be at risk for some eye conditions.
3. Y. Liu, et al, Protective Effect of Fucoxanthin Isolated from Laminaria japonica against Visible Light-Induced Retinal Damage Both in Vitro and in Vivo, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, January, 2016.

Complementary treatment   Computer habits  Diet & nutrition  Lifestyle