Whether you spend long periods of time behind the wheel of a car or in front of a computer, these types of activities can wear out your eyes. While eye strain can be annoying, understanding the causes and symptoms will help you prevent from it affecting your everyday life. Serving residents throughout Ashland, KY, the friendly eye doctors at Tri-State Ophthalmology provide a wide range of top-quality treatments and services, including eye exams, emergency care, and surgery. Below, they share everything you need to know about eye strain.

What Causes Eye Strain?

Eye strain is caused by overusing your eyes for visual tasks, such as using the computer, watching television, or reading in the dark. When you spend a significant amount of time on these activities, you are unconsciously clenching your eyelid and face muscles and blinking less often than normal.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of strain include eye soreness, dryness, and the blurry vision. Eye strain can also cause light sensitivity and difficulty focusing on images. The most common symptom many experience is persistent headaches in both temples; however, it can be relieved once you stop the activity.

How Can I Prevent Eye Strain?

The easiest way to prevent eye strain is to stop the task that is causing the symptoms. If you work at a desk job that requires you to be in front of a computer all day, take periodic breaks so you can rest your eyes. If this doesn’t help, you may want to make an appointment with your eye doctor to ensure there isn’t another issue causing your symptoms.

If you’re suffering from persistent eye strain or need to schedule your annual exam, call (606) 324-2451 to make an appointment with one of the eye doctors at Tri-State Ophthalmology. You can also visit their website for more information about their services.