Discover Why Your Eyes Feel Tired Even When Your Body Is Energized

Tired eyes without a tired body are commonly caused by screen strain, dry eyes, or uncorrected vision. Try the 20-20-20 rule and see an eye doctor.

Common causes

• Digital eye strain: staring at screens.
• Dry eyes from less blinking (blink rate drops by half).
• Uncorrected vision.
• Poor lighting or glare.
• Allergies.

Prevention

Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Other tips

Blink more, adjust brightness and use artificial tears.

See an eye doctor

If strain continues, or you have headaches or blurred vision.

Eye strain mechanism

Digital eye strain is common, affecting 50 to 90 percent of computer users in studies. Staring at screens reduces blink rate from around 15 to 5 or 7 blinks per minute, causing dryness. Focusing at near distances for long periods tires the ciliary muscle, and glare and poor lighting add strain.

• Uncorrected refractive errors or outdated glasses are a frequent cause.
• Reading in dim light makes eyes work harder.
• Dry eye disease and allergies can contribute.

Prevention

Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet (6 m) away for 20 seconds. Place the screen about an arm’s length away, slightly below eye level, reduce glare, adjust brightness and use artificial tears. Get an eye exam at least every 1 to 2 years. See an eye doctor for persistent headaches, double vision, redness or vision changes.

Eye strain mechanism

Digital eye strain affects an estimated 50 to 90 percent of screen users. People blink about 15 times per minute normally but only 5 to 7 times at a screen, causing dry, tired eyes. Focusing at a fixed distance tires the ciliary muscle.

Prevention

Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Adjust brightness, reduce glare and check prescriptions. See an eye doctor if symptoms persist.

Visual demands

Reading on a screen reduces the blink rate to about 5 to 7 per minute, and near focus requires continuous ciliary muscle contraction. Uncorrected farsightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia causes tired eyes. Blue light has little evidence of eye damage, but evening exposure affects sleep.

Evidence based habits

Follow 20-20-20, use larger text and anti glare settings, place the screen about 25 inches away and slightly below eye level, and keep room lighting similar to screen brightness. Artificial tears help dry eyes. Get an eye exam every 1 to 2 years. Persistent eye fatigue with headaches or double vision should be assessed.

Based on data from the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology