Q: Why do my eyes hurt at the end of the day?
A: Eye fatigue or blurred vision at the end of the day is a very common complaint. The root cause is that society as a whole spends a lot of time on screens (computers, phones, tablets, etc.)
I like to use the analogy: if I gave you a 5lb weight and had you do curls for five minutes, you would be fine. However, if you do the curls all day, every day, your muscles would fatigue, tire, and cramp up.
When we spend too much time doing near work, this is kind of what happens to your focusing “muscles” (accommodative system). This can cause blurred vision, pain “behind the eyes”, and headaches located above your brow. This can affect people of all ages, but if you are over 40 years old, you are at higher risk for eye fatigue with near work.
Things you can do to help:
- Take breaks. Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds and look 20 feet away (20-20-20 rule).
- Consider reading or computer glasses.
- Make sure you are staying hydrated, keeping good ergonomics, and lighting is adequate.
If you have more questions about why your eyes hurt at the end of the day, email Dr. Lillie at drlillie@familyvisionoptical.com.