What is eye strain?
Eye strain, also called visual fatigue or asthenopia , occurs when we use our eyes excessively, especially when working on a screen. It results in fatigue of the ciliary muscle, responsible for focusing, which leads to blurred vision, discomfort and other symptoms.
👉 To limit these inconveniences, it is often recommended to wear anti-blue light glasses, specially designed to reduce visual discomfort linked to screens.
Symptoms of Eye Strain at Work
When returning from vacation, suddenly going from days outdoors to 6 or 8 hours in front of a screen can cause:
- Blurred or double vision after prolonged concentration,
- Tingling, dryness, redness or watery eyes,
- Frequent headaches,
- Sensitivity to light,
- Difficulty staying focused.
These discomforts appear gradually but can become disabling if they are not taken into account.
💡 To understand one of the main factors, discover our article dedicated to the effects of blue light on the eyes.
Digital Eye Strain
With the development of teleworking and digital tools, screen vision syndrome now affects a large majority of working people.
The main causes are:
- Reduced number of blinks: in front of a screen, we blink 5 times less often, which promotes dry eyes,
- Artificial blue light: it increases visual fatigue and disrupts sleep,
- A frozen posture: which accentuates cervical tension and migraines.
Eye strain or presbyopia: how to tell the difference?
Many people confuse eyestrain with presbyopia. However, they are two distinct phenomena:
- Eye fatigue is temporary, due to visual overwork, and disappears with rest and adapted habits.
- Presbyopia is an age-related visual disorder (around 40 years old on average). The lens loses its flexibility, making near vision difficult, even when rested.
👉 If you experience lasting discomfort and are 40 or older, discover our selection of presbyopia glasses suitable for working on screens.
Solutions to reduce eye strain at the start of the school year
1. Apply the 20-20-20 rule
Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen and stare at an object 6 meters away for 20 seconds. This helps relax your eyes.
2. Optimize your workstation
- Screen 50-70 cm from the eyes, slightly below the gaze,
- Adapted brightness and reduction of reflections,
- Uniform ambient lighting (avoid strong contrasts).
3. Moisturize your eyes regularly
Remember to blink voluntarily and, if necessary, use artificial tears or saline to compensate for dry eyes.
4. Wear suitable glasses
- Varionet anti-blue light reading glasses protect your eyes from harmful rays (UV) and improve visual comfort,
- Resting glasses relieve near vision problems for those under 40 thanks to their anti-reflective, anti-blue light lenses.
- Varionet presbyopia glasses with degressive lenses offer optimal comfort for those over 40 who work on screens.
Returning to work after vacation puts a strain on your eyes. Eye strain is common but can be relieved with a few good practices and the right blue light blocking glasses.
👉 Discover now the selection of Varionet reading glasses and presbyopia glasses to protect your eyes and improve your visual comfort every day.