How Long Does Eye Strain Last? (And Other Strenuous Questions)

Eye strain is a common but temporary condition caused by overworked eye muscles, often due to excessive screen time, bright light exposure, or untreated vision problems. Most cases resolve quickly with rest, eye drops, or techniques like the 20-20-20 rule. Persistent symptoms may indicate an underlying issue requiring an eye exam. Preventative measures such as regular eye checkups, reducing screen time, and wearing polarized sunglasses can help minimize eye strain.

In last month’s article, we discussed eye strain, a common but not usually serious condition that affects nearly everyone at some point or another. While the soreness, sensitivity, and headaches that come with eye strain aren’t usually anything to worry about, they’re also not something you want to deal with for an extended period.

So, if you’re suffering from eye strain, there’s one question you definitely want the answer to: how long does eye strain last?

This month, our eye care experts are answering that and other questions about eye strain and steps you can take to relieve the discomfort you’re experiencing.

What Is Eye Strain?

We went into some detail on this last month, so we’ll make this quick. Eye strain is simply a condition in which your eyes and the muscles surrounding them are overworked due to one of several common issues. These tissues get tired and inflamed, causing a number of potential symptoms:

Tired, sore, itching, or burning sensations in your eyes
Dry or excessively watery eyes
Double or blurry vision
Sensitivity to light
Concentration and focus issues
Headache
Sore shoulders, neck, or back
Heavy eyelids, or the feeling that you can’t keep your eyes open

How Long Does Eye Strain Last?

As annoying as eye strain is, the good news is that it almost never lasts very long, and the symptoms will usually go away completely once you correct whatever’s causing your eyes to get tired.

If your eye strain is caused by too much screen time, intensely focusing on small or nearby objects, or exposure to bright light, applying soothing eye drops, simply closing your eyes for a while, or using the 20-20-20 technique – taking 20 seconds every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away – will usually bring immediate relief.

If your eye strain is caused by an untreated refractive error, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, the first step is to visit your ophthalmologist for a new or updated eyeglass or contact prescription. Once you have the new corrective lenses in place, you should notice your eye strain clearing up in just a few hours.

What Should I Do if My Eye Strain Persists?

If you’re experiencing eye strain symptoms that don’t clear up when you rest your eyes, use eye drops, or use an eye-relief technique like 20-20-20, and if it lasts more than a day or two, you may want to contact your eye doctor. You may have an undiagnosed refractive error that can be corrected with glasses or contacts, or there may be a more serious underlying condition impacting your eyes.

Either way, an eye exam can help identify and resolve the cause of your eye strain and help alleviate the annoying symptoms it brings.

Can I Prevent Eye Strain?

For the most part, yes! While nearly everyone will occasionally feel the unpleasant twinge of a headache or burning, sore eyes of eye strain, it’s usually pretty easy to avoid if you take a few basic precautions:

Get Regular Eye Exams

The best preventative against eye strain is a step you should be taking anyway: getting annual eye exams from your ophthalmologist. Refractive errors and other conditions that cause eye strain develop gradually. You may not realize that you’ve slowly been losing visual acuity until you suddenly realize you’ve had the same headache for a week or two.

By receiving regular eye exams, your eyecare team can identify and begin correcting emerging eye issues before they can start causing you serious problems.

Reduce Screen Time

Most Americans spend well over half their waking hours looking at a screen of some kind. Many spend more than that – swapping the glare of a computer screen at the office for the glow of a television or mobile device at home. All of that incoming light from the dozens of screens we’re constantly interacting with isn’t great for your eyes. And focusing your eyes at one fixed distance for long periods – like you do when you’re on the computer or watching TV – is worse.

It may be impossible to cut out screen time entirely, but reducing it to the extent possible and replacing it with activities that allow your eyes to move and focus on things at varying distances can significantly reduce the risk of eye strain.

Wear Polarized Sunglasses Outdoors

When it’s sunny out, your eyes take a beating from UV radiation and the harsh glare that comes off of almost any reflective surface. This exceptionally bright light causes you to squint, forces your iris to tighten down to its smallest possible size, and generally causes nearly every muscle in the eye and its surroundings to tense up.

Save your eyes from both the harmful UV radiation and the strain of squinting by choosing polarized, UV-protected sunglasses when you’re outside. With the right sunglasses, a day working or playing outside can be far more enjoyable.

Got More Questions About Eye Strain? Let Eyesight Associates Help!

Has eye strain got you aching for a day without pain or irritation? With eight locations around Middle Georgia and the Golden Isles, we’re always close at hand to help you maintain clear vision! Call 478-923-5872 to learn more or make an appointment.