Why do my Eyes Feel Heavy: Understand the Causes
Heavy eyes are a common eye condition.
It doesn’t have any long-term consequences but can be unpleasant and aggravating.
The major cause of eyestrain is extended screen time on digital devices without taking any breaks.
Almost 2 out of 3 Americans experience eye strain after using a digital device.
A survey by AOA found that digital eye strain is prevalent in teenagers affecting about 80% of children.
To learn more, keep reading this article, as it will provide comprehensive information on the causes of heavy eyes.
Long screen time
Prolonged use of digital devices is one of the most common causes of eye strain.
The eyestrain caused due to looking at digital devices for a longer duration is Computer Vision Syndrome or digital eye strain.
Around 50-90 percent of people, who work with computers daily, can experience eye strain.
Prolonged screen time on a computer can make your eyes feel heavy and tired if you:
- Blink less while looking at a digital device screen
- Use devices for extended periods
- View the device screen from less than ideal distance
- Use digital devices that have glare or reflection
- Read from devices with poor contrast between the text and the background
In some cases, uncorrected vision or eye muscle imbalance can worsen the condition.
Less blinking
Your eyes may feel tired due to a decrease in blinking.
Blinking helps redistribute and replenish the tear layer, which is responsible for smoothening the cornea surface and sharpening the vision.
But with less blinking, the eye is more exposed to air and evaporation. This can create holes in the tear layer leading to an irregular surface and blurred vision, causing the issue.
“Your reading speed decreases because you can’t see very well, which requires prolonged reading and visual fatigue — beginning the cycle again.”
Esen Karamursel Akpek, MD
Exposure to bright lights
Bright lighting makes it hard to see objects on your screen.
If you look at a bright light for a longer time, the retina’s light-sensing cells become overstimulated.
They release massive amounts of signaling chemicals which can injure the back of your eye.
Other eye conditions
Eye strain can worsen for people having other eye conditions, such as Astigmatism, Myopia, or Hyperopia.
Astigmatism is an eye condition that causes blurry vision.
When performing visual tasks like reading, driving, or using a computer, your eyes constantly adjust to achieve a sharp image.
If you have Astigmatism, you can not do that, which can lead to eye fatigue or strain.
Myopia (nearsightedness) occurs when you can not see objects clearly that are far from you.
If it is not treated, it can also cause eye strain.
Hyperopia (farsightedness) is an eye condition in which you can see distant objects more clearly than close ones.
Thus eyes feel tired after long hours of near work.
Near work for long periods
Doing strenuous work up close for extended periods is one of the major causes of eye strain.
When we focus on near objects for a longer duration, it elongates our eyeballs. This prevents our eyes from bending the light the way they should.
This elongation can increase nearsightedness which is one of the causes of eye strain.
Takeaway
Your eyes feel heavy and tired from intense use.
Daily activities, such as reading, using digital devices, and driving for long periods without resting your eyes, are the major causes of heavy eyes.
Your eye strain can increase if you have underlying eye conditions such as Myopia, Astigmatism, or Hyperopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my eyes feel strained?
Your eyes can feel strained for several reasons, including reading without a pause, using digital devices for longer durations, being exposed to glare or bright lights, driving long distances without taking breaks, and straining to see in very dim light.
Can eye strain cause dizziness?
Yes. If you have mis misalignment between your eyes or are tired, your brain has difficulty creating a clear image. This strains our brains and can lead to dizziness.
How can I stop my eyes from being heavy?
To stop your eyes from being heavy, you can try to make some changes to your daily habits, such as taking occasional breaks to rest your eyes. You may need to take the treatments if your eyestrain is due to an underlying eye condition.
What does eye fatigue feel like?
If you have eye fatigue, your eyes can feel sore, tired, itchy, or burning. You can sometimes suffer headaches, blurred or double vision, and sore neck, shoulders, or back.
WowRx uses only high-quality sources while writing our articles. Please read our content information policy to know more about how we keep our content reliable and trustworthy.
