Asthenopia is a condition in which you experience symptoms such as eye strain and blurry vision. It is a common issue which many people experience, especially those who spend a lot of time looking at digital screens. Learn more about this condition and how to relieve your discomfort.
Asthenopia is that feeling you may get where your eyes feel sore, achy, or tired. It is often experienced after spending an extended period of time looking at a computer or phone screen. Long periods spent reading, driving, or working on an intricate project can also cause asthenopia (essentially anything requiring long periods of focus from your eyes.
This occurs because of prolonged use of the muscles which control the movement of your eyes, and pupils.
Someone who has dry eyes or suffers from a vision problem and doesn’t use corrective lenses to correct problems like farsightedness, nearsightedness, or presbyopia, may be more likely to experience asthenopia.
In addition to the obvious fatigue due to eye strain, asthenopia can cause several other symptoms. These include:
You may also experience shoulder or neck pain since the physical positions which lead to eye strain can also strain certain muscles.
Very often, you will notice the symptoms of asthenopia yourself, though at times you might not notice them until you take a break from the activity causing the eye strain.
The effects of asthenopia generally only last for a short period, but they can linger for as long as a few hours. If this occurs often, it is advisable to consult with our eye doctor to try and determine if there is an underlying cause, or if there is something you can do to alleviate the symptoms. A comprehensive vision exam will detect if there is more going on than simple eye strain.
Frequent bouts of eye strain can lead to future instances that may see the symptoms develop faster, more often, and for longer periods.
Eye strain typically doesn’t cause any permanent damage or negatively affect your vision, but it can be troublesome enough to lower your quality of life, especially if you tend to spend a great deal of time looking at screens.
In most cases, simply giving your eyes a rest and generally taking care of them will minimize and alleviate your eye strain.
You can also try adjusting the brightness of your computer or phone screens, or adjusting the overall light level in the room.
However, if there is an underlying cause leading to regular eye strain, then treating that condition will be the key to preventing further regular eye strain. If your eye strain is being caused by something like farsightedness or nearsightedness, then wearing the proper corrective lenses should mitigate the effects. If it is dry eye causing your asthenopia, then treating that condition should similarly relieve your eye strain.
Limiting your time in front of a screen and taking breaks, or sitting a bit further back from the screen, will relieve some of the stress on your eye muscles.
Vision therapy, performed by neuro-optometrists, can also be an effective treatment for asthenopia. It can help treat some underlying problems which may cause regular asthenopia, and, by improving your vision skills to better control eye movement, you can learn to prevent your eyes from straining as much.
Aesthenopia is a relatively common problem which has become more prevalent as we spend more time in front of screens. While it is a relatively minor condition, it can still have a negative impact on your quality of life, and should be addressed. If you are experiencing frequent symptoms of asthenopia,Book an Appointment to schedule a vision evaluation exam.
I haven't actually used the optometrist side, so my review is limited to the vision therapy offered. This office was recommended by my occupational therapist for the treatment of my double vision following a stroke.
Love this location. I had a brain injury accident from day one one. All the team make you feel you still important and hope in the horizon after when the medical system fell you miserably. Dr. Ikeda very professional and very understanding about your issue. Two tombs up.
My husband and I were immediately impressed with Dr Ikeda. I was hit by a car while cycling which caused broken bones and three brain injuries. The brain injuries caused double vision. Dr. Ikeda examined my eyes and got me started on vision therapy with his occupational therapist who specializes in vision therapy. She (Chris) is absolutely great. I am impressed with the array of tools used to help recover my binocular vision. I am doing things I never thought were possible (balance boards etc). Chris pushes me and keeps me motivated. I really enjoy my sessions with her. The office staff is always friendly and they have a wonderful appointment reminder tool that makes it easy to keep my calendar up to date. I am happy the rehab center at Little Co. of Mary recommended them!!
The Vision Therapy is handled in a separate office through a different door from the shared waiting room. Chris, the vision therapist, has a wide and varied assortment of tools, equipment and resources to best evaluate and treat most vision issues. After just a few visits, my double vision became easier to control, using exercises developed during the therapy process. It was time well-spent.
I have been coming here since I can remember. I love it here. The staff is so amazing and nice. They explain everything they gonna do and never make you feel rushed. Dr. Ikeda has always been my doctor and I would never want another one. He is the doctor for my whole family and is always asking how everyone is doing. I am also so crazy about picking out my frames and have to try so many and each person who helps me take the time and lets me try them all on. I would never want to go anywhere else! I definitely would recommend this office to anyone looking for a great eye doctor.
This is not for the eye exam but for the frames selection portion. I brought my prescription from Kaiser here with my VSP insurance. The reception staff was very polite and professional. Manny helped me to pick out frames and explain my coverage. Very helpful and patient not like the individual at the other place I rated here on Yelp. I was running late and he still helped me and was not bothered at all. I am so glad I came here ..........very pleased.
Very professional staff and pleasant.
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