Aging is beautiful. But it comes with its own set of changes and challenges. Not only does it cause wrinkles, gray hair, and a decrease in bone density, but it also affects your vision.
One common change that occurs with age is presbyopia, which is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on close objects. This usually happens around age 40. Besides this, there are many other vision-related issues that are more likely to happen as you age, such as dry eye and cataracts. And a common symptom in all these conditions is eye strain. If you are regularly experiencing eye strain you should consider buying one of our 7 Best Monitors for Eyes.
Apart from aging, extended digital use is the main culprit behind the growing number of eye strain cases, if you spend long hours staring at a computer screen or any other digital device, you’re at a higher risk of developing this condition.
So, to answer your question: do I need glasses? The answer is if you’re suffering from eye strain, you may need glasses sooner or later. Why? Let’s take a closer look.
Eye Strain – Definition, Causes & Symptoms
Eye strain, also called asthenopia, is a condition that occurs when your eyes get tired from extended use. It usually happens when you focus on one object for hours on end. This is why digital use and other activities that require you to stare at a single object for too long, such as reading or driving, can lead to eye strain.
The symptoms of eye strain are:
- Tired eyes
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty concentrating
- Burning or itchy eyes
- Red eyes
Common causes of eye strain are:
- Extended digital use
- Poor lighting
- Uncorrected vision problems
- Incorrect viewing distance
- Excessive screen glare
- Tension in the eye muscles
- Age-related eye problems
Do I Need Glasses For Eye Strain?
The short answer? Yes, you need glasses for eye strain. Even more so if you work in front of a computer all day!
As we said earlier, extended digital use is the primary cause of eye strain. If you constantly rub your eyes, blink more than normal, or get headaches after prolonged computer use, it’s probably because your eyes are strained, tired, or fatigued.
While glasses won’t “cure” eye strain, they will help alleviate the symptoms by reducing the amount of effort your eyes have to put in to focus.
Now, how does digital use cause eye strain? The main culprit is blue light. Digital screens (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) emit a lot of blue light, which can be harder for our eyes to process than other colors. Moreover, blue light is a high-energy light known to reach deeper into our eyes and cause damage to the retina.
So, if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms we mentioned earlier, or you work in front of a computer or spend more than two hours on your smartphone daily, it’ll be best to get your eyes checked and get a pair of glasses.
What Kind Of Glasses Do I Need For Eye Strain?
If you’ve ever been to the optometrist, you might know that there are different types of glasses for different vision problems. The type of glasses you’ll need for eye strain will depend on the underlying cause of your condition.
For example, if you’re suffering from digital eye strain, you’ll need a pair of computer glasses or anti-blue light glasses. These are designed to filter out the blue light emitted by digital screens and help reduce eye fatigue.
On the other hand, if your eye strain is caused by constant hours of reading, you’ll need a pair of reading glasses. These glasses will magnify the text on the page or device, thereby reducing the amount of effort your eyes need.
What about driving? If you find yourself getting eye strain while driving, it’s probably because your eyes are having a hard time keeping up with the changing light conditions. This can be caused by bright sunlight or oncoming headlights. In this case, you’ll need a pair of sunglasses that can reduce glare and help your eyes better adjust to the light.
Finally, if your eye strain is caused due to uncorrected vision problems, you’ll need a pair of prescription glasses. These will help correct your vision and make it easier for your eyes to view objects at a distance.
Things To Consider Before Buying Glasses For Eye Strain
Agreed, we did say you may need glasses for eye strain sooner or later. But does that mean you should go out and buy a pair right away? Not necessarily.
Before you decide to get glasses, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Your eye strain could be caused by other factors such as dehydration, allergies, or even stress. So, it’s important to rule out these possibilities first. Visit your doctor to get a complete checkup.
- If you’ve been wearing contact lenses for a long time, they might be the cause of your eye strain. In this case, switching to glasses may not be the best solution. Instead, try using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to relieve the symptoms.
- Plenty of eye exercises and relaxation techniques can help reduce eye strain. So, before you invest in a pair of glasses, we recommend trying them out first.
- Most importantly, don’t forget to consult with an eye doctor before buying any type of glasses. They will be able to help you choose the right type of glasses based on your unique case.
- Suppose you decide to buy glasses online; research first! Make sure you’re buying from a reputable site and that your glasses are designed to relieve eye strain. Also, keep in mind that not all glasses are created equal. So, you might want to buy a product that comes with a money-back guarantee, just in case.
Conclusion:
We hope this article helped you learn more about eye strain and the different types of glasses you can use to relieve it. Remember, if you’re experiencing any symptoms of eye strain, it’s important to see a doctor first. They can rule out other potential causes and help you find the right solution for your problem.