If your eyes feel tired or sore by mid-afternoon, it’s easy to dismiss it as just a normal part of modern life, but eye fatigue isn’t always harmless. It may actually be a sign of a vision problem.
Sometimes your eyes are overworked, but other times, they’re trying to tell you something important.
Eye fatigue doesn’t always show up the same way for everyone.
It can feel like sore or burning eyes, blurry vision, difficulty focusing, headaches or even tightness around the temples. Some people notice their eyes watering, while others feel unusual dryness or grit.
Eye fatigue is often easy to ignore. You power through and assume it’ll sort itself out, but when tired eyes become a regular occurrence, you should dig deeper.
When eye fatigue is just overuse.
Thers’s an obvious culprit in eye fatigue and that’s screens. Long hours on computers, phones and tablets force your eyes to work harder than they were designed to. We blink less, focus at one distance for too long and strain tiny eye muscles that really prefer variety.
In these cases, eye fatigue usually improves with regular breaks and conscious blinking. If your symptoms disappear after rest or time away from screens, overuse is likely the cause.
If fatigue returns quickly or never fully goes away, your eyes may be compensating for something else.
Hidden vision problems that cause tired eyes.
One of the most common causes of ongoing eye fatigue is an outdated prescription. Even small vision errors can force your eyes to constantly work harder to stay in focus, especially during reading or screen use.
Astigmatism is another frequent contributor. As the eye doesn’t focus light evenly, the visual system has to continuously adjust, which can quickly lead to tired or aching eyes.
Eye fatigue can also be linked to focusing issues, where the eyes struggle to maintain clear vision up close. This doesn’t just affect older adults, younger people experience it too, particularly during long study or work sessions.
Dry eye disease is a surprisingly common cause of eye fatigue, especially in Perth’s dry climate.
When the tear film isn’t stable, vision becomes slightly inconsistent. Your brain responds by working harder to keep images clear, which leads to faster fatigue.
If your eyes feel tired and irritated, dryness may be part of the picture, this is something a comprehensive eye assessment can uncover.
Occasional eye tiredness is normal. Persistent eye fatigue isn’t.
Left unaddressed, it can contribute to headaches, reduced concentration and decreased productivity. More importantly, it may delay the diagnosis of underlying vision problems that are easier to manage when caught early.
That’s why eye fatigue is one of the most common reasons optometrists encourage patients to book eyesight test appointments, not because something is always wrong, but because it’s the best way to rule out hidden issues.
A professional eye assessment looks at much more than how well you read letters on a chart. Comprehensive eye testing assesses how your eyes focus, work together and cope with sustained visual tasks.
Book an eye test with Abernethy Owens today online or by calling 1800 411 744.