What to do about tired eyes?

How to get tired eyes fit again

Round three out of four people from industrialized countries suffer from tired eyes when working in the office. This is especially true in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The cause: focusing on the screen for long periods of time forces the eyes to work harder.

In addition, when working on a PC, we focus on one point and forget to blink. The reduced blinking frequency causes dry eyes. There is even a name for this phenomenon: the office eye syndrome.

Tired and dry eyes combined? Really nasty! You probably know the problem too. After a long gaming session on the console, for example. After some time in front of the TV. Or after a lot of work on the PC. Then your eyes start to burn. Concentration becomes difficult. Sometimes you even get a foreign body sensation in your eyes and your eyes turn red. You can do without all that, right?

The good news: You don't have to live with the phenomenon of tired eyes. There are ways to counteract eye irritation. There are also effective aids to protect your eyes in everyday life. You can find out what these are in this article. Plus: you'll get helpful tips on how to combat tired eyes immediately.

How do tired eyes manifest themselves?

Reddened and strained eyes

Everyone is different. And so are the symptoms of tired eyes at the PC. However, there are signs of strained eyes that are particularly common. What are they? Find out now.

Dryness: A lot of work at the screen = less blinking. Less blinking = lack of sufficient lubrication. The result: your eyes feel dry and irritated.
Redness: Once it has gotten to the point where your eyes are already strained, redness of the eyeballs often occurs.
Blurred vision: After prolonged periods of screen time, you may experience blurred vision at times. You may also find it difficult to focus on objects.
Burning or stinging sensation: An uncomfortable burning or stinging sensation is another common symptom of tired eyes and office eye syndrome.
Sensitivity to light: When your eyes get tired, you often notice increased discomfort in bright light or sunlight.
Heavy eyelid feeling: After several hours of screen time, your eyelids may feel heavy and tired. You find it difficult to keep your eyes open.
Headache: Overtired eyes can lead to headaches or even migraines.
Watery eyes: Paradoxically, tired eyes can also cause your eyes to start watering.
Difficulty focusing: You may find it difficult to switch between different distances and lighting conditions.
Eye twitching: Involuntary twitching of the eye muscles can be a sign of overexertion.

Perhaps you have already noticed one (or even more) of these symptoms? Then you should take urgent action. Here are some helpful tips to combat tired eyes.

Important: If you have persistent or severe symptoms, you should consult an ophthalmologist or other qualified doctor. The symptoms could be a sign of a more serious condition or an underlying problem that requires professional treatment.

How do I get my eyes awake?

The feeling of tired or heavy eyes can have various causes. We know all too well the problems after long periods of office work. But lack of sleep and general fatigue can also cause tired eyes. Whatever the cause of your tired eyes, here are some tips on how you can get your eyes "more awake":

Tired and dry eyes: immediate measures

Cold water: A splash of cold water on the face can stimulate blood circulation and revitalize the eye area.
Eye exercises: Short exercises such as rolling your eyes or focusing at different distances can help.
Short breaks: If you work at a screen for a long time, follow the 20-20-20 rule: look at something 20 feet (approx. 6 meters) away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Blink: Don't forget to blink, especially when you're working on the computer. This will keep your eyes moist.
Drink plenty of water: It may sound banal. But the fact is: liquid helps against dry eyes. Not only in the form of eye drops. But also in the form of water that you drink. Declare war on dehydration and make sure you drink enough fluids at work.
Eat a healthy diet: Foods rich in vitamins such as A, C and E can contribute to eye health.

Tired eyes: long-term measures

Get enough sleep: One of the best ways to avoid tired eyes is to get sufficient and quality sleep.
Ergonomic workstation: Make sure your screen is at eye level and that you adopt an appropriate posture.
Regular eye checks: An ophthalmologist can give specific advice and detect possible vision problems at an early stage.

If the feeling of tired eyes persists over a longer period of time or you notice other symptoms such as pain, visual disturbances or dryness, you should see an ophthalmologist.

What can I do about tired eyes and eye pain at the screen?

If your tired eyes are the result of prolonged screen work, you can take specific preventative measures.

Screen settings

Adjust the monitor to protect your eyes

Screen brightness and contrast: Adjust the brightness and contrast of your screen so that your eyes are not strained. Ideally, you should adjust the brightness, contrast and blue light as low as possible.
Text size: Increase the font size to reduce eye strain. This can now be done in any common text program or directly in your browser.

Ergonomics of the workplace

Screen position: The screen should be at eye level. Ideally, you should sit about 50 to 70 cm away from it.
Lighting: Avoid bright light and glare on the screen. But don't sit in a completely dark room either. An additional light source in a suitable light color can help.

Hydration and humidity

Drinking: Make sure you drink enough water.
Indoor air: A humidifier can help if the air is particularly dry.
Artificial tears: Wetting solutions can help to keep the eyes moist. You can buy artificial tears at any German pharmacy or drugstore.

Blue light filters and special glasses

Blue light component of various devices and light sources

Currently "it cannot be ruled out that the retina and the lens of the human eye can be damaged by an excess of blue light". And as they say? Better safe than sorry. Now you're probably wondering what you can do about the blue light from your PC or smartphone screen.

The solution is blue light filters. In the form of special glasses, for example.

How do blue blocker glasses help with fatigue at work?

Blueblocker glasses workplace

Blueblocker glasses or blue light filter glasses have been specially developed to filter or reduce the blue light emitted by screens such as computers, tablets and smartphones. The great thing is that if you wear blue blocker glasses at work, you prevent eye problems. So take action before your eyes get tired and dry. And you won't have to struggle with the annoying symptoms of strained eyes.

The idea behind the glasses: Since blue light could potentially be harmful to the eyes and can contribute to a number of ailments such as computer vision syndrome, we simply filter it out of our lives. And that can have many benefits.

Reduction of eye strain and fatigue

Blueblocker glasses filter blue light

Filtering blue light can help reduce eye fatigue. This could increase productivity and reduce the need for breaks or eye exercises.

Improving sleep

Blue light is associated with the suppression of the sleep hormone melatonin. So wearing blue light filter glasses could lead to better quality sleep, which in turn can improve overall performance and well-being.

Reduction of headaches and eye pain

Reducing eye strain and fatigue could also headaches and eye pain caused by working at a screen for long periods could also be alleviated.

Reduction of glare

Many Blueblocker glasses have an anti-reflective coating that reduces glare. This can improve the visual experience at work and provide additional comfort.

Improving visual comfort

For some people, filtering blue light leads to a more pleasant visual experience, which makes working at the computer less strenuous.

Blueblocker glasses for tired and dry eyes

Workplace Blueblocker glasses

We have developed a new light version of our Blueblocker glasses for longer periods of screen work. Our previously available Blueblocker glasses were specially designed for use in the evening - two to four hours before going to bed. The light version can be worn throughout the day.

The light version is aimed at anyone who works a lot on a PC. Or who spend a lot of time in front of a screen. It reduces some of the blue light. This means that it does not make you tired. At the same time, it ensures that significantly less blue light reaches your retina.

Our Work & Play glasses are ideal for you if you work at a screen a lot during the day. Or if you are a streamer and gamer. Our Lite Blueblocker glasses will be available in our online store from mid-November.