Who Suffers From Eye Strain?

The thing about eye strain is that it is a condition that anyone can suffer from. Anyone that spends long periods of time focusing on a computer or laptop screen or constantly reads a book for long stretches of time in poor light is increasing their chances of experiencing symptoms that are caused by straining the eyes too much. When the eyes become tired from overuse, they typically suffer from becoming itchy, dry, red, sore and even blurry.

Because the number of people that use the Internet, whether for leisure or work, has increased dramatically over the years, this has resulted in more cases of eye strain. Office workers in particular end up becoming victims of this condition since they spend hours out of the day staring at their computer screens. Employees that spend late nights at the office on their computers also increase their odds of straining their eyes, since the light source in the office area tends to be dimmer in the evenings, which causes significant contrast between the light source and the brightness of the computer screen. Dealing with long periods of glare or squinting in dim light to look at the screen are surefire ways to become vulnerable to straining the eyes. The same goes for individuals that constantly spend time focused on their laptop screens.

Avid readers can also suffer from this condition, since the activity of reading involves using the eyes to stare intently at the words on a page. If a person gets really caught up in the book they are reading, hours can go by before giving their eyes a break. Eye strain symptoms often pop up in such instances, especially if the lighting is not good.

Can Children Suffer from Eye Strain Symptoms?

Just as adults can suffer from eye strain symptoms, so can children. It goes without saying that parents often have to warn their children to avoid sitting so close to the television screen. With the popularity of the Internet, parents now have to deal with this concern when it comes to having their kids spend long periods of time in front of a computer screen as well.

For those with children complaining of eye strain, it is important to address this condition right away. At home monitor how often your child sits in front of the computer. If he/she has to sit in front of the screen for long periods of time because of homework, other school-related tasks or even if it is just for leisure, set up a routine for them to follow that includes taking a break from the screen for a few minutes. The rule of thumb for children is to have them take a 20 second to one minute break for every 20 minutes they spend in front of the computer screen.

Explain to your child what common eye strain symptoms are like so that they can alert you when they feel they are experiencing these signs. Do you notice your son or daughter rubbing their eyes constantly, squinting at the screen, appearing fatigued or suffering from eye redness? These are signs that your child should step away from the screen and lie down or place a cold compress over their eyes. Additionally, it is important for parents to take their children for regular eye exams to make sure that their vision care is intact.