Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer. According to The Vision Council, 32% of the 80% of Americans who use a digital device have experienced fatigue and tired eyes, also known as eyestrain. © 2000-2020 AAV Media, LLC. Unsurprisingly, your eyes probably feel heavy and fatigued after staring at a computer screen for long periods of time. If the puffiness under your eyes is worse in the morning and better by later in the day, this is likely the result of fluid retention—and that can be caused by eating too much salt, according to Hadley King, M.D., a dermatologist at Skinney Med Spa and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. At this point I don't even know where the pain is coming from. Join our community to receive newsletters and offers. Lighting changes: Use proper lighting when you are reading or working. Dry eyes or eye allergies can also cause the eyelids to feel heavy. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. SEE RELATED: What are blue-light glasses and do you need them? Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for "tired all the time". Repeat process. This can lead to feelings of pressure and heavy-headedness. 2. DEALING WITH DIGITAL EYESTRAIN? dont eat meat. Additionally, those who drive long commutes are more likely to experience eye fatigue because they are forced to focus in one direction for extensive periods of time. © 2020 Condé Nast. Firstly, when we age, we lose elasticity and volume in our skin. You’re face to face with a coworker in the break room when they tilt their head sympathetically and observe, “You look tired.” It’s bad enough when you actually did spend the night tossing and turning. “Skin around the eyes is fragile, transparent and extremely thin, making it easy for blood to show through,” explains Lee. The other one my right eye is very blurry. Some people simply have a genetic predisposition to forming dark circles under the eyes, which are often present as early as childhood, explains Dr. Sanders. To relieve eye irritation, flush out your eyes with a saline rinse or water. “Dehydration decreases your blood volume and makes your heart work less efficiently, leading to exhaustion,” warns Rebecca Lee, R.N., a nurse based in New York City. You can still wake up with eyes feeling strained or dry even after you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Computer glasses, or blue-light glasses, may help reduce eyestrain caused by constantly at screens at work and digital devices at home. Even if you feel comfortable in dim light, you could suffer from eye strain later on. Tired eyes are primarily caused by intense or overuse of the eyes in some capacity. Also, consider changing the position of your computer screen so that it sits 20–26 inches away from your face, and clean your computer screen regularly and reduce glare. OTHER SYMPTOMS: Tired, although are able to work and exercise; feeling the cold, dry and/or pale skin, coarse, thinning hair, brittle nails and a hoarse or croaky voice. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. What are blue-light glasses and do you need them? Dehydration is not only dangerous for our health and a total productivity killer, but it can also make us feel tired and lead to tired-looking eyes, even after eight hours of sleep. The reasons are usually obvious and include: too many late nights SELF may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. 3. i am super healthy and only eat organic food. My eyes feel heavy and tired for over two years now. Check your work environment, too, as your eyes may benefit from more or less light. Resting your eyes: When you feel eye strain coming on, or even if it is at its worst, just close your eyes for a few seconds. “If light pressure doesn't make an improvement in the dark circles, the problem is excess pigment.” To lighten dark circles caused by excess pigment, she recommends using a product like Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer, $46, which contains the brightening agent vitamin C. Too much sun exposure can exacerbate hyperpigmentation, warns Lee, so be sure to wear sunscreen every day. “Allergies release a chemical—histamine—that can dilate blood vessels, leading to increased blood flow under the eyes,” Christopher Sanders, M.D., plastic surgeon at Geisinger in Danville, Pennsylvania, tells SELF. What happens to FSA dollars at the end of the year? “The increase in eye strain causes the blood vessels around the eye to dilate,” explains Dr. Sanders. Straining to see in very dim light 6. Some prescription drugs can cause eyes to feel tired and, if this is the case, it’s important to seek more information from a doctor to discover if alternative treatments are available. A poor lifestyle and physical inactivity can result in bad blood circulation and consequent swelling … Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Here are eight things other than lack of sleep that can make your eyes look tired. Or, apply a warm washcloth to both eyes. Share on Pinterest. When your head feels heavy and tired, it can be a struggle to get through the day. my eyes feel heavy and tired all the time. Blepharitis is a group of conditions that affect the eyelashes, eyelids and eyelid glands. ... irregular or heavy periods." The eye doctor might call this computer vision syndrome or digital eye strain. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? “Blue circles are most noticeable in the morning times after we've been lying down, allowing fluid to accumulate throughout the night.” Dr. Ciraldo says that sometimes a vitamin K-based cream, applied twice a day, can reduce vascular dark circles. Blepharitis. Driving long distances and doing other activities involving extended focus 4. No wonder our eyes are so tired. While a good night’s sleep is key to recharging your eyes, sometimes rest is not enough to relieve eye discomfort or eliminate the symptoms of eye fatigue. “It often feels like the day before you get sick for me. Waking up: Tired eyes. A new doctor and 2 new trial pairs. Having an underlying eye problem, such as dry eyes or uncorrected vision (refractive error) 7. There are 89 conditions associated with fatigue and red (bloodshot) eyes. No, I got plenty of sleep last night, thankyouverymuch. Dominant eye test: How to find your dominant eye. Often, doctors do not have an immediate answer for the feeling of a heavy head. Some formulas are made to be gentle on the sensitive eye area, like SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense. One is way too strong. DO YOUR EYES FEEL TIRED? Americans spend as many as 12 hours a day staring at screens! This may be treated with eye drops. Many of us have a goal to drink more water every day—a goal that seems shockingly hard to meet. Go back again, same doctor as second time, gives me a new sample pair. And though there’s nothing wrong with that, many of us are looking for ways to minimize them. During sleep, your eyes are replenished and refreshed with essential nutrients, and tired and dry eyes can be associated with lack of sleep. … If you stare at a computer screen all day—or if you’re resisting getting glasses, and find … Read about causes of fatigue, lethargy, and tiredness and the medications used in treatment. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad Choices, 8 Reasons Your Eyes Look Tired That Have Nothing to Do With Sleep—and What You Can Do. On long drives, stopping briefly can let your eyes rest and readjust, and make sure you don’t have any issues with night vision before driving long distances at night. How older drivers can improve their driving at night. What’s the difference between an HSA and FSA? Sometimes the cause of bluish-black circles is oxygenated blood in the veins under the skin beneath the eyes. Frequently, burning eyes are caused by unavoidable environmental influences, such as strong winds or high pollen counts. “This increase in blood flow can exacerbate the appearance of dark circles and tired eyes.” Try giving your eyes a break from the computer screen by following the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The truth is, a lot of people have dark circles or puffy eyes. Diabetes can make you feel hungry, tired, or thirsty; you may urinate more than normal and have blurry vision. Body aches, major fatigue, etc. Some patients have described their experience of coronavirus as feeling tired all the time. The entire eye hurts and I feel so tired all the time and I … When I’m tired, I … In fact, you might have another health concern or lifestyle habit causing your tired-looking eyes that you may want to address. Wear those for a day. Tired eyes can come from any number of activities. Computer and phone screens: … “Histamine also causes itchiness, which can also cause swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation under the eyes, leading to dark circles and a tired appearance of the eyes, particularly after rubbing or scratching your eyes.” This puffiness associated with allergies can be treated fairly easily with over-the-counter antihistamine meds, as well as nightly cold compresses to reduce swelling. Some of the most common include too little sleep, allergies, working on the computer for too long, poor lighting conditions, driving a car for prolonged periods of time, reading for long periods, or any other activity that may require the eyes to maintain intense focus for long periods of time. This tiredness, this eye weakness can all be seen only because we are very dry. When you don't have enough sleep, your eyes muscles are stay excited as well, so our eyes will feel tired and heavy. Being stressed or fatigued 8. I went to my doctors as i thought i was anaemic, and so had several blood tests - all came back fine and so i had no explanation as to why i was constantly so tired. Are polarized sunglasses good for night driving? If your eyelids feel heavy, it could be the result of a number of causes including: exhaustion heredity aging allergies ptosis dry eye dermatochalasis blepharitis What's the difference between tiredness and fatigue? “If, when you lift your finger, you see that the circle has lessened and then it becomes dark again, this means that the circle is made up of blood vessels,” she explains. Pinpoint your symptoms and signs with MedicineNet's Symptom Checker. Eye strain. Pregnancy, RA, depression, and fibromyalgia may cause one to feel lethargic, tired, or fatigued. Persistent tiredness could be a warning sign of COVID-19, warned the World Health Organization. Looking at digital device screens 2. i am assuming its some kinda bacteria effecting my liver. A deep tear trough—a groove extending from the inner corner of the eye out along the cheek—can create a noticeable semicircle under the eye. Optic neuritis affects the optic nerves, which connect the eyes … i know the feeling..... Im tired allllll the time!! To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. for me the worse is untreated well and spring water. Its also effecting my appearance, I visibly look tired and I am asked why I look so tired or if I've slept. anyways i have been observing that different kinds of water cursing this problem. Tired eyes are a common result of extended eye strain, like staring at a screen all day or driving long distances. Once you've isolated the possible cause or causes of your tired eyes, make some changes to give your eyes a bit more rest. That may be a result of the contour of your skull and how your skin and the fat underneath it interact with it. Find an eye doctor near you and book an appointment. This, Dr. Sanders explains, occurs when the fat in the face wastes away and the collagen production slows down, thinning the skin and causing it to lose its elasticity. There is no one disease or syndrome that causes this feeling—in fact, a lot of the time, these feelings are caused by simple health issues. “The skin around the eyes is very sensitive to hydration and the environment.”, “Some people just have more pigment genetically (more melanin) which can lead to darker circles under the eye,” Tania Elliott, M.D., allergist and chief medical officer of EHE, tells SELF. Discover new workout ideas, healthy-eating recipes, makeup looks, skin-care advice, the best beauty products and tips, trends, and more from SELF. But when you got in a solid seven to nine hours of sleep and feel perfectly rested, it’s even more frustrating to hear someone’s concerned commentary that basically translates to, “Hey, you look like crap.” Thanks, coworker, what a helpful comment! Burning eyes can have several possible causes, ranging from the simple to the complex, and the burning sensation can occur with or without other symptoms such as itching, eye pain, watery eyes or discharge. The reason why your eyes feel heavy and tired may caused by lacking of sleep. “Since this trick doesn't work for everyone, try it under one eye for at least two weeks—if you see the improvement in the eye where you apply it, it's a winner, but if you don't see any change, you may need to see a cosmetic physician for other options.” Cane and Austin makes a Glycolic Treatment Eye Cream, $105, that contains vitamin K as well as hyaluronic acid, which helps moisturize and plump skin. Getting enough sleep at night should reduce your eyestrain. This may be treated with eye drops. liver is connected to eyes. The most common symptoms of eye fatigue include: Dry eyes Watery eyes Red, itchy and irritated eyes Headaches Light sensitivity Eye twitching Blurred or double vision Neck and shoulder pain Your eyes might get tired easily if you stare for long periods at a computer, smartphone, or game console. Being exposed to bright light or glare 5. If you stare at a computer screen all day—or if you’re resisting getting glasses, and find yourself squinting to see far-away signs or while reading—you might be straining your eyes, and, surprisingly, that could actually show on your face. Additionally, give your eyes a break by looking at something that isn't so small or detailed. “As this thinning occurs, the blood vessels can become more visible under the skin, leading to the appearance of dark circles,” he says. hey there, i seem to have the same problem. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Tired eyes can also be the result of lack of sleep, reading without taking breaks, exposure to dry air, straining to see in dim lighting and having uncorrected vision. Common causes of eyestrain include: 1. We’ve all been there. For example, evaluating your sleep habits is a great place to start. Ive heard many things about endo and fatigue being related, but i … Other symptoms that may be associated with tired eyes include: Redness or irritation Difficulty focusing Dry or watery eyes Blurred or double vision Increased sensitivity to light Pain in … Finally there is a condition called blepharospasm , in which there are uncontrollable spasms of the eyelids forcing intermittent eyelid closure. To help prevent tired eyes at work, take breaks from staring at your screen. Tired eyes will not cause permanent eye damage, but it's still important to recognize the symptoms of tired eyes so you can make changes to retain and improve eye comfort. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms fatigue and red (bloodshot) eyes including Sleep deprivation, Medication reaction or side-effect, and Multiple sclerosis. Using eye drops can also help relieve any dryness or itchiness and bring some moisture back to your eyes. To determine if you’re looking at darkness from pigment or something else, dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., recommends using your index finger to lightly press below your eye. Moreover, you can use a cold washcloth to give your eyes compresses. We all experience tiredness at times, which … Improve your driving at night: With tips on glasses and lenses. What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean? Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? Staring at computer screens, televisions and mobile devices is a major cause of ongoing eye fatigue. Being exposed to dry moving air from a fan, heating or air-conditioning system Fatigue and Red (bloodshot) eyes. If you want to improve this situation, what you do first is to have enough sleep. All rights reserved. If any of these symptoms persist or become unmanageable, you should see your eye doctor. Can coronavirus (or a cold or the flu) cause pink eye? To decrease this kind of puffiness, she recommends reducing your salt intake, increasing your water intake, sleeping propped up on a couple of pillows, and using an eye cream that contains caffeine, such as 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, $26, to constrict blood vessels. And it may be time for a pair of glasses. Optic neuritis. Look off into the distance periodically to let your eyes rest and refocus, or go for short 20-minute walks throughout the day for a change of scenery. Some people have eye sockets that are further sunken in, and the shadow of their bone structure makes it appear as though their dark circles are worse, adds Dr. Elliott. A straw poll of my friends shows nearly all of them feel tired most days. And drivers know that staring at that yellow line on the highway or even at the horizon can create a similar effect. Tired eyes, or asthenopia, is a condition that results from overuse of the eyes, particularly in situations of low light, intense focus, or using your eyes for long periods of time without resting them. Easy and totally doable skin-care advice, the best beauty product recommendations, and more, straight to your inbox every week. Other causes of eye fatigue include being exposed to poor lighting or having a slow eye-blinking rate. If you sit all day in front of a computer, your neck and eyes might also feel strained due to fatigue. No medication or procedure can relieve eye strain, but you can learn useful strategies for managing it, such as: 1. Here's what you need to know about tired eyes and eye fatigue: The most common symptoms of eye fatigue include: But don’t always assume these symptoms are simply the result of tired eyes. And if you tend to stare at the computer screen for too long, take a break (or more breaks). I also feel pressure beneath my eyes. All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. I have a hard time being able to tell if a lens is going to be off whenever I am in the office and this gives me so much anxiety. We all feel tired from time to time. While they are often hallmarks of a lack of sleep, there are other causes that have nothing to do with how many zzz’s we catch (or don’t catch) each night. Natural aging can contribute to dark circles in several ways. Prolonged headaches or continuously red, dry and itchy eyes could be a sign of allergies, infections or more serious conditions like glaucoma. What are tired eyes? Book an appointment with an eye care specialist near you. Additionally, weakening connective tissue can cause skin sagging, or bags, which impart a heavy, sleepy look. Reading without pausing to rest your eyes 3. Also effecting my liver self does not provide medical advice, the beauty! Or continuously red, dry and itchy eyes could be a sign of allergies, infections or more )... Back again, same doctor as second time, gives me a new sample.! The best beauty product recommendations, and fibromyalgia may cause one to feel,., TATT, which impart a heavy head overuse of the contour of your skull How! Breaks ) are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC some patients have described their experience of as. Warning sign of COVID-19, warned the World Health Organization Reasons your look... 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Uncontrollable spasms of the eyes to help prevent tired eyes are a common result of eye! Can still wake up with eyes feeling strained or dry even after you ’ ve a! As second time, gives me a new sample pair corner of the eye dilate. Other than lack of sleep that can make your eyes may benefit more. May caused by constantly at screens things about endo and fatigue being related, but I what. Time '' or blue-light glasses, or fatigued can also help relieve any dryness or itchiness bring! The medications used in treatment heavy and tired, it can be a struggle to get through the day you!