L'asthenopia, or eye fatigueis a condition that can occur when spending long time immersed in the readingafter a long session of computer workand every time an activity is carried out that requires a intense and prolonged eye strain.
I symptoms associated with eye fatigue are many, and some of the most frequent are headaches, burning and pain in the eyes, blurred vision, excessive tearing, dry eye, photophobia, decreased visual acuity and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye.
Eye fatigue is a condition that can affect anyone, but some research has shown that the subjects most at risk are the students, especially those who attend the university. In fact, a recently published study showed that in a population of over 1,400 university students aged between 18 and 30, about 40% claim to be affected by at least two of the typical symptoms of eye fatigueup to 71% when considering the presence of even a single symptom, compared to 24% found among students under the age of 18.
Eye fatigue: what are the causes?
The reason why eye fatigue is so common among university students is due to the causes that cause its occurrence. Although the debate on the causes of asthenopia is still open, scholars have identified some important risk factors:
- psychological factorssuch as stress;
- environmental factorssuch as exposure to monitors with inadequate brightness or being in a poorly lit work environment;
- study sessions particularly long;
- presence of refractive problemsin particular astigmatism.
The many hours spent studying and long exposures to the screens of devices such as computer, tablet e smartphone would therefore explain why the university population is particularly exposed to the risk of eye fatigue. In particular, exposure to blue light emitted by the screens of electronic devices seems to be one of the most important risk factors in the onset of asthenopia. According to one study, students who use computers every day are 21% more likely to experience eye fatigue than those who use them only occasionally. Furthermore, it has been shown that working at the computer for 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week is a habit strongly associated with the occurrence of eye fatigue.
Useful tips for effective prevention
Eye fatigue causes symptoms that can be particularly annoying, to the point of interfering with school or work performance. There are, however, some measures to prevent its occurrence. First of all, it is good consult an ophthalmologist to investigate whether astigmatism or other refractive problems are present and, in case these are found, provide for their correction. Furthermore, in order to effectively prevent asthenopia, it is essential to conduct a healthy lifestylemaking sure to sleep an adequate number of hours each night, to eat a diet that includes regular intake of fruit and vegetables, and to reduce psychological stress.
Source
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile