While the clear remedy for alleviating tired eyes is a good night’s rest, things like giving your eyes a break from screens and using an updated vision prescription can also offer relief. For all of you struggling to keep your eyes open, here are some tips to give your peepers some pep and rejuvenate your tired eyes.

1. Minimize Your Allergy Symptoms

Anyone who suffers from allergies knows they can turn your eyes into an itchy, watery mess. The reaction is caused by histamine, which is released when triggered by your individual allergen sensitivity. Histamine signals the dilation of blood vessels and sparks unforgiving itchiness in your nose and eyes that allergy sufferers know all too well.

The increased blood flow and itchiness caused by allergies result in swelling, which can leave your eyes looking puffy and fatigued. If you believe allergies are causing your eyes to look and feel tired, try taking an over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine to reduce your eye allergy symptoms.

For those with severe symptoms, try avoiding potential triggers during allergy season, such as working in the yard and opening windows in your home.

2. Give Your Eyes A Break From Screens

While technological and digital advancements have offered many benefits, the prevalence of screen use has taken a toll on our eyes. Incorporating both short and long breaks into your screen time can help relieve the symptoms of digital eye strain, such as dry and tired eyes.

The 20-20-20 rule is great for mini-breaks. Every 20 minutes of screen time, look up and stare at something 20 feet away from you (preferably not another screen) for 20 seconds. This 20-second pause gives the tiny muscles in your eyes a well-deserved rest.

Longer intervals where you get up and step away from your screen should be incorporated as well. Use each break as an opportunity to close your eyes while you stretch your legs, neck, and back. This will give your eyes a little power nap before they get back to staring at the screen.

SEE RELATED: What are blue light reading glasses?

3. Alternate Warm And Cool Compresses

Who knew tired eyes and a sprained ankle could benefit from the same treatment? Alternating warm and cool compresses doesn’t just help the appearance of tired eyes, it’s relaxing and allows you to pamper yourself.

The heat from a warm compress relaxes strained and exhausted eye muscles, which makes tired eyes feel better. The chill of a cool compress increases blood flow to the eyes and reduces puffiness and swelling, which makes eyes appear more alert and awake.

While alternating warm and cool compresses is easy and effective for helping tired eyes, it’s only a temporary solution. You should try to pinpoint the underlying cause of your tired eyes and work toward a more permanent remedy.

4. Keep Your Eyes Hydrated

Dryness could be the culprit behind your drowsy-looking eyes. Dry eyes can happen on account of many things, including your diet, age, and the medications you take — all of which can make it difficult for your eyes to stay hydrated.

If you find that your eyes feel dry, the first thing you can try is to blink more, especially during screen time. Blinking is the eye’s natural way of keeping moist and clean, so blinking more frequently may help.

If blinking doesn’t do the trick, artificial tears can be a great source of relief and help your eyes look clearer and brighter. Not sure which eye drops will work best for you? Ask your eye doctor which brands they recommend and work from there.

Drinking plenty of water is a sure-fire way to hydrate your body and your eyes. Typically, when you’re dehydrated, the first place it’s shown is your eyes and your skin by reflecting a dull, exhausted appearance. Increasing your water intake not only improves your eyes, it improves your overall health.

5. Make Sure Your Prescription Is Up To Date

If it’s been a while since your last eye exam, there’s a good chance that an outdated prescription is making your eyes look and feel tired. For most people, vision changes over time — a three-year-old prescription may not work for your current corrective needs and, in turn, is straining your eyes.

It’s recommended that unless you have an underlying condition that requires more attention, you have a comprehensive eye exam every two years. An eye care professional will be able to evaluate your tired eyes and find a solution, either with an updated vision prescription or other recommendations.

If you haven’t needed glasses before, it’s possible your vision has changed — your eyes feel tired now because they need corrective lenses to see properly. The only way to find out is by scheduling a visit with an eye doctor.

TIME TO UPDATE YOUR VISION Rx? Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor near you.

At the government’s request, people are spending a lot more time indoors, which inevitably means our eyes will be glued to phones, computers, and TVs. Over time, this fixation can affect our mental and physical health, not to mention the well-being of our eyes.

Practicing some “eye hacks” to relieve stress can keep your eyes more comfortable while you’re cooped up at home. Here are a few of our favorites!

Don’t Overwork Your Eyes

It’s tough out there for eyeballs right now. An increase in screen time plus a decrease in natural light equals extra strain on eyes, no matter your age.

Digital Eye Strain, also referred to as Computer Vision Syndrome, is caused by excess time spent in front of a screen. Although symptoms are only temporary, they can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and even painful.

Taking steps to prevent Digital Eye Strain before it hits could significantly lessen the dry eyes, blurry vision and headaches that are commonly associated with the condition.

The 20-20-20 rule is a tactic that is widely used to avoid Digital Eye Strain symptoms. Its popularity stems from its simplicity:

Every 20 minutes, look up from your screen and focus on an item approximately 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Focusing on an item in the distance allows the muscles in the eye to relax after being subjected to prolonged screen time.

Kids can experience eye strain too, so establishing the 20-20-20 rule for them during video game play or tablet use can help prepare them for a lifetime of screen use.

In addition to 20-second breaks, taking longer periods of time away from screens is great for resting your mind and your eyes. If you’ve been in front of a screen for a while, step away to read a book or work on a jigsaw puzzle. You’d be amazed at how much of a difference five or 10 minutes can make.

Try Out Different Glasses

Computer glasses, also called blue light glasses, have become a popular method for filtering blue light*.

The glasses target and filter high-energy visible (HEV) light, which is projected by nearly all digital screens. Blue-light-filtering lenses have a slightly yellow tint that counters blue light and curtails the discomfort and potential damage it can cause your eyes.

Not only that, but filtering blue light at nighttime can help regulate or improve your sleep cycles since the brain often interprets screen light as sunlight.

Many phones and computers have a setting that warms the display, further helping you achieve a good night’s rest. Learn more about the benefits of computer glasses.

Shop Blue Light Glasses ›

Consider Your Eyes When Grocery Shopping

For many, the idea of stores being wiped out of common groceries can feel strange, inconvenient, and even scary. Being able to purchase all the items on your grocery list has now become a challenge, as supermarkets across the world are experiencing temporary shortages in everyday items.

But this doesn’t mean a healthy diet should be put on the back burner. What you eat contributes heavily to your eye health and many other aspects of your overall physical health.

So don’t fret when you see carrots are out of stock; there are other eye-friendly grocery items that will get the job done.

Carrots rich in vitamin A are the poster children for eye-healthy foods, and for good reason. But if carrots aren’t available, butternut squash, red bell peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and spinach are also chock-full of this vision-booster.

Zinc allows your body to absorb more vitamin A, making them the perfect pair. Zinc also kicks up your immune system’s efficiency, which comes in handy during a global pandemic. Look for meat, shellfish, beans, and nuts to increase your zinc intake.

It’s easy to turn to comfort food like potatoes and macaroni and cheese during times like these, and that’s OK. Just be sure to also incorporate some of these foods to give your eyes a little TLC:

• Antioxidant-rich foods: Artichokes, blueberries and dark chocolate with high cacao (or cocoa) content.
• Omega-3-rich foods: Focus on food with EPA and DHA, like salmon, mackerel, herring, and tuna. Vegetarians can benefit from flax seeds or flaxseed oil, but these lack the EPA and DHA of fish.
• Vitamin E-rich foods: Spinach, nuts (especially almonds and hazelnuts) and whole-grain cereal.

Our Eyes’ Relation to COVID-19

It’s been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the coronavirus can be transmitted through the eyes. This explains why so many images show health care professionals wearing protective goggles or face shields along with their facemasks.

Although eye transmission is not the most common culprit for spreading the disease (respiratory droplet inhalation and close person-to-person contact are the top methods), the importance of keeping your hands away from your face cannot be understated. This is especially important in regard to your eyes, nose, and mouth.

So if you typically wear glasses, you may unknowingly be arming yourself with an added shield of defense!

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains that a pair of glasses may guard your eyes from respiratory droplets. While eyeglasses and sunglasses don’t offer the same level of protection as a pair of goggles, the large surface area of the lens can block the virus from reaching your eyes.

With this in mind, it’s crucial for eyeglasses to be cleaned often. Those who wear glasses will frequently handle their frames, which increases the risk of transferring germs on your hands to the glasses that rest on your face.

The AAO also suggests that those who normally wear contact lenses should switch to glasses for the time being. Contact-wearers typically touch their eyes more often because of the increased irritation of contacts.

There’s evidence that conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, can be a less common sign of COVID-19. Symptoms associated with conjunctivitis are redness, itchiness, discharge, irritation, and crustiness of the eyes. A study of COVID-19 patients in China reported that nine out of 1,099 patients (0.8%) had pink eye as a symptom.

Stay Healthy, Vigilant, And Positive

Understandably, being stuck at home by yourself can feel frustrating. However, social distancing and self-isolation are the best and most effective methods to limit the spread of illness.

Use this time of solitude to check in with yourself, assess your well-being, and practice good habits, especially dealing with your health. Being mindful of your eyes in today’s screen-heavy culture can contribute to vision comfort now and in the future.

Start practicing healthy habits now — it’s possible they’ll stick around even after the days of isolation are over.

Shop Blue Light Glasses ›

In our increasingly electronic world, our eyes spend more and more time staring at digital screens, whether you work on a computer all day, read on a tablet before bed or check your phone frequently throughout the day. If this sounds like you, you may be a perfect candidate for computer reading glasses!

How Do Computer Reading Glasses Work?

Computer reading glasses function just like normal readers but have the added benefit of helping to filter potentially harmful blue light*.

Depending on the distance between you and your computer screen or another digital device, you may need to select a different power than your standard power. The standard reading distance is 12”-18” from your eyes, and this is when you order your standard reading power. The further away something is from you, the lower the reading power should be in order to focus on it  With this in mind, computer screens are 18”-24” away from you on average, which would mean you divide your standard reading power in half. For example, if your standard power for reading is +2.50, you would want to order a +1.25 computer reader to see the screen clearly at 18”-24” away.

Lens Features of Computer Reading Glasses

Our computer glasses feature patented blue light filtering technology and an ant-reflective coating to reduce reflections and improve clarity.

Choosing the Right Lens

Fully magnified lenses have one magnification distributed equally throughout the entire lens.

Multifocal lenses feature three reading strengths so your eyes can focus optimally at distances for reading, working on your computer, and interacting with others. Shop by your regular reading power when purchasing multifocal reading glasses. Our collection of multifocal styles includes Foster Grant® Multi Focus™ styles.

Unmagnified computer glasses are perfect for contact wearers or those who don’t need reading glasses but want a blue light filter.

To learn more about finding the right lens type based on your needs, we suggest reading our “Find the Right Reading Glasses Lenses” guide.

*Disclaimer: Styles filter approximately 30% of potentially harmful blue light. Potentially harmful blue light refers to the 415-455 nanometer range of the visible light spectrum. The percentage represents the average amount of potentially harmful blue light filtered at 5 nanometer increments in this range. Covered under U.S. Pat. No. 8,360,574. Other U.S. and foreign patents pending.

The term eye strain is perhaps something we’ve been conditioned to take a little too lightly. In today’s technology-centered world, eyestrain is very common, and plenty of people go to bed each night with tired, aching eyes after staring at computer (or tablet, iPad, smartphone, television — you name it!) screens all day long.

But just because something is common, doesn’t mean it should be ignored! Digital eye strain is uncomfortable and can lead to more damaging problems with your overall health. Give your eyes the break they deserve! Here are 10 optometrist-approved tips to beat eye strain.

1. Schedule regular eye check-ups

If you’re experiencing eye discomfort of any sort, schedule a visit to your eye doctor.

2. Keep eyedrops handy

Keep a bottle of lubricating eye drops handy and use as directed. This will help keep your eyes moist and irritant-free throughout your busy day.

3. Wear reading glasses

If you need reading glasses, wear them! If you don’t, you risk hurting your eyes even more by constantly straining to focus. Not sure what power you need? Use our power finder to find the right magnification for you, and take these at-home tests to find out if it’s time to wear a pair.

4. Eat lunch away from your computer

Get away from your computer and do another activity! Take a stroll with coworkers during your lunch break, play Scrabble with the kids, learn a new hobby, or cook a delicious meal. Your eyes will always welcome these breaks — and your happiness will, too!

5. Never sleep in contact lenses

Never sleep in your contact lenses! To give your eyes an additional break, alternate wearing glasses and contacts throughout the week.

6. Set a timer to rest your eyes

Set a timer to remind yourself to look away from your computer, television, iPad, or cell phone screen every 15 minutes. It doesn’t have to be for long, just enough time for your eyes to relax and focus on something else.

7. Get a good night’s sleep

Get a good night’s sleep every night so your eyes feel just as awake as you are!

8. Wear computer glasses

If you’re a frequent computer user, grab a pair of our computer glasses. The lenses in computer glasses are specifically designed to combat the harsh strain a computer screen places on your eyes. Learn more about the benefits of computer glasses.

9. Get your daily dose of fruits and veggies

Eat well to maintain healthy vision. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and lutein all contribute to overall eye health. Learn more about the foods that promote healthy vision.

10. Do something active every day

Make time for daily exercise. Not only does physical activity promote an overall healthy lifestyle, but your eyes will also thank you for the daily break. Go to a yoga class, take a bike ride around the block, or grab a friend for a round of tennis.

We hope this post will help you toward your goal of happier, healthier eyes! What eye strain tip is the most helpful for you? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook — we love to hear from you!