Do I have Dry eyes or Eye strain or Do i need eye glasses?

Do you find yourself wondering whether your eyes are suffering from dryness, fatigue, or a need for Eye Glasses, it's not always easy to tell. Sometimes, it's a combination of factors that contribute to blurred vision and discomfort. Understand the differences between dry eyes, eye strain, and the need for glasses.

Top Signs of dry eyes:

Pain or discomfort: Your eyes might feel gritty, itchy, or irritated. This is classic symptom of dry eyes in children.

Blurred vision: Dryness can cause your eyes to burn and make your vision blurry.

Eye fatigue: You might feel like your eyes are tired or strained after a short period of reading, using digital devices, or watching TV.

Redness: Your eyes may appear red or inflamed due to the irritation.

If you have eye strain, you may experience:

Headaches: Prolonged focusing on a task can lead to headaches and fatigue due to eye strain.

Eye discomfort: You might feel like your eyes are tired, strained, or irritated, but not necessarily painful.

Difficulty focusing: Eye strain can cause difficulties with reading, watching TV, or performing tasks that require sustained focus.

If you need glasses, you may experience:

Blurred vision at distance or near: Your eyes might have difficulty seeing objects clearly at arm's length (hyperopia) or up close (myopia).

Double vision: You might see two images of the same object.

Squinting or straining to see: Your eyes may try harder to focus on objects, leading to eye strain. That is how I realized that my son needs vision correction and he got his first pair of eye glasses.

How to tell the difference Between Dry Eyes, Eye Strain or Need for Glasses?

Duration and severity: If your symptoms persist for an extended period (hours or days) and are severe (high level of pain/discomfort), it's more likely dry eyes.

Task-specific symptoms: If you only experience discomfort when performing specific tasks, like reading or using digital devices, it might be eye strain. To relieve the symptom OTC eye drops like genteal eyedrop or lubrex eyedrop or eyemist eyedrop can be used.

Age and lifestyle factors: As we age, our eyes can become less effective at focusing (presbyopia). Additionally, prolonged screen time, close work, or eye rubbing can contribute to dryness or strain.

Remember that only a thorough eye exam can accurately determine the cause of your symptoms. Don't hesitate to schedule an appointment if you're unsure about what's happening with your vision.