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When most people talk about being overworked, they often refer to the body and mind. But what about the eyes?

Screens have become a huge part of our daily lives – we work in front of a computer screen, catch up on the news and connect with friends on our phones, and then end our day watching shows on our television screens.

While our devices are now essential to our daily lives, our eyes aren’t equipped to deal with them 24/7, and too much screen time can lead to overworked eyes.

Do overworked eyes lead to dry eyes?

overworked eyes lead to dry eyes

Visual burnout is a real consequence of today’s digital world, and it can contribute to feelings of strain and fatigue.

If you aren’t sure that you’ve overworked your peepers, here are the five signs to note:

  1. You’re experiencing eye discomfort
  2. You struggle to keep your tired eyes open
  3. You have difficulty concentrating
  4. Your eyes are very sensitive to light
  5. You experience eye dryness

Been nodding as you go down the list? Then you’re likely experiencing eye strain without knowing it. What’s more, overworked eyes can lead to eye dryness, which paves the way for numerous issues.

When your eyes are dry, it can induce irritation, scratchiness, occasional grittiness, and more. And let’s be honest – if your eyes are watering, burning, or feeling sore at times, it’s exhausting to focus on whatever you’re trying to accomplish.

As our digital dependency steadily increases, keeping our eyes hydrated is just as important as moisturising our skin.

So, what can you do to combat eye dryness on the daily? For starters, try these easy, actionable tips.

4 ways to prevent eye fatigue and dryness

Readjust your computer or laptop screen

eye fatigue dryness Readjust your computer or laptop screen

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How high and how far your computer or laptop screen is situated could be a factor that’s contributing to eye dryness. It should ideally be 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes and a little below eye level.

When your computer screen is above eye level, your eyes have to open wider to take everything in, thus increasing the surface area of your eyeballs’ susceptibility to dryness.

This makes your eye’s ciliary muscles work harder to focus and even ups the chances of debris and other environmental stressors flying in. By adjusting your screen so it’s eye level, you’re slowing the evaporation of the tear film between blinks too.

Use the 20-20-20 rule

eye dryness and fatigue 20-20-20 rule

Credit: xFrame.io

You don’t need to take a digital detox if you don’t feel it’s sustainable. You should, however, break up your screen time to give your eyes a break.

Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet (around six metres) away from the screen for 20 seconds. You can also close your eyes – tightly at first, and then relax them. Open and repeat the sequence four times, up to four times a day.

Eating foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin

eye dryness and fatigue Eating foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin

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Lutein and zeaxanthin are two important carotenoids, which are pigments produced by plants that give fruits and vegetables their yellow to reddish hue.

Both are potent antioxidants that offer a range of health benefits, but they’re best known for protecting your eyes. They accumulate in the retina to provide protection from blue light, combat screen fatigue, and promote overall eye health.

You can find these two carotenoids in egg yolks as well as deeply coloured veggies like broccoli, kale, and spinach.

Use quality eye drops

eye dryness and fatigue Use quality eye drops

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More of us are suffering from dry, irritated, red eyes that can feel itchy or gritty, as if there’s a foreign body in our eyes.

Enter the beauty of a good eye drop. Even though your first course of action is to pop into a drugstore or rummage through your medicine cabinet and grab the first bottle you find, it’s important to note that not all eye drops are equal and that expiration dates are there for a reason!

To refresh your eyes when they feel dry, try Evolve HA Dry Eye Max or Evolve Quick Relief.

Why these eye drops are a cut above the rest

While standard single-use eye drops are typically preservative-free, which makes them ideal for eye health, they are usually pricier and are meant to be disposed of after one use.

Many recap and reuse them for a few days, but that may mean introducing bacteria into your eyes since these single-use eye drops do not contain preservatives.

On the other hand, multi-dose eye drops are easier on the wallet, but they contain preservatives to protect their formula. And once opened, they last up to 30 days only.

evolve eye drops

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However, Evolve has a clever solution that combines the best of both worlds. The brand’s eye drops merge the benefits of single-use, preservative-free eye drops with the convenience of an eye drop bottle, making them much more affordable, user-friendly, and environmentally friendly – a win-win for all of us!

What’s more, one bottle of Evolve’s eye drops can be used for up to 90 days, unlike regular formulas on the market that may only last up to 30 days. Each bottle contains up to 350 drops, which is equivalent to three bottles of single-use vials, making it more cost-effective.

evolve eye drops drip

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But how exactly does it keep its formula fresh and uncontaminated for such a long time? Well, Evolve uses a patented one-way filter that doesn’t allow contaminated liquid and air to re-enter the bottle, which keeps the eye drops fresh and sterile.

evolve eye drops blue tip

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The eye drops also feature a signature blue tip which helps with aim. Plus, the bottle is soft, which makes dispensing easy for everyone, even the elderly.

For instant relief, take your pick from two eye drops:

  • Evolve Quick Relief: It contains 0.5% carmellose, which is a lubricant that works like artificial tears – perfect for treating mild to moderate dry eyes.
  • Evolve HA Dry Eye Max: Infused with 0.2% hydrating sodium hyaluronate, these eye drops are great for moderate to severe dry eyes.

The eye drops are also suitable for contact lens wearers or those who’s undergone refractive surgeries like Lasik.

Simply place one drop into each eye two to four times a day or as directed by your doctor, optician, or pharmacist to relieve eye fatigue and dryness. Your eyes will thank you!

Prices are as follows:

  • Evolve Quick Relief (10ml) retails for S$21.20 at Guardian, Watsons, and online at Glovida.com, Shopee, and Lazada.
  • Evolve HA Dry Eye Max (10ml) retails for S$23.20 at Guardian, Watsons, and online at Glovida.com, Shopee, and Lazada.

This article is brought to you by Evolve.