How to get rid of tired eyes?

Medically reviewed by Khuram Sarwar, Dispensing Optician at Feel Good Contacts on 31/03/2023.

• How to get rid of tired eyes at work?
• How to get rid of tired looking eyes at home?
• Common causes of tired eyes
• Symptoms of tired eyes

You can get rid of tired eyes in numerous ways, obvious ways include making sure you get enough sleep. The recommended quantity of sleep for adults is between 7 and 9 hours. Staying hydrated and drinking more water can also reduce the likelihood of getting tired eyes.

There are measures which you can take at work or during leisure time to get rid of tired eyes. Having a remedy for tired eyes is essential. If your eyes feel tired, we recommend following some of our favourite tips for how to relieve tired eyes.

How to get rid of tired eyes at work?

Work can often be demanding on the eyes, especially for those of us who spend lots of time in front of digital devices. Below are some pointers on how to get rid of tired eyes at work.

1. Limit your screen time

   If you have to look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time, we recommend you follow the 20-20-20 rule. This rule states that you take a break from the screen every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

2. Adjust the colours and lighting on digital screens

   Adjusting the colours on your digital screen to warmer tones or selecting the ‘night shift’ setting on apple devices can also help. You can even use an anti-glare filter for your screen. This will stop you from straining your eyes throughout the day.

3. Wear blue light glasses

   Wearing blue light glasses is an excellent way of minimising digital eye strain from looking at screens all day. They also help improve sleep by blocking blue light. Blue light reduces our production of melatonin (the sleep hormone which helps us sleep at night) and can therefore help to get rid of tired looking eyes.

4. Change your computer set up

   Make sure that you are sitting at arm’s length from your screen and that the centre of the screen is slightly below eye level so that you are looking down slightly.

   It also helps to adjust the text size so that you’re not straining your eyes to see clearly.

5. Blink more

   Blinking helps to lubricate the eyes so that they don't get dry and therefore reduces the likelihood of eye strain.

6. Palming your eyes (the Bates Method)

   Palming your eyes is the practice of rubbing your hands together to create heat and then gently covering your eyes with your hands while breathing in and out slowly. This is a great way of relaxing the muscles around the eyes and reducing fatigue.

How to get rid of tired looking eyes at home?

There are many ways to get rid of tired eyes at home when we have a bit of time for self-care and rest. The following are some ways in which you can get rid of tired eyes from the comfort of your own home:

1. Apply a warm or cold compress

   Applying a warm compress such as our Thera-Pearl Eye mask can help to relieve tired eyes by offering a therapeutic spa-like treatment. This eye mask, which was developed by eye care professionals Bausch & Lomb, can be used as a hot or cold compress and is suitable for those with sensitive eyes.

   You can also use tea bags or a cold washcloth as a cold compress to soothe tired eyes and reduce dark circles and eye bags.

2. Use eye drops or artificial tears

   Eye drops or artificial tears can provide instant relief to tired eyes, keeping them refreshed and awake for the whole day.

3. Do eye exercises

   Eye exercises can help to relieve tired eyes. Why not try our 5 eye yoga exercises for eye fatigue? Eye yoga can condition and strengthen the eye area, providing benefits for eye strain.

4. Wear the right prescription glasses or contact lenses

   Ensuring you have the right prescription glasses or contact lenses will also help to get rid of tired eyes and it is advised that you visit your optician for regular eye tests.

5. Use a humidifier

   Your eyes feel more tired when they are dry. Using a humidifier will introduce moisture into the air and your eyes. Avoid dry air blowing directly on your face and keep away from smoke.

6. Use an eye spray for tired eyes

   Our Blink Refreshing Hydrating Eye Mist will certainly help to reduce eye strain and combat tired eyes. Great for contact lens wearers and non-contact wearers alike, this eye spray will re-hydrate and soothe your eyes with just a few sprays.

   Looking after tired eyes and preventing eye strain needn’t be difficult. Following the simple steps above will ensure that your eyes are kept fresh and awake all day long.

Your eyes are constantly working hard throughout the day, from staring at your screen at work, to scrolling through notifications on your phone and watching Netflix. You needn't be surprised if you find that your eyes feel heavy and tired all the time. Sleepy eyes can have you looking and feeling exhausted, therefore it’s important to recharge and look after your eyes in order to prevent this.

There are many ways to keep your eyes awake and refreshed. Luckily, tired eyes (aka: eye strain), can be treated. If you feel you have tired eyes all the time, there's nothing to fear. Here you'll be able to find out how to identify tired eyes as well as how to minimise symptoms.

Common causes of tired eyes

There are a range of factors that can cause tired eyes and most of these causes are experienced in our everyday lives. Most people link tired eyes to lack of sleep. However, anything that requires intensive use of your eyes can cause tired and heavy eyes, including:

• Excessive screen use (usually referred to as computer vision syndrome)
• Reading
• Writing
• Allergies
• Poor lighting conditions - either very low or very bright light

Symptoms of tired eyes

If you’re experiencing tired eyes, you may find that your eyes feel heavy and tired even if you don’t feel tired yourself. It’s also possible to experience sore, tired eyes. Other symptoms of tired eye include:

• Eye bags - puffiness or dark circles surrounding the eye
• Watery eyes
• Dry eyes
• Trouble focusing
• Sensitivity to light
• Red Eyes

These symptoms are usually nothing to worry about, however, if you experience any of the following, we recommend visiting an optician.

• Headaches
• Blurry vision
• Double vision