Thursday, June 21, 2012

Birmingham Doctor on Tired Eyes & Eyestrain

Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center commented on patient complaints regarding tired eyes and eyestrain. “We hear more and more complaints of just plain tired eyes and eyestrain these days. Our everyday lives have now incorporated the use of video display terminals, computer terminals, iPads, iPhones and tablet computers. Eyestrain is the common description that people use for the eye and vision problem called 'asthenopia.' Eyestrain or asthenopia is the eye condition that results when the eyes get tired from excessive or intense use,” noted Dr. Michelson. “While it can be quite annoying, in general it tends to disappear when we stop using our eyes for a while and rest. Typically eyestrain is not a serious condition, but could indicate some underlying problem that needs to be addressed especially if it is related to headaches, double vision, difficulty concentrating and fatigue,” Dr. Michelson further explained.

People who report eyestrain often do so by complaining about symptoms of fatigue, dull eye pain or discomfort, blurry vision, double vision, headaches, dry eyes light sensitivity and sometimes even a stiff or sore neck. Eyestrain is very common among people who use or work on computers or play video games for prolonged periods of time. The use of computer screens of any sort along with uncorrected common refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and the age related near vision focusing problem presbyopia is a frequent cause of eyestrain. Along with even slight eye muscle imbalances, these focusing problems can really result in annoying eye fatigue and strain.

If you or someone you know suffers from eyestrain symptoms they are encouraged to schedule an eye examination at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision so that we can help identify the possible causes and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Michelson Laser Vision and Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.