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10 Helpful Ways to Rest Your Eyes

Our eyes perform an incredible amount of work every day. Think about all the details your eyes interpret for you hourly—everything from watching people’s facial expressions to tracking cars zooming down the street to discerning the fine print on a page.

With everything your eyes do, it makes sense that they might get tired and irritated by the end of the day. Learn how to rest your eyes throughout the day so you can get the most from your vision and live life to the fullest.

What Causes Eye Fatigue?

The eyes are delicate organs that need proper care to remain healthy and function optimally. There are several daily habits that can tire your eyes out:

  • Spending too much time looking at a phone, TV or computer screen
  • Not giving them enough moisture, which can lead to dry, itchy eyes
  • Exposing them to irritants like pollen or dust particles
  • Reading for hours non-stop
  • Driving continuously with breaks

Fortunately, all these things are under your control—and awareness is key!

The Benefit of Learning How to Rest Your Eyes

While you may not notice eye fatigue as much as you do muscle fatigue, your eyes may often tire and become strained when overused. Your mind and body require adequate rest to function properly; your eyes are no different.

Eye fatigue may lead to:

  • Headaches
  • A sore neck and shoulders
  • Dry eyes
  • Burning or itchy eyes
  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Light sensitivity
  • Difficulty opening your eyes

By learning how to rest your eyes throughout the day, you’re not only giving your eyes a much-needed break, you’re helping maintain your mental and physical health.

How to Give Your Eyes a Break—10 Simple Ways

Prioritize your eye health by taking proactive steps to rest your eyes. The following practices protect your eyes and may even help reduce headaches, dry eyes and other eye fatigue symptoms.

  1. Sleep

    Sleeping is a simple solution to eye fatigue—and very effective. When your eyes are closed, your tear ducts and glands release and spread moisture to rejuvenate, clean and moisten the surface of the eye. If your eyes itch or sting, give them extra time to recuperate by taking a nap or going to bed an hour early.

  2. Close Your Eyes

    If you need to rest your eyes and napping isn’t an option, just close your eyes for a few minutes. Every time you blink or close your eyes, your tear ducts and glands spread a thin layer of moisture on the eyes’ surface.

    When your eyes feel tired, but you don’t have enough time for a nap, you can rest your eyes without falling asleep. Practice staying alert while your eyes are closed by concentrating on a single task—like deciding what to make for dinner or reviewing your daily schedule.

  3. Blink Regularly

    When you concentrate on something, you probably blink less, which can quickly dry out the eyes. Try to blink regularly.

    If you work in front of a computer for a lot of the day, write a reminder and place it near your screen so you’ll remember to take a “blink break”.

  4. Try the 20-20-20 Technique

    Every 20 minutes, find an object 20 feet away and focus on it for 20 seconds. This can be especially helpful if you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. Wondering how this relaxes your eyes? Changing your level of visual focus gives your vision a reset.

    Be sure to pay attention to the details of the object and focus on it enough to see it clearly. To get good at this, set a 20-minute timer on your phone so you remember to take this break throughout the day.

  5. Try Palming

    To practice this technique, make a cupping shape with each of your hands, close your eyes, and place each hand over an eye socket. Press just enough to block out light and create gentle pressure.

    While keeping your eyes closed, look forward as if you were staring into the distance. Stay like this until your eyes see only black and no other residual colors or light.

    Palming lets your eyes rest and lubricate. Do this for a few minutes whenever your eyes need a break. You’ll be surprised at what a difference this makes!

  6. Reduce Your Screen Time

    Screens are one of the greatest sources of eye fatigue. When possible, take frequent breaks and even step away from your device for a few minutes.

    If you work at a job that requires you to spend lots of time on a computer, you can make a few adjustments to reduce your screen time. For example, take notes on a notepad instead of your computer and attend meetings in-person instead of virtually whenever possible.

  7. Adjust Your Screen

    If you must spend time on screens during the day, make it as comfortable as possible for your eyes. Turn the brightness down on all your electronic devices. If you catch yourself squinting to read something, enlarge the text.

    Invest in blue light filtering lenses to reduce exposure to the harsh light from your devices. If you notice yourself straining your eyes to see through dust or smears, take a moment to clean your screen.

  8. Purchase and Use Eye Drops

    At times, your eyes might need extra lubrication. To combat eye dryness, itchiness or burning, consider purchasing artificial tears. Eye drops can help lubricate your eyes, allowing your vision to clear and your eyes to relax.

    During your annual eye exam, ask your eye doctor for a recommendation on which eye drops to use and how often to use them.

  9. Use Proper Lighting

    Proper lighting reduces the need to squint or strain to read. When you are reading or filling out paperwork, position yourself so you are not looking directly into the light. Instead, make sure the light source comes from over your shoulder, so it illuminates the paper without shining right in your eyes.

    When doing something that doesn’t require strong lighting, like eating dinner or taking a shower, help your eyes relax by dimming the lights.

  10. Get the Proper Eyewear

    Many people experience eye fatigue and irritation because they lack the proper eyewear. Your eyes may feel strained simply because they’re working harder than they should to help you see.

    Schedule a consultation with an eye doctor to make sure your prescription is current or learn whether you’d benefit from starting to wear glasses or contacts. Everyone should have an annual eye exam—and be seen more often if you have a condition that needs closer monitoring.

Let Visionworks Help

We know how important your eyes are and want to help you keep them looking, seeing and feeling great. If your eyes start bothering you, don’t worry! We can help.

If you have any concerns about your vision or eye health, stop by your local Visionworks store or schedule an exam online or by phone. Your eye doctor does several quick but helpful tests to determine your prescription needs and eye health and gives you personalized advice on how to best protect and rest your eyes.

Try these tips and see what works best for your eyes. And if you haven’t been in to see us for a while, reach out to us at Visionworks to schedule your eye exam now.

Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.