Office eye syndrome, overwork, long-term driving, poor visual hygiene - these and other factors can cause redness, dryness, and even pain. And such symptoms are now common among the older generation, as well as among young people and even children.
Drops that relieve these unpleasant consequences of fatigue and tension will come to the rescue at the very first use. A review prepared on the basis of consumer reviews, recommendations of ophthalmologists and pharmacists in 2021 will help you understand the variety of offers of this product.
Eye fatigue - how does it manifest itself?
In ophthalmology, eye fatigue is called asthenopia - rapid fatigue of the visual organs. This functional disorder is a consequence of prolonged visual stress. Asthenopia is not a pathological process, but this does not mean that it can be left without treatment. Chronic eye fatigue can subsequently lead to severe vision impairment. There are other severe complications of asthenopia.
Eye fatigue as a separate symptom is quite difficult to describe. A person wants to quit work and relax, it is difficult for him to concentrate and concentrate, everything gets boring, he becomes nervous and irritable. It will be easier to understand what visual fatigue is if you describe the signs that accompany this condition. These include:
- redness of the protein membrane with a pronounced vascular network;
- swelling under the eyes, swelling of the eyelids;
- deterioration of vision: decreased visual acuity, appearance of a veil before the eyes, impaired color vision, double vision and other functional disorders;
- dry cornea or, conversely, excessive lacrimation;
- painful sensations when moving the eyeballs in the area of the eye sockets, temples, forehead, eyebrows;
- headaches and dizziness;
- heaviness in the eyes, manifested in involuntary closing of the eyelids;
- sensation of the presence of a foreign body on the mucous membrane.
When the eyes are tired, they lose moisture, the cornea dries out, and the person feels that inflammation is beginning. The eyeballs try to get rid of dryness by secreting tears in large volumes. My eyes are constantly watering. A person rubs them with his hands, irritating the mucous membrane. The risk of pathogenic microorganisms getting onto the surface of the eyeball increases. This can cause an ophthalmological disease of infectious etiology. Signs of asthenopia are accompanied by symptoms of infection. As a result, you will have to give up work completely and go on sick leave. Many infectious eye diseases can lead to severe vision loss. Thus, the signs of asthenopia should never be ignored.
What causes your eyes to get tired?
Asthenopia can be caused by a variety of reasons. They are not necessarily associated with the organs of vision and ophthalmological pathologies. Some causes are not very dangerous, some of them require urgent treatment. Ophthalmologists identify the following factors that contribute to the development of symptoms of asthenopia:
- lack of visual hygiene;
- Frequent watching of TV, prolonged work at a computer monitor;
- incorrectly selected optics or incorrect mode of operation;
- driving a car for a long time;
- long stays in rooms with dry air, in which air conditioning is running and heating is turned on;
- poor diet and bad habits, including drinking alcohol and smoking;
- refractive errors: myopia, hypermetropia, presbyopia, astigmatism;
- eye diseases of an infectious and inflammatory nature;
- vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- increased pressure (intracranial, intraocular, arterial).
When treating asthenopia, you can directly influence its symptoms or the cause of eye fatigue. If the provoking factor is a vision pathology, it is necessary to treat it. Refractive errors are corrected with high-quality optics selected together with an ophthalmologist, infectious diseases are treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, problems with the vegetative-vascular system are solved through drug therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures. Eye fatigue caused by exposure to external factors on the organs of vision, prolonged visual stress, that is, non-pathological causes, can be eliminated with the help of eye drops. There are other ways to treat asthenopia: eye exercises, taking vitamin complexes, traditional medicine. Let's find out which eye drops are best to use for tired eyes.
Eyes become very tired and red. Which drops to choose?
Eye drops for eye fatigue are the most effective way to eliminate signs of asthenopia. Their effectiveness lies in the fact that they instantly affect various structures of the eyeball. Tired eye syndrome goes away within a few seconds after instilling the drug. It is worth noting that ophthalmic drops eliminate eye fatigue, but they cannot cure the cause of asthenopia if it lies in any pathology. The purpose of such drugs is to alleviate the human condition.
Eye drops are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antihistamine, moisturizing, healing, vitamin, and diagnostic. To treat glaucoma, solutions are used that can lower intraocular pressure. Eye drops for fatigue should have a vasoconstrictor, moisturizing or restorative effect.
Drugs that constrict blood vessels eliminate external signs of fatigue, that is, redness of the sclera. Simultaneously with this symptom, itching, burning, and dryness are relieved. Such products are not classified as medications. They can be instilled when fatigue occurs due to working at the computer or prolonged reading. Drops that restore the tear film usually contain hyaluronic acid or other components that mimic tears. Moisturizing drops are often recommended for office workers, people who wear contact lenses, and patients with hypersensitive corneas.
There are many types of eye drops available in the market. Which ones to choose for eye fatigue? We list the most popular and effective drugs that are approved by doctors.
Reviews from doctors
Andrey Miroshnichenko, ophthalmologist: Many of my patients suffer from chronic fatigue and dryness of the mucous membrane of the eyes. The condition may be caused by a medical condition. I often prescribe moisturizing drops, for example, Oftolik, Slezin, Defislez, Systane, Oksial. Patients note that symptoms are quickly eliminated.
Elena Eroshkina, ophthalmologist: If my patients have dry upper layers of the eyes, I prescribe moisturizing drops. Most often it is Defislez, Oftolik. They have the lowest cost, with the same effects as other drugs.
Best eye drops for fatigue
The most well-known drugs that fight eye fatigue include:
- Visin is an eye drop that has a vasoconstrictor effect. You can bury them up to three times a day. They have an effect almost instantly.
- "Systane" is a product containing components of natural human tears. After instillation into the eyes, the drops form a film on the surface of the eyeball that protects from drying out. The drug is used 1-2 times a day.
- "Innoxa" - eye drops that have a moisturizing effect. They are suitable for people who have to sit at a computer for hours. You can instill the solution several times a day when signs of fatigue appear.
- "Visomitin." These drops moisturize the cornea, and also improve metabolism and promote tissue healing. They can be prescribed for injuries. Instillation is carried out three times a day.
- "Artelak" - eye drops based on sodium hyaluronate, which saturates the eyes with all the necessary microelements and protects the cornea from adverse environmental factors. You need to instill one drop of solution into each eye 3-5 times a day.
- "Vitafacol" is a drug that helps normalize metabolic processes. Drops have a positive effect on the lens and cornea. This drug is often included as an additional medication in the treatment program for people with cataracts. However, it can also be used for chronic eye fatigue. The solution is instilled three times a day.
- "Blink Intensive" The drug is prescribed for redness of the eyes, but only if this symptom is caused not by pathology, but by excessive visual strain. After instillation, the blood vessels narrow, causing the redness to disappear. There are no chemically active substances in the solution, so you can use it often, focusing on your own feelings.
- "Ophtolik" - moisturizing drops that relieve symptoms of dry eye syndrome. This product contains chemically active substances, so it can be used no more than twice a day.
- "Riboflavin" is a vitamin drop that strengthens the immune system. The drug is used as a prophylactic agent; it prevents the development of ophthalmopathologies. Instillation should be carried out twice a day, morning and evening.
- "Irifrin" - drops with a calming effect. They eliminate redness and other signs of asthenopia. To do this, just drip the solution in the morning. You shouldn't need it anymore during the day.
- "Visor". These drops are similar in composition to Visin, but also include vitamin supplements that strengthen the tissue of the eyeballs. The drug is used in courses. It usually lasts a week. Instillation is carried out four times a day.
- "Visoptic" - eye drops that are ideal for users of contact optics. If eye fatigue occurs while wearing it, you can drip the solution directly on top of the lenses. It is recommended to use Vizoptik for no more than four days in a row.
What other medications are there to relieve eye fatigue when working at a computer?
The list of best drops listed above is not exhaustive. These are the most popular drugs. There are other drops that are not so effective, but are absolutely safe. They do not contain strong components, so they can be used frequently. In addition, they cost much less. Among these drugs:
"Oxial" - drops based on sodium hyaluronate. They are biocompatible with eye tissue. Use the product up to 5-6 times a day as needed. “Oftagel” are drops that form a protective layer on the surface of the eye that does not come into contact with the tear fluid, but does not allow it to evaporate. "Octilia" is a drug used to treat redness and eye fatigue that occurs when working at a computer. Drops are instilled up to three times a day. “Natural tear” is a solution that has a moisturizing effect. It is the most harmless in its composition. It cannot be called very effective for relieving eye fatigue, but it is absolutely harmless and the most inexpensive.
List of inexpensive products
From the above review of eye medications, the most affordable are:
- Riboflavin;
- Quinax;
- Dexa;
- Hyphenation.
The price of drops depends on the region, the location of the pharmacy kiosk and some trade markups. Here are approximate prices for drugs.
Name of the drug | Price |
Riboflavin | 110-130 rub. |
Dexa – Gentamicin, 5 ml | 130-150 rub. |
Hyphenosis, 10 ml | 30-60 rub. |
Emoxipin 1%, 5 ml | 200-230 rub. |
Taufon 4%, 5 ml | 95-150 rub. |
Okomistin, 10 ml | 120-150 rub. |
Are there any contraindications to anti-fatigue eye drops?
Such solutions, as a rule, have no contraindications, since they do not contain preservatives or other aggressive components. Side effects, if they occur after their instillation, are in the form of an allergic reaction, which is difficult to predict. If discomfort in the eyes occurs, you should stop taking the drug and visit an ophthalmologist. Despite the almost complete harmlessness of eye drops for fatigue, they are not prescribed for:
- high blood pressure;
- fragility of blood vessels, which is accompanied by hemorrhages;
- bronchial asthma;
- eye allergies;
- problems with blood clotting.
Consumer Reviews
Mikhail: I work in production and often interact with chemicals. An unpleasant sensation appeared in the eyes, as if something was preventing me from blinking. The doctor advised me to use moisturizing drops. After using them, all symptoms go away.
Oleg: I have been wearing contact lenses for 20 years. At the same time I work at the computer. By evening, my eyes get very tired. The doctor prescribed me Slesin ophthalmic drops. They are cheap, but the effect appears quickly.