Medical professionals are noticing an increase in the number of patients suffering from eye fatigue as a result of excessive use of computers and the aging process. A recent study has shown that a natural carotenoid can help protect against eye strain, as well as UV damage and diseases that can cause vision problems.
Today, most people use a computer either for work or pleasure. The eye fatigue that results from computer use affects people of all ages, which is not surprising. If you want to avoid having problems with your eyes later on, it is important to take care of them and prevent eye fatigue. This means not straining your eyes, taking breaks often, and being able to focus on objects at different distances.
Astaxanthin, a natural supplement, may be important in eye care and prevention, according to several studies. Astaxanthin’s benefits don’t stop at eye health- it also promotes cardiovascular health, enhances athletic endurance, and makes skin look healthier.
Eye Fatigue: A Modern Epidemic
Even though there are lots of advantages that come from our world becoming more and more dependent on computer technology, one of the problems is that people get eye fatigue from staring at a visual display terminal for hours. Even if you have the best lighting, ergonomics, and visual correction, your eyes will get tired from looking at a computer screen all week long. The muscles in your eyes will become weak over time. The loss of the ozone layer has made it harder for us to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
The effects of this attack on eye health are now present in people of a younger age, as more children spend extended periods of time playing on handheld devices. The more time you spend looking at screens, the less time you spend looking at things that are further away, which exercises the muscles in your eyes and keeps them healthy.
Asthenopia, or eye fatigue, is an eye condition that causes symptoms like eye weakness, eye irritation, and poor accommodation. Scientist Jowell G. According to Bolivar from Fuji Health Science, Inc., accommodation is the change of the refractive power of the eye to focus objects at different distances. Most visual problems associated with accommodation occur when this process is too slow, diminishing the ability to focus quickly on objects at different distances.
What Makes Our Eyes Look Tired?
The phrase “tired eyes” is somewhat vague, don’t you think? But it’s hard to come up with a better way to describe it when the appearance can vary so much from person to person. For some people, it comes in the form of redness and puffiness around the eyes. For others, it’s the saggy skin by the lids and under-eyes that accentuates exhaustion and weariness.
There are many reasons why your eyes might look tired, with many different manifestations.
Here are some of the most common causes of tired-looking eyes and what really happens to your eyes when you fall prey to them:
Skin Aging
The most likely reason your eyes look tired and sullen if you’re in your 50s or older is that your skin is thinning and losing elasticity. As you age, the muscles and tissues around your eyes weaken, causing them to sag slightly and making you look tired.
As you mature, your skin’s elasticity weakens. The accumulation of fats and fluids in the eye area can make your lower eyelids look fuller and more swollen. The addition of saggy skin makes you look even more tired.
As you age, your body produces less collagen. The skin may become thinner and more transparent, making the blood vessels more visible. If you don’t remove your makeup before going to bed, it can give you the appearance of having dark circles under your eyes, even if you didn’t stay up late the night before.
Fluid Retention
If your eyes are swollen when you wake up in the morning, it may be due to crying the night before or eating a lot of salty food. This is a more temporary condition and should improve within a day or so.
If you don’t drink enough water, your eyes can become swollen and puffy. This is because they are very sensitive to dehydration. If you find your eyes getting red and puffy to the point where you can’t open them, try drinking a glass of water and keeping yourself hydrated for the rest of the day.
Lack of Sleep
If you’re stressed and not getting enough sleep, it will be reflected in your appearance, specifically your eyes. When you are exhausted or worried about something, your eyes may look darker and have bigger bags under them.
Smoking
Smoking is a vice that is known to cause your skin to age faster. Your eyes are no exception to this. If you smoke too much, one of the effects is saggy eye bags.
If you think that smoking has made your eyes look darker and more sullen, you should quit. If you improve your diet, you will see not only a difference in the area around your eyes but also in your skin, hair, nails, and overall health.
Astaxanthin Vs Tired Eyes
Astaxanthin Reduces Eyestrain
According to well-controlled trials in human volunteers, the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin seems to help prevent eyestrain or asthenopia.
The evidence chiefly originates from Japanese clinical studies headed by Dr. Shigeaki Ono in Sapporo. Commenting on these studies, Paul S. In an interview with Life Extension, Bernstein stated that in his studies, those who took astaxanthin supplements saw an increase in accommodative amplitude and a decrease in symptoms of eyestrain.
A study found that people who took astaxanthin were less likely to experience eye fatigue and had better accommodation ability than those who took a placebo. Neither the patients nor the researchers knew who was taking astaxanthin or the placebo.
In an interesting turn of events, the only group to show a reduction in subjective symptoms was the one taking astaxanthin. After four weeks of 5 mg astaxanthin treatment, the power of accommodation improved significantly. In contrast, the placebo showed no significant difference.
Other studies have researched how different doses of astaxanthin affect the time it takes for the eye to adjust to seeing nearby objects. The time it takes for the ciliary muscle to contract so that it can change the focus from distance vision to close-up or near vision is positive accommodation. This means that if you can focus on objects closer to you more quickly, you will experience less strain on your eyes, and your overall eye health will be better.
The 4 mg and 12 mg astaxanthin groups had significant improvements in reducing asthenopia and positive accommodation. The time it took for the accommodation to contract was significantly shorter in the 4 and 12 mg groups compared to before they received the treatment.
In a study similar to the one mentioned, volunteers who took astaxanthin, 12 mg/day for four weeks, had significant improvements in their ability to focus on positive things. People who took 6 mg of astaxanthin tended to have better accommodation amplitude, which means they could shift their focus over a greater range of distances.
Astaxanthin Protects Against Free Radical Damage
Nutrition-conscious individuals have long eaten carrots for better eyesight since carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which has been linked to preventing visual problems. Although it was previously believed that beta-carotene was the richest source of carotenoids, newer sources have been found that are much richer in carotenoids.
Astaxanthin is a compound found in the microalga Haematococcus Pluvialis that belongs to the class of plant compounds known as xanthophylls. Xanthophylls are oxygenated carotenoids. This alga is found in many different types of water bodies, from freshwater rock pools to Arctic oceans. The pink and red colors of salmon, shrimp, lobster, and other marine life are due to their diet, which is rich in astaxanthin.
Algae thrive in waters exposed to intense light. The sun produces ultraviolet radiation that can cause damage to DNA and other cellular structures, resulting in sunburn or even skin cancer in humans. The presence of astaxanthin protects the algae from UV damage, allowing them to thrive in direct sunlight.
It is not known exactly how astaxanthin improves vision, but it is thought that its role as an antioxidant might be part of the reason. According to Dr. Bernstein, the ciliary body is the muscle that is responsible for the accommodation. He says that research in his laboratory has shown that it is a tissue that is rich in carotenoids.
Other Easy Ways to Get Rid of Dull, Tired-Looking Eyes
If you have eye bags and puffy eyes, it’s usually not enough of a concern to make you go to the hospital. Tired eyes are not a cause for concern and do not require any medical attention. Instead of going to the doctor, you can fix it at home with natural remedies or a bit of cosmetic magic.
If you think that your redness, puffiness, or dark circles are from straining your eye, you might want to try applying a cold compress to the eye area.
Soothing the eyes with something cool can help to reduce puffiness significantly. It can also help to reduce the appearance of under-eye bags by relaxing the blood vessels and increasing blood flow.
The same coffee that perks you up in the morning can actually help reduce puffiness and dark circles when used topically. Caffeine can reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes when applied topically. Try placing cold tea bags or ice cubes made of coffee on the affected area.
Tea soothes inflammation and irritation in the eyes. The caffeine in tea and coffee can have a constricting effect on blood vessels, which can help to reduce swelling and darkening in the area. Caffeine can help to reduce the appearance of swollen and bloated eyes by draining any fluids that are causing the issue.
Caffeine can also help to tighten the skin, making your eyes look younger and more awake.
Lifestyle Changes for Brighter, More Youthful-Looking Eyes
Just using beauty products and spa treatments isn’t enough to get rid of puffy eyes. Some lifestyle changes that can help address the root cause of the swelling and dark circles and make you look less tired are: – Getting enough sleep – Exercising – Eating a nutritious diet – Reducing stress
You can start by making small changes, like taking breaks from staring at your computer for too long. Try to look away from your computer every 30 minutes or so while you are working. Look out your window for a few minutes to see something other than your computer screen.
Try to eat less salty food and drink more water when you have the opportunity. You will be less likely to wake up with puffy, bloated eyes if you drink more water. Hydrating regularly will also do wonders for your skin!
You can also actively sleep for longer. Go to bed on time and cut yourself some slack when you set your alarm for the morning—you’re gonna need those extra 15 minutes to keep your eyes in tip-top shape.
It is important to get seven hours of sleep each night. Sleeping properly allows your body to release the appropriate amount of skin-firming hormones. This can help to prevent the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and sagging around the eyes.
The most important thing to do is to reduce the stress levels that cause dark circles and swelling. There are lots of different hobbies you can do to relax, like painting, running, yoga, and meditation. Find one that works for you and stick with it to help you unwind. Don’t let anxiety take over your life–take some time out to relax mindfully.
Conclusion
Do not wait for others to tell you that you look tired. Be proactive and take steps to avoid having your eyes look swollen, puffy, and tired.
If your eyes are being stubborn and causing fluid retention or redness, there is always something you can do to help.
It is your responsibility to take care of your eyes, whether that means reducing stress through meditation or getting a skin-tightening treatment at your favorite spa.
The key to having firm, glowing skin around your eyes is to rejuvenate it in some way. This will keep your eyes looking fresh and awake.
