# Why do my eyes feel tired... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430 "2012-04-01T01:55:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/1 "2012-04-01T01:55:34Z")
When the rest of me is fine? To be more precise, I have young kids, and a hectic schedule. I often get that, “Whew, I’m exhausted” feeling. The other day it struck me that in fact my legs feel fine, my arms feel fine, my body is fine, no headache - in fact the only part of me that’s actually calling out in “exhaustion” are my eyes. If my eyes would just stop itching and aching and feeling so damned tired then I’d actually feel like a million bucks. By extension, if there was a medication out there that could “soothe tired eyes” as I’m sure there is, would that make me invulnerable to feelings of tiredness at the end of a long day? Or am I kidding myself? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/2 "2012-04-01T06:00:21Z")
Well, they could just be dry, especially if you’re exposed to dry and/or moving air a lot during the day. Plain wetting eye drops–_not_ Visine or related sorts–might help. It won’t magically make you un-tired, but it might make you feel better. There are other possibilities, though. Allergies often affect the eyes, and I believe elevated blood pressure can cause your eyes to feel scratchy. Is this something you’ve only encountered recently? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/3 "2012-04-01T06:12:10Z")
Allergies are definitely a possibility, but my first thought was vision issues. If you wear glasses or contacts, I’d recommend having an exam to see if you need a new prescription. And if you don’t, maybe your vision has deteriorated enough that it’s worth checking into. I don’t know how long you spend in front of a computer, but people are sometimes given a different prescription for computer work as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/4 "2012-04-02T00:12:03Z")
Do you spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen, reading books, or otherwise focusing your eyes up close? It could be simple eyestrain. Closing your eyes for a few minutes here and there, or focusing on something far away, could help alleviate this. You could also try applying chilled cucumber slices to your (closed) eyes for 15 minutes. They’re cold and hydratey, which might help perk up your baby blues. ---
**Author:** ![BACI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce73a5/32.png) [@BACI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BACI)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/5 "2012-04-02T06:49:16Z")
OP here. Great ideas. Yes, I have been having allergy issues lately, and the two might well be connected. And I do spend long hours focusing on a monitor - again seeking relief from this and seeing if it makes any difference make sense. A question though - by connecting my symptoms with other causations, does that mean that you don’t have tired, dry, itchy eyes when you’re knackered? If not, how does (say) sleep deprivation manifest itself for you? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-eyes-feel-tired/617430/6 "2012-04-02T08:45:36Z")
I have tired, dry, itchy eyes when completely knackered, but I also have times when what I need is eyedrops; the rest of me is fine, but my eyes are filing for divorce. It’s usually linked to eye strain (bad lighting conditions, which can mean too little but also too much) and to situations which often include things that are known to cause allergies (ill-maintained a/c or carpeting).