What’s the difference between signs and symptoms? Symptoms are what you, the sufferer, experience – discomfort, glare, headache – all of which are subjective. Signs are what your eye care practitioner can observe in your eyes. Symptoms of eye strain can include any combination of the following;

a feeling of tired, weak or strained eyes
headaches, especially on the forehead or above the eyebrows
general ache or discomfort near the eyes
pressure’ behind the eyes
blurry vision
double vision
dry or gritty eyes
watery eyes
eye / eyelid muscle twitch

During an eye examination, an optometrist will run through several tests to try and determine the cause of your eye strain. Clinical signs of eye strain are subtle, and can be picked up during a comprehensive consultation. They include;

inflammation / redness of the conjunctiva (the clear covering of the white of the eye)
reduced visual acuity
eye muscle imbalance
too little or too much aqueous (watery) tears
signs of surface irritation

Eye strain headache

Eye strain headache can feel like a general ache on the forehead, above the eyebrows, or anywhere near the eyes. Eye strain can also cause the eyes to feel a ‘pulling’ sensation or a feeling of pressure behind or around the eyes. With all headaches, it is essential to rule out other, more sinister causes of headaches before concluding that headaches are caused by eyestrain. You GP or optometrists may ask you about the location, frequency and duration of the headaches, how long you have been experiencing them and they will take a thorough medical history. Your peripheral vision will be screened or tested to rule out other sources of headaches.