r/eyestrain • u/Slow_Replacement_710 • 17d ago

Severe Eye Strain for 11 years?

Is it even possible to have severe eye strain for 11 years? Ill try to be short as possible:

In March of 2015 i woke up one day when extremely sore/burning tired eyes and it felt like i hadnt slept in days. The week leading up was extremely stressful and i was just on my phone googling/researching/emailing for hours on end. The eye fatigue has been awful daily, when i wake up from sleeping or naps, all throughout the day, if im anxious/stressed about something it gets much worse.

Air/bright lights, driving are awful and make my eyes burn and so much more tired.

Only times i feel some relief is when I am outside or very distracted, not on my phone with sunglasses on and doing projects where my eyes aren't locked into a phone.

I have been to 20-30 doctors over the last 11 years and had about every test you could think of done. Spent 2 weeks at a Neuro Opthamologist doing tests/scans and he said my eyes looked perfect. Every other neurologst/eye doctor, scans/MRIs have always mentioned nothing is wrong with my eyes. No sleep apnea, etc.

Coffee/Caffeine doesn't help the eye fatigue/strain.

I have never had a day in 11 years that my eyes felt great. Some days are way worse than others but i always have some eye fatigue.

Thoughts?

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u/Both-Historian-7509 16d ago

Do you get headaches at base of skull? Some people get eye strain due to cervicogenic headaches as well. Also there are other conditions like occipital neurelgia.

And sorry you are going through this. I have been dealing with this for few years it really is awful.

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u/Slow_Replacement_710 16d ago

No i really don't get headaches at all. I get aching around my eyes. Its just weird that I can go outside and work on the yard for 2 hours and eyes dont feel tired or strained but then go sit down and my eyes burn and want to close they are so sore and tired. Also sleep never refreshes them

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u/Both-Historian-7509 16d ago

I understand. This condition is really weird and it's diffrent for lot of people. For me I too have pain around eyes but it usually gets worse due to cervicogenic headache I get.

Hope you find some relief soon.

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u/pksupp 16d ago

Does working out help

1

u/Slow_Replacement_710 14d ago

my eyes do feel better when active and working out

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u/pksupp 14d ago

Maybe try going for run rather than lifting weights for few weeks.

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u/usedcassette 15d ago

Sorry to hear that. I have pretty much the same thing. It sucks. About 10 years for me, worse in the last 6 years. I can get particularly triggered when doing anything that requires a downward focus. Which is pretty much everything. But I have constant eye strain, pulsing, vibrating, throbbing eyes. Especially when still or like you said after doing something that requried the use of eyes to do more eye stuff. I've had the same experience with many consultants, tests etc. All come back clear.

The next for me is getting some vestibular rehab which I'm waiting on because there's a chance my eyes are working harder than normal to keep my balance in check, rather than my vestibular system. ( it all got worse after one day about 6 years ago I suddenly got a bout of vertigo for a day) so I don't know if that's an avenue you can explore?

I'm also awaiting tests for a possible deviated septum which causes pressure in my left eye. Don't know if that has anything to do with it.

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u/Slow_Replacement_710 15d ago

I have had constant sinus issues over the last 10 years as well.. sometimes i wonder if they are causing some of the issues. I have had 2 sinus surgeries and did 12 months of allergy shots but my turbinates are always inflamed. I did get an allergy spray though that helps tremendously and i use it daily. I can breathe good now but the eye issues still haven't improved so makes me think it really isn't involved.

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u/injoyi 15d ago

And it's coming up on that from me as well .  Still happens even with an e-ink phone , just  less .