You can experience eyestrain and glaucoma at the same time. They aren’t directly related, but certain factors of each eye condition can affect the symptoms of both.

While glaucoma and eyestrain are not directly related and do not necessarily cause each other, having one can sometimes worsen the symptoms you’re experiencing.

Certain elements and activities that lead to eyestrain may affect your eyes and the underlying causes of glaucoma. These might include prolonged reading time or looking at screens and computer monitors, which can lead to elevated eye pressure and worsening glaucoma symptoms.

This might include headaches, fatigued eyes, and blurred vision.

You can take simple steps to help ease and prevent eyestrain, and to maintain your glaucoma treatment. Your eye doctor can evaluate your eye health and help advise you on any preventive measures or new treatments they might see as options if you’re experiencing eyestrain along with glaucoma.

They are not directly connected, but the two eye conditions can overlap and make them both feel worse than they actually are.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and can lead to vision loss if left untreated. It is often linked to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye.

Meanwhile, eyestrain is typically a temporary condition that usually stems from prolonged staring or not blinking. Common activities that lead to eyestrain include close-up work for extended periods of time without a break, including reading or screen time. Symptoms may include eye discomfort, headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision.

Indirectly, the two can be linked.

Eyestrain and stress can increase eye pressure, which may lead to glaucoma or exacerbate symptoms if you’re already living with the condition.

Stress itself isn’t good for your eye health, as it can affect your optic nerve and increase the risk of glaucoma or worsen the condition.

When we’re stressed, our bodies release adrenaline and cortisol to prepare us for any response to possible threats. This is known as the “fight or flight” response. Adrenaline also causes our pupils to dilate to more clearly recognize possible threats.

Over time, these hormones can lead to symptoms common to both eyestrain and glaucoma:

  • increased eye pressure
  • light sensitivity
  • blurry vision
  • eye floaters
  • dry eyes
  • twitching eyes

No, eyestrain is not typically a symptom you’d experience with glaucoma.

But symptoms may overlap, and with more than 70% of people experiencing some form of digital eyestrain, it’s not uncommon for the two to overlap.

This may be especially true in older adults, who tend to develop glaucoma more often and also frequently experience digital eyestrain and related symptoms, including dry eye.

Are you sleepy?

Research also shows a link between sleep patterns and many eye health issues, including glaucoma, eyestrain, and dry eyes.

In a 2019 survey involving 6,700 people older than 40, researchers found that self-reported answers showed a possible connection between sleep quality and how people develop or live with glaucoma. Two interesting study findings:

  • People who slept for 10 or more hours a night were three times more likely to have glaucoma-related optic nerve damage than those who slept 7 hours a night.
  • People who said they had difficulty working on a hobby because they were sleepy during the day were three times more likely to have vision loss than people who reported no problems working on hobbies and no daytime sleepiness.

Other research shows a connection between sleep and eyestrain, with quality and length tied to how people experience eyestrain.

You can take steps to manage eyestrain, whether you live with glaucoma or not.

This may include:

  • Maintain good eye care habits, including cleaning your eyelids and washing away sleep
  • Taking breaks during prolonged visual tasks, such as computer or digital screen use
  • Use the 20-20-20 Rule to help your eyes
  • Eat foods that may help improve your eye health
  • Keep regular eye exams to monitor your eye health and discuss any concerns with your care team

Consult your eye care team for other guidance on how you can help prevent or manage eyestrain and what this might mean for your eye health if you also have glaucoma.

Even though glaucoma and eyestrain are not directly related, they share similarities, and if one worsens, it can affect your eyes and the other condition.

Both can have similar symptoms, including headache or blurry vision, and how dry your eyes may feel. Eye pressure is a key to glaucoma, but certain activities that lead to eyestrain can also impact eye pressure and, in turn, glaucoma.

Your eye doctor can best guide you on how these two interact and the different methods or treatments that can help with both eye health concerns.