The most likely reason your eyes hurt when you move them from side to side is eye strain or eye fatigue.
Understanding Eye Strain
Eye strain, also known as eye fatigue, occurs when your eye muscles work harder than usual. This can happen for various reasons, and the pain can be triggered by movement in any direction, not just side to side.
Possible Causes of Eye Strain:
- Prolonged Screen Time: Spending many hours looking at digital devices can strain your eye muscles.
- Reading for Extended Periods: Focusing on text for long durations can cause fatigue.
- Poor Lighting: Trying to see in dim or overly bright light strains your eyes.
- Uncorrected Vision Problems: Not wearing glasses or contacts when needed makes your eye muscles work harder.
- Dry Eyes: Lack of proper lubrication can irritate your eyes and make them more prone to strain.
Other Possible Causes of Eye Pain
While eye strain is the most common culprit, pain when moving your eyes side to side could stem from other issues, such as an eye injury.
| Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Eye Strain | Overworking of eye muscles due to prolonged activity or poor conditions. |
| Eye Injury | Physical trauma to the eye that can cause pain. |
Actionable Steps if You Experience Eye Pain:
- Rest Your Eyes: Take frequent breaks when focusing on close-up activities. The 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds) is helpful.
- Adjust Lighting: Ensure that your environment has adequate, non-glaring light.
- Correct Vision: If you require glasses or contact lenses, wear them as prescribed.
- Use Artificial Tears: If dryness is a problem, artificial tears can help lubricate your eyes.
- See an Eye Doctor: If the pain persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult an eye doctor for a professional evaluation.
It's always a good idea to monitor the frequency and severity of the pain. If the problem continues or worsens, a check-up with an eye doctor is advised. According to the reference, "[i]f your eyes hurt when you move them, the most likely cause is eye strain or eye fatigue... But this type of eye soreness can come from other sources too, such as: Eye injury."
