When your eyes are zooming in and out, the feeling you get may result from various conditions, including zoom fatigue, Presbyopia, Micropsia, Macropsia, and BVD. Cases for these conditions have increased after COVID-19, and there are various treatment methods for each condition.
The eyes move by focusing on objects either far or near without causing any straining under normal functioning. However, due to the pandemic (COVID-19), more people have complained of eye problems than before.
Initially, people experienced eye conditions that led to the feeling of zooming in and out when focusing. But lately, this scenario has increased. We will discuss the various reasons why you might be feeling this way.
So, why do your eyes feel like they are zooming in and out?
1. It could be due to zoom fatigue
Before the COVID-19, people were spending little time on their computers or phone screens. We interacted more, and conferencing and meetings got attended physically.
When the pandemic struck, lockdown restrictions forced us to move online and work from home. Our computers, tablets, and mobile phones became our meeting point.
Spending time on zoom meetings and replying to emails make most professionals spend a lot of time on their computer and mobile phone screens. Even if you don’t work online, you need to watch a movie or find fun on your gadgets.
The more you spend time focusing on these electrical gadgets, your eyes may get strained.
Certain brain regions get stimulated to mimic the satisfaction you gain from interacting with people using your computer, phone, or TV. At other times, you may develop migraines from continued exposure to the gadgets’ light.
These migraines act as indicators of strained eye nerves.
The straining may be due to the following:
- Excessive exposure to screen lighting
- Activation of certain brain regions
- Nerve strain as you focus on zoom videos to get information from online video calls and zoom meetings.
The effect will be a feeling that makes your eyes feel like they zoom in or out while focusing on objects other than computers, phones, or TV.
This feeling serves as an indication of an eye problem that may be developing. It would help if you considered going for breaks while using your screens and engaging in exercise and other outdoor activities.
These outdoor activities will reduce your screen time, minimizing the zoom fatigue that we may be experiencing during the pandemic period.
How do you cope with zoom fatigue?
Goggle searches show that many people search the term zoom fatigue more during this pandemic. Due to the maximum exposure to digital devices, most people have developed this condition.
The following methods will help you reduce your time on your computer or TV and the phone for a better feeling. Once you limit the exposure time to these devices, you will manage the zoom fatigue that leads to your eyes zooming in and out.
Avoid multitasking while online
Now that you tend to have all your office work online, you may be tempted to multitask. You need to reply to an email, research while still on a zoom meeting.
This multitasking does not only strain the eye nerves but also your brain. To avoid being fatigued from all these, tackle one online task at a time.
Create screen breaks
Suppose you happen to have a zoom meeting that may take thirty minutes, look away from your screen for some minutes or even minimize your computer screen. This way, you limit the face time and may focus on things other than your screen.
Let your ears listen and take notes. You will end up not straining your brain and eyes to the point of fatigue. You will notice a decrease in the feeling where your eyes zoom in and out.
2. Could you be suffering from Presbyopia?
Almost everyone that reaches the age of 40 suffers from Presbyopia. This condition follows after the lens inside the eyeball becomes less flexible as the years go.
The lens will help to create a clear focus for all distances. In addition, these lenses allow the eye to zoom in and out on objects to clear the picture.
When the flexibility goes, and the lenses stiffen, the ability to zoom in diminishes and eventually goes away. That means that your vision becomes blurred at the start, and near objects become difficult to see clearly as the condition progresses.
This condition may make you feel like your eyes may be zooming in and out. The fluctuations in the eyes’ zooming ability create this zooming in and out feeling. The eyes will be trying to attain a balance, making this feeling you might be experiencing.
Treatment for Presbyopia
If you have hit the forty-year mark, you need to see an optician if you experience blurred vision. The feeling of your eyes zooming in and out, especially difficulty with zooming in, forms a strong symptom.
Some people develop slight short-sightedness in one eye, and others remain seeing at a distance hence no corrective measure. For the adversely affected cases, they may need treatment to restore normal vision.
Treatment involves the following corrective measures:
- You may get special eyewear, including reading glasses
- Contact lenses, especially the multi-focal ones
- Surgery
3. You could be suffering from Macropsia or Micropsia
These two conditions affect how people perceive the visual appearance of objects. For Macropsia, you will tend to see things appearing larger than their actual size. Micropsia, on the other hand, will
Macropsia
Macropsia may occur while suffering from other underlying conditions that may affect your eyesight.
This condition results from compression of the cones found in the eye. When the retinal receptors get compressed, it leads to greater stimulation which makes objects appear larger.
The causes for Macropsia include:
- Migraines
- Drug prescriptions
- Illicit drug intake
- Epiretinal membrane
- Some types of epilepsy
These causes while causing compressions to the retinal receptors. As a result, you may feel as though your eyes were zooming in and out.
Depending on the cause of Macropsia, you may get appropriate treatment to control the zooming effect on your eyes.
The table below summarizes the cause of Macropsia and the possible treatment:
| Macropsia cause | Treatment |
| Migraines | Drugs that cease the migraines |
| Drug prescriptions | Completion of the drug will let the receptor compression disappear |
| Illicit drug intake | Withdrawal from illegal drug intake |
| Epiretinal membrane | Use of auxiliary optics like magnification lenses |
| Epilepsy | Epilepsy medication will help reduce receptor compression. |
Micropsia
With Micropsia, you perceive things to be of smaller size than the actual size. This condition may occur due to optical factors, distortion of images in the eye like retinal edema, brain changes, or physiological factors.
All these factors cause strain to your eyes. As a result, you may feel as though your eyes were zooming in and out. When the underlying conditions get dealt with, this feeling subsides as well.
Micropsia treatment
The various causes of this condition make the treatments vary too. The treatment options include the following:
- Occlusion of a single eye
- Fitting a prism on an eyeglass lens
- Macular degeneration may be treated using antioxidant and zinc dietary supplements.
- Laser treatment though still in the clinical stage
4. It could be Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD)
Most vision-related problems may cause your eyes to strain and result in the zooming in and out effect. An optician will help rule out the possibility of a binocular vision dysfunction.
This condition results in a variety of symptoms, including the following:
- Eyestrain
- Blurred distant vision
- Blurred near vision
- Poor depth perception on objects
- Uncoordinated movements
- Difficulty reading and learning
- Driving anxiety, especially in moving vehicles
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
If feeling your eyes zoom in and out is accompanied by the above symptoms, you may develop or suffer from BVD.
Treatment
The condition results from the misalignment of the eye towards objects. By getting micro-prism lenses, the defect corrects, and you will notice an improvement from the symptoms.
If this were causing you to feel that your eyes were zooming in and out, this feeling would resolve.
A summary of the causes for your eyes zooming in and out, with possible treatments
| Causes | Possible treatment options |
|---|---|
| Zoom fatigue | Limit screen time, create screen breaks, and avoid multitasking. |
| Presbyopia | Contact lenses surgery. |
| Macropsia | Illicit drug withdrawal Migraines medication Auxiliary optics Treating epilepsy. |
| Micropsia | Single eye occlusion Prisms on eyeglass lens Antioxidant and zinc supplements Laser treatment. |
| Binocular Vision Dysfunction | Micro-prism lenses. |
FAQ’s
Why is my eyesight zooming in and out?
As shared in this article, this problem may result from various conditions. These conditions include zoom fatigue, Micropsia, Macropsia, BVD, and Presbyopia.
What causes bouncy vision?
This condition may arise from eye alignment problems or brain and ear systems that coordinate body balance and alignment.
What is Presbyopia in the eye?
This term refers to a condition where the inner muscles of the eye lens become stiff and less flexible. You consequently develop a problem with focusing on near objects and words.
Is zoom bad for the eyes?
Yes. The continued focusing and exposure to the light emitted by your screen strain your eye muscles. In the long run, you develop zoom fatigue, which may cause migraines due to strained eye nerves and muscles.
Conclusion
Have you found the possible cause of your eyes zooming in and out? One of the above-discussed conditions may be causing your eyes discomfort. It would help if you visited your doctor to determine the cause for your eyes’ condition.
The doctor may refer you to an optician who will help you decide on the proper form of treatment. Don’t assume this feeling. Instead, visit the hospital today. You might save your eyes from an adverse eye condition.
