Staring at a screen all day? Tips for keeping dry eye at bay

Have you ever noticed your eyes feeling dry? While this symptom alone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re suffering from dry eye syndrome, it indicates a certain visual fatigue, and generally also a deficit in tear production. If this dry feeling is accompanied by tingling, itching or discomfort in the eyes, or your eyelids are sticking together — especially on waking — then you’re almost certainly suffering from dry eye.

Dry eye occurs when the quantity and/or quality of tears produced is insufficient to lubricate and nourish the eye. Several causes can contribute to the condition, such as air conditioning, pollution, wearing contact lenses and aging.

However, the ailment is also no doubt becoming more frequent due to the increase in time spent looking at screens, especially with the onset and subsequent boom of social media and streaming sites like Netflix. The University of Iowa Health Care recently stated that looking at screens (computers, tablets, TVs, smartphones) can decrease our overall blink rate by 33%, increasing the risk of dryness.

Take a break, check the humidity

A few simple things can help prevent — or at least limit — the risk of getting dry eye. Cutting down on screen time would be the ideal solution but, as many countries head back into lockdown, it may be more realistic to adopt some good habits that won’t stop you from working or studying from home.

First, a good work setup is essential. This ideally involves placing your computer screen at least 70 cm from your face and, if possible, below eye level so that you don’t need to keep your eyes wide open constantly. Next, take a break every 20 minutes to look at something else and blink your eyes a few times. That’s also a good idea when you’re reading for long periods of time. It may seem obvious, but few of us actually put that into practice to give our eyes a break.

Screens aside, you should air your home regularly and maintain good humidity levels. Try to avoid all types of drafts and air flow, whether from a hairdryer or air conditioning. Steer clear of cigarette smoke too.

Rubbing your eyes or eyelids should be avoided, particularly during a pandemic, since many scientists consider this a potential source of contamination. Artificial tears or eye drops can offer relief from dry eye. However, medical advice should be sought if the condition persists. NVG

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