Constantly staring at the screen? Stop and read this

All of the constant staring into computer screens we often do today at home and at work can lead to dry eye. It’s a very common condition with symptoms such as ocular irritation, that sensation of grittiness and burning you can feel, signs of redness, intolerance of contact lenses and blurred vision.

Eye specialist Dr Catherine Cleary, a consultant at the Mater Private Hospital in Cork who also works at the Hermitage Medical Centre in Dublin, says: "Long periods of time in front of a computer are associated with increased dry eye symptoms, partly because we don't blink as much as normal when looking at a computer. It's good to take breaks away from the screen and blink a few times."

Air conditioning and central heating can exacerbate dry eye symptoms, she says. The condition occurs when tears evaporate too quickly. “Most people will experience some dry eye symptoms at some stage in their lives. It’s more common in older people, especially older women with the hormonal changes that occur with the menopause. But it also affects men.”

Dry eye can range from being mild to severe. “In severe cases, it can be associated with autoimmune problems like Sjogrens syndrome.” This is where the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells responsible for producing tears, or saliva in the case of dry mouth.

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Three components

There are three components in tears, says Dr Cleary. “There’s the aqueous layer, which is water. There’s the lipid layer, which is oil, and there’s the mucin layer, which helps to bind the tears onto the surface of the eye. You can have problems with any of those components. The most common problem is a deficiency of oil in the tears. It’s due to a disorder of the meibomian gland. You have a row of glands that produce oil for the tears in the eyelid margin. If they get blocked, they don’t produce the oil properly. That means tears evaporate too fast.”

If someone is experiencing significant dry eye symptoms, they should attend an eye specialist, Dr Cleary recommends. “Severe dry eye causes pain and discomfort for patients, who require intensive therapy using a lot of drops. Sometimes, we put little plugs in the tear ducts to keep the tears in the eye for as long as possible.

“The main treatment for dry eyes is drops. There isn’t really a magic bullet. It tends to be a chronic problem that has to be managed. In some people, if we can find an underlying cause, it can be cured but for the majority of people, ongoing management of symptoms is needed.

“Treatable underlying causes of dry eye include ocular rosacea, Sjogrens syndrome, thyroid conditions and some medications. Hormonal medication, such as postmenopausal oestrogen therapy and the contraceptive pill can exacerbate symptoms as well diuretics, antihistamines, anti-depressants. But do check with your doctor before making any changes in your medications.”

“It can if it’s very severe.” says Dr Cleary. “It can be very painful. However, for the majority of people, it’s not like that, but it can be very uncomfortable and irritating. Some people get reflux water where the eye waters up. But because the composition of the tears is not right, the person actually has dry eye.”

Eye make-up can cause particles to get into the eye “which can exacerbate the inflammatory component. If the eyes are very dry, avoiding eye make-up is a good idea. Also, it’s a good idea not to get dehydrated.”

Eye drops and artificial tears can be bought over the counter at pharmacists. Dr Cleary doesn’t wish to recommend a particular brand, but preservative-free drops are widely available, she says.

While artificial tears can provide longer-lasting lubrication than drops, they can lead to significant blurring of vision for several minutes after applying them. They’re not a good choice for use during work or driving.

Instead, high-viscosity artificial tears are recommended for bed-time use. Also, the ingredients in certain brands of artificial tears can determine which type of dry eye condition they are better suited for. One brand may work better for aqueous-deficiency dry eyes while another brand may be more effective for an evaporative dry eye condition. It’s important to follow the directions about how often drops or tears should be applied.

Dr Cleary says that for people with Meibomian gland dysfunction where the oil-producing glands are blocked, a warm compress can be very helpful. “It helps to get the oil flowing in the tears,” she says. “Some food supplements can also be helpful such as omega-3 oils, flax seed and krill oil.”

Natural remedies

Natural home remedies, recommended by the website askhomeremedies.com include applying used tea bags to closed eyes. Rinse a couple of tea bags and place them on your eyes for five minutes.

While looking at a computer screen, watching television or reading a book, it is good practice to blink your eyes at regular intervals. This helps to spread the tears evenly over the eyes and prevents them from becoming dry.

At regular intervals, splash water in the eyes, giving them moisture.

Consume flax seed oil, omega-3 oil or evening primrose oil. These fatty acids are beneficial for lubricating the eyes.

Turn off air conditioning and central heating as they can reduce the natural moisture of the eyes.

Lavender oil can be useful in treating dry eyes. Fill a bowl with warm water and add two to three drops of lavender oil in it. Then soak a couple of clean cotton balls in the solution. Squeeze the excess liquid from the cotton balls and place them on your closed eyelids.

Mix orange lentil flour, lemon juice, turmeric powder and tomato puree. Make a paste and apply it to dark circles around the eyes.

A baby shampoo can be gently massaged onto closed eyes, under the eyelashes, using your fingertips only. After massaging, wash your eyes with water. Use this method on a daily basis.

For the warm compress, place a damp warm wash cloth over your eyes for five to 10 minutes. Re-soak the cloth in warm water and apply again. This simple remedy is very effective in restoring the moisture of the eyes by opening clogged oil glands.