Dry Eyes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Dry eyes is one of the most common ocular conditions and is one you've probably experienced before or will in the future. For many people, it's a temporary nuisance and not a cause for alarm. However, dry eyes can actually become a debilitating and chronic condition for some. Fortunately, there are several effective treatment options covering the full range of mild to severe cases. Let's look in more depth at what this condition is and what can be done about it.

Symptoms

The symptoms of dry eyes are very uncomfortable and can be quite a distraction. If you have dry eyes, you'll notice a number of the following signs: a burning, stinging, or scratchy sensation in the eyes; blurred vision; redness, irritation, or a feeling that there's something stuck in your eyes; light sensitivity; eye fatigue; and difficulty wearing contact lenses. 

Causes

Dry eyes occur when our tears are unable to provide sufficient lubrication. This can happen when not enough tears are being produced or if the quality of those tears is inadequate. Tears themselves are made up of a combination of water, fatty oils, and mucus—all of which are maintained in proper balance to effectively keep our eyes smooth, clear, and free from infection. Because there are a variety of things that contribute to dry eyes, it's worth distinguishing between the physiological and environmental factors. 

When the cause of dry eyes is physiological, it's a result of some change occurring in the body. Aging, for instance, is one of the most common culprits, as tear production tends to decrease the older we get.  Certain medical conditions—as well as prescription medications—can interfere with tear production, leading to dry eyes. It can also be caused by damage to the tear glands, whether from an injury or from a recent eye surgery, for example. Additionally, some people have in-turning or out-turning eyelids that can inhibit the natural lubrication process. Lastly, our overall health plays a role, too: for example, having a vitamin deficiency.

There are a variety of environmental factors that can cause dry eyes, as well. One of the most common could be related to your daily work or home environment, as many people spend extended periods of time concentrating in front of computer screens (while blinking very little), which leads to dry, uncomfortable eyes. The air around us can also be quick to cause discomfort if it lacks sufficient humidity. The same can be said for wind or smoke: for instance, having an AC vent blowing towards your face or if someone is smoking a cigarette nearby.

Treatment

By paying close attention to the potential cause(s) of our dry eyes, we can more quickly find treatments that provide relief. But, let's first review some simple, preventative measures, including: taking regular breaks during tasks that require concentration, avoiding air directed towards your face, adding humidity to your environment, wearing protective eyewear, not smoking, and even supplementing your diet with vitamins and fatty acids. Also, those who wear contacts should be advised that special lenses are available for people with dry eyes.  

If prevention is unable to resolve the discomfort, then consider reaching for the #1 solution for treating dry eyes: eyedrops. In most cases, eyedrops will do the trick, but, if not, there are still plenty of other treatment options, although they will need to focus more closely on your specific situation.

If you have an eyelid condition that causes inflammation (e.g. blepharitis), then frequent eyelid washing may provide relief. Medicated eyelid sprays also help to reduce this type of inflammation. Eyelid massages and warm compresses are both excellent for unblocking the oil glands and increasing the quality of your tears. Other treatment options include addressing any underlying health conditions you may have and also talking to your doctor about switching medications if a prescription could be causing your dry eyes. Lastly, if you have an eyelid condition, consider surgical treatment.

Since we rely so much on our eyes, maintaining ocular health should always be a top priority.  While dry eyes can be a frustrating and very uncomfortable condition, by taking preventative measures and implementing an effective treatment protocol, it doesn't have to diminish your quality of life. Please don't hesitate to talk with your eye doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

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7 Tips to Prevent Digital Eye Strain

As a result of our modern lifestyles, many of us spend several hours a day looking at a screen, whether it be for work or leisure—or likely both.  A negative side effect of all that time spent staring, however, is an uncomfortable condition called digital eye strain.  With more people working from home than ever before, there couldn't be a more appropriate time to review the causes of digital eye strain and, even more importantly, to discuss some simple and effective strategies to alleviate the problem. 

What is digital eye strain and what are its causes?
Digital eye strain is extremely common and occurs from the excessive use—or misuse—of computer screens, including phones and tablets.  It is characterized by the following symptoms: dry eyes, blurry vision, eye fatigue or discomfort, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and eye twitching.

These symptoms are primarily caused by: 1) our eyes remaining focused for too long at a set distance, 2) the fact that we tend to blink far less frequently while looking at screens than we normally would otherwise, and 3) the sub-optimal lighting conditions present in our workspace, including the quality of the screen we're looking at. 

So, what can be done about it?
In most cases, alleviating digital eye strain is straightforward.  We don't have to stop using our screens all together, we just need to make some adjustments to how we spend time with our devices.  Here are seven tips to find relief so that you can feel better and work more effectively:

In most cases, alleviating digital eye strain is straightforward.  We don't have to stop using our screens all together, we just need to make some adjustments to how we spend time with our devices.  Here are seven tips to find relief so that you can feel better and work more effectively:

1) OCULAR EXERCISES: The most recommended solution to reduce focusing fatigue is something called the “20-20-20” rule.  This means that you should look away from your device at least every 20 minutes and gaze upon a distant object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.  Doing so allows the focusing muscles to relax, takes very little time to do, and has a major impact on reducing eye strain, discomfort, and headaches.

2) BLINK MORE:  While focused on our screens, we not only blink less but we also tend to do more partial blinks, which can quickly lead to dryness and discomfort.  Since it's difficult to consciously blink more often while working, try this instead: every 10-20 minutes, take a few seconds to slowly close and reopen your eyes 5-10 times to keep them properly lubricated.

3) USE PROPER LIGHTING AND MINIMIZE GLARE: Avoid harsh ambient lighting, especially sunlight coming in through windows as it can cause glare and difficulties focusing.  If you use a desk lamp, ensure that it's pointing downwards and not towards your eyes.  

4) ADJUST YOUR DISPLAY SETTINGS: Screen brightness should be adjusted to approximately match the light intensity of your surroundings, meaning not overly bright nor too dark by comparison. Text size should be adjusted for comfort, as straining to read a small font can be difficult on the eyes. Refresh rate should be adjusted to be as high as your display supports.  This helps the screen appear smoother and with less flickering.

Color temperature can also be adjusted from the typical blue-light spectrum to warmer hues that are less harsh on the eyes and provide better long-term viewing comfort.  If your device doesn't already have this option, try downloading the free app called “f.lux”, which is an excellent way to manage the color temperature of your computer screen.  

5) WORKSPACE ERGONOMICS: Position your screen so that it's approximately 24 inches from your eyes.  The center of the screen should be a few inches below your horizontal line of sight for the optimal positioning of your head and neck.  Maintaining good posture while working is also very important, so have a look at your desk and seating arrangement to see if anything needs adjusting.

6) AIR QUALITY: While often overlooked, air conditioning can dry out the air and make eye discomfort worse.  If you're experiencing dry eyes while working with a screen, consider adjusting the AC or even adding a humidifier to your workspace to reintroduce some of the lost moisture.  Also, it's best to avoid fans and vents that may be blowing air towards your face and eyes.

7) MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR EYEWEAR: Your glasses or contacts may be contributing to your digital eye strain. Talk to your eye doctor about anti-reflective coatings or special lenses for computer work. Additionally, it's important to know if your prescription lenses are still correct or if you would benefit from a change in lens strength.