Coping with Dry Eyes
Coping with Dry Eyes
Eye are a precious faculty of human beings without which life simply is not even worth living. Taking care of our eyes is of paramount importance, if we were to enjoy all the good things in life. Here we take a look at most common eye ailments – Dry Eyes – and what we can do to protect our eyes
BY DR GEETIKA KHURANA
Harsh winter season can have adverse effect on our mind and body and our eyes are no exception to this. When it comes to eyes there are many factors that could hinder the vision during extreme winter season. One of the most common eye ailmentsthat people are faced with during winters is dry eyes. Dry eye is a chronic disease characterized by decreased tear production or deficiency in any of its components. In other words, it means a low quantity and/or poor tear quality. The symptoms are of burning, irritation, sensation of sand in the eyes, difficulty in staying in air-conditioned places or in front of the computer and glazed eyes at the end of the day.
Dry eye is a leading cause for eye care in clinics, and if not properly treated, it may cause damageto the ocular surface and, in some cases, may even lead to loss of vision. However, there are ways to combat the annoying, uncomfortable condition. First, though, there is need to understand the causes and symptoms of dry eyes.
Why Do Eyes Get Dry In Winters? Eyes get dry in winters due to insufficient moisturizing of the eyeball surface with tear film. The reasons for the lack of moisturizing could be:
• Infrequent blinking
• Stress on the eyes due to prolonged or improper computer use
• Overuse of contact lenses
• Working in environments with low humidity, dust or tobacco smoke
• Increased pollution
• Closed spaces with air conditioning may increase the evaporation of liquids from the eyes
During winters, air humidity is usually lower, there is constant wind and pollution reaches its highest levels which further deteriorate the problem. Usage of heaters during the winter can also dry up the already dry air, causing dryness of eyes that leads to irritation. Dryness of eyes may also be associated with advanced age, menopause in women, medication (anti-histamines, anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants), trauma (thermal and chemical burns), rheumatologic and other immune system diseases (pemphigoid, Stevens – Johnson syndrome).
Symptoms of dry eyes
The following are the symptoms of dry eyes:
• Burning sensation
• Foreign body sensation
• Itching
• Watering (due to reflex tearing)
• Blurred vision (if severe)
The following are the helpful tips to prevent dry eyes during winters
• Keep eyes moist: Drink extra fluids and use a hot- or cold-air humidifier while you’re awake.
• Add tears. Lubricating eye drops provide comfort.
• Blink more. When one is concentrating on a complex visual task, such as using a computer, one doesn’t blink as often, which can exacerbate winter dryness.
• Wear glasses. Sunglasses protect our eyes from the drying effects of the wind while working outdoors.
• Care while using hair dryer:When using a hair dryer, one must close eyes or use an eye lubricant before drying hair.
• Adjusting your computer screen at eye level also really helps to prevent dry eyes. When one keeps looking up for long intervals, the naturally produced tears from your eyes evaporate faster, leaving one with dry eyes. It is also advisable to take regular breaks if one is reading or staring at the computer for a long time.
• Limited use of contact lenses
• Avoid rubbing of eyes: Rubbing one’s eyes when they are itching and burning is certainly going to worsen the condition. Instead, use artificial tears and keep taking the ecommended breaks to lessen the pain.
• Diet modification: Various important agents include Vitamins A, C and E, Minerals like zinc, selenium, chromium, copper gluconate, and oxidants like Alpha- Lipoic Acid and Bioflavonoids.
• Regular exercise
Hence, with a little lifestyle modification and topical treatment, one can have winters free from dry eyes.
(The author is MS Ophthalmology, Senior Resident, Army College of Medical Sciences & Base Hospital,
Delhi Cantt)