Dry Eye refers to a condition that results due to inadequate or ineffective wetting and lubrication of the eye. It primarily occurs when the eye does not produce tears properly, or when the tears are not of the correct consistency and evaporate too quickly. Dry eyes are caused by one or more of the following reasons:
1) Physical stress (for example, from computer work),
2) Poor nutrition,
3) Hormonal problems,
4) A neurological disorder or damage,
5) Immune system malfunctions,
6) An allergic reaction,
7) A virus, and/or
The toxic effects of pollution. With increase in the use of computers, this condition is becoming more prevalent and is known by the name of Computer Vision Syndrome. When computer users sit in front of a screen for an extended period of time, they blink less, causing eye moisture to evaporate. This often results in itching, burning, double vision, color fringes and heavy, blurry, gritty or fatigued sensations in the eye.
Importance of Tears:
Tears, made by the lachrymal gland, are necessary for overall eye health and clear vision. Tears perform following functions for the eye:
1.They bathe the surface of the eye, keeping it moist, and wash away dust and debris.
2.They help to protect the eye from bacterial and other types of infections.
3.They help to create a smooth corneal surface so vision stays clear and undistorted, and eyes stay comfortable.
4.Tears act as delivery and an excretory route for nutrients and metabolic products of the corneal epithelium and anterior portion of the eye.
Hence any factor that can affect the stability of tear film can cause damage to the eye.
How Normal Blinking Is Essential For Healthy Eye?
During waking hours, production and delivery of aqueous tears from the lachrymal gland is continuous, but the fresh tears remains in the upper eyelid, until the next blink. Only after the blinking this fluid is drawn from the upper lid to form the film. The action of blinking also squeezes or massages the meibomian glands within the tarsal plates, delivering fresh oil to the lid margin. The presence of the tear film improves the quality of the retinal image by smoothing out irregularities of the cellular surfaces. The action of blinking also spreads mucus over the epithelial surface and the tears keep this layer fully hydrated, to act both as a lubricant and protection for the epithelium.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of dry eye should be identified in the early stages to get proper treatment and to prevent the condition from progression. If treated, dry eye will not harm your vision. However, if the condition is left untreated, it may damage eye tissue and scar the cornea leading to vision impairment. For those who use contact lenses, the condition can result in poor tolerability & discomfort. This can greatly increase the chances of eye infection.
Dry eye symptoms may include any of the following:
stinging or burning of the eye;
sandy or gritty feeling as if something is in the eye;
episodes of excess tears following very dry eye periods;
stringy discharge from the eye;
pain and redness of the eye;
episodes of blurred vision;
heavy eyelids;
inability to cry when emotionally stressed;
uncomfortable contact lenses;
decreased tolerance of reading, working on the computer, or any activity that requires sustained visual attention;
eye fatigue.
Prevention:
Computer Related Tips:
Blink regularly. Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes.
Eye Pushups: Look near and far away for a few seconds while working on computer. Repeat this after regular interval of several minutes. Many computer users fail to look far away. Over time, this causes eye muscles to cramp and atrophy.
Keep a minimum distance of 25 inches between the computer screen and the eye.
The monitor top should be tilted away from the eyes.
Use dark letters on a light background.
Keep the screen below the horizontal eye level.
Always use a chair with arms. Tilting the head forward causes less fatigue than the head-erect posture.
Use indirect lighting suspended from the ceiling. Use curtains to avoid reflection due to outside light. Never keep a bright light directly behind the screen, and never place a terminal in front of a large window.
Do not work in the dark. The contrast between computer-generated light and lack of background light strains eyes.
General Tips:
Avoid direct flow of air on your eyes. Low humidity or fumes also can lead to dry eyes.
Get enough sleep
Drink plenty of water
Avoid smoking and alcohol
Home Remedies:
A dry eye remedy is most suited when the condition is in its early stages. If the dry eyes syndrome has already progressed to its later stages, you may need to have proper dry eye treatment.
There are certain natural remedies for dry eyes that are beneficial to cope with the condition of dry eyes.
1.Remember to blink often – program onto your computer to remind you to blink.
2.Close your eyes and place a warm, damp wash cloth over your eyes. Keep it on for about 5 to 10 minutes, re-wetting with warm water as needed. This helps open clogged oil glands in the eyes, thus restoring moisture.
3.Cut fresh slices of cucumber to place on each eyelid. This is one of the home remedies where you must lie down and close your eyes. Keep the cucumbers over your closed eyes as long as possible. The cucumbers help to relax the eyes and stimulate moisture production.
4.Another dry eyes remedy is to turn off any artificial cooling or heating outlets. This is because they reduce the natural moisture and mucus of the eyes. If you have any artificial cooling or heating outlets in your home, turn them off so that the natural moisture of the eyes and the mucus are not dried up due to these heating and cooling vents. The symptoms of dry eye syndrome can largely be contained with the help of this preventive measure.
5.Splash water in the eyes at constant intervals when you are at work or home. Your eyes receive some moisture from water.
6.You may also buy artificial tears over-the-counter from a drugstore. Apply these before sleeping at night as an effective dry eyes home remedy. Ensure that these artificial tears are preservative-free.
7.Make sure your diet has lots of fluids like water, fruit juices, etc. Also eat a lot of citrus fruits and green vegetables since they are good for the eyes.
8.If you have been straining your eyes watching TV or working for prolonged periods on a computer, take your eyes off the screen and try to relax them. You can also close your eyes for a short while and allow the moist lids to rehydrate the eyes before you begin looking at your computer or the TV once again.
9.Put warm water in a bowl and add 2 to 3 drops of lavender oil. Take 2 cotton balls and dip them into this stirred mixture. Squeeze out the excess liquid and place 1 cotton ball on each of your closed eyelids. The lavender oil helps to replace the lost oil in your dry eyes.
