Combating Digital Eye Fatigue and Dry Eye
Many people complain about waking up with a "grit in their eyes" sensation or dry, scratchy eyes at the end of the day. It is also a common complaint for eyes to feel heavy and tired, often due to staring at screens all day long after returning to work after the holidays. Santa Ana winds and digital strain are the main reasons one would develop dry eye conditions now more than ever. Digital eye fatigue has become a top health concern as the pace of our lives has accelerated, and demands to be digitally connected and up-to-date constantly are higher than ever. As our bodies take on the stress of staring at the screen, our brain gets continuous feedback during all waking hours to keep our eyes open so we do not miss any important information. The blinking reflex that is closer to every 5-7 seconds now extends to 20-30 seconds, resulting in ocular surface exposure and rapid evaporation of the protective tear film. The problem with chronic device use is that even after we no longer are staring at the screen our brain has been habituated to a new ”non blinking” pattern so we continue to stare even while off devices and worse ocular surface by extended exposure to dry winter air.
6 Tips for Reduce Digital Eye Fatigue & Dry Eye Symptoms include:
20/20/20/ RULE - take 20-second breaks every 20 minutes and look 20 feet away
Use preservative-free artificial tears by a major ophthalmic brand such as Refresh, Systane, or Thera Tears, genteal, Oasys.
Visit an Ophthalmologist and have a focused discussion about the state of your eye's ocular surface and tear production as well as eyelid health with an assessment of the meibomian glands. Review medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, hormonal fluctuations and auto immune conditions that can contribute to tear film dysregulation.
Establishing good eyelid hygiene is paramount to keeping eyes healthy. Women should remove all makeup at night with hypoallergenic wipes or gentle soap by Cerave or Vanicream. Change the mascara tube every 90 days to avoid bacterial infections. Do not leave makeup in the car to prevent heating of the products. An Ophthalmologist-developed brand, Twenty Twenty Beauty, offers several fragrance-free and clinically tested choices for makeup use.
Try Ocusoft lid scrubs following a two-minute warm compress on weekends to remove the build-up of bacterial flora, dead skin cells, and excessive skin mites known as Demodex population that typically favors the eyelid area.
During winter, Santa Ana winds reduce air humidity to single digits, further exacerbating evaporative tear film loss and leading to a gritty sensation upon awakening. If you struggle to open your eyes in the morning because the eyelids feel stuck, consider sleeping with an eye mask or special night goggles like Eyeseals by Eye-eco.com, running a humidifier in your bedroom before bedtime or during the night, using omega-3 supplements like HydroEye, offered at our office as an ophthalmologist directed choice.
Our office now offers one-of-a-kind medical technology beyond the traditional over-the-counter and expensive pharmaceutical choices. Dr. Kurteeva is the first board-certified ophthalmologist in Orange County to offer Forma-i as a breakthrough for dry eye treatment to patients, especially for challenging cases associated with autoimmune disorders like hypothyroidism, Sjogren's, and lupus. Forma-i is the first FDA-approved radiofrequency device that is gentle and safe for delicate eyelid skin, where eyelids can be warmed with radiofrequency without damaging the eye surface. Forma-i treatment not only perks up sluggish meibomian glands that stabilize the tear film and help you retain your tears and crisp vision, but it also stimulates collagen formation and tightens loose eyelid skin, providing a nice aesthetic benefit. We have performed Forma-i treatment on patients who have reported significant improvement in dry eye symptoms where other avenues of treatment did not succeed.
Dr. Kurteeva has also pioneered using the ophthalmic application to the eyelid area with Lumeca-i, an intense pulsed light (IPL) device that has a specifically designated fine crystal for tight corners of the eyelids and the orbit. Facial conditions such as rosacea lead to ocular rosacea and blepharitis; light energy reduces inflammation and is selectively absorbed by telangiectatic blood vessels. The blood vessels thicken and reduce the redness of the face and eyelids.IPL also targets Demodex mites that promote blepharitis. There is also an aesthetic benefit with skin tightening and removal of age spots.
To schedule your consultation, you can reach Dr. Kurteeva at California Eye Associates at (949) 500-0427.
Visit our website at www.caleye.com and follow Dr. Kurteeva on IG @California_Eye_Associates for more tips on eye care.