Save Your Vision Month aims to increase awareness about eye care and instill good habits. With the demanding nature of our jobs and social lives requiring us to stare at screens, many people neglect to protect their eyes. Overexposure to screens and even the sun, not getting adequate sleep, and an unhealthy diet can contribute to eye strain and bad eyesight.
Having our eyes on our mobile screens, T.V. screens, or laptop screens has become second nature for most of us, and we take our sight for granted. Interestingly, even though technology continues to advance, we have failed to cultivate good eye-care practices that are essential for everyone to follow at this point.
According to a new survey commissioned by Alcon Canada, Canadians are self-reporting spending an average of nearly 11 hours per day looking at screens and it could be affecting the quality of their vision, with up to 25 % of Canadians suffering from an eye condition called dry eye.
Studies looking at the effects of long-term computer use on the eyes suggest that digital eye strain is a form of evaporative dry eye, which is found when glands in the eye are inflamed or clogged. As a result, tears evaporate on the surface of the eye, which can cause them to feel dry, tired or irritated.
Many times my patients come in thinking they need to adjust their glasses prescription, but in many cases, they're actually suffering from dry eye due to the hours they're spending in front of screens, as we tend to blink less often while using a computer, which can cause eye dryness and irritation.
The importance of regular eye exams has been recognized for many years. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have dry eye disease and should discuss these symptoms with your eye care professional.
- Stinging or burning eyes
- Blurry Vision
- Itchy, red eyes
- Scratchy, gritty eyes
- Excessive tearing
- Stringy mucus in or around the eyes
- Inflammation
- Eye fatigue
- Sensitivity to light
Once dry eye is diagnosed, I usually recommend preservative-free lubricating drops with long-lasting comfort and relief.
These artificial tears are premium eye drops that effectively and quickly help to relieve dry eye symptoms.
These Canadian-made eye drops are found only in eye clinics. If you would like to learn more or order yours today, click Here One of my eye care team members will be in touch with you.
