Got Dry, Sensitive Eyes? You Could Be Suffering From Dry Eye Disease
We break down all the reasons why your eyes always feel dry and sore, and the doctor-approved ways to treat it.
They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. But as our lifestyles get increasingly sedentary, we’re cooped up indoors facing a computer or mobile device for the majority of the day. And with the combined effects of ageing, the use of contact lenses and improper eye care, our peepers suffer the brunt of it and we’re left stricken with issues such as dry eyes, as a recent study by Johnson & Johnson Vision (JJV) concluded.
The online survey, which polled over a thousand Singaporeans, found that 51 per cent of respondents suffer from dry eyes while 40 per cent experienced soreness in the eyes.
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In this article, we are zooming specifically into the problem of dry eyes as it is a prevalent condition that afflicts many people. In fact, JJV quoted a 2016 study by Market Scope which found that 340 million people suffer from dry eyes globally. We spoke with Dr Lee Hung Ming, an eye doctor and surgeon who has almost thirty years experience and has his own namesake clinic in Gleneagles Hospital, to share with us some facts surrounding ocular health.
Read on to learn more about your eyes and how to identify and solve the issues you might have been struggling with:
1. Take vision breaks. If you feel eye fatigue or strain, take a break and disengage from whatever you’re doing. You could take it a step further and look at something far off, so that the eyes are worked differently.
2. Cultivate good reading habits. Your reading material should be about 50cm away while screens are to be placed 65cm away. A good chair that promotes proper posture is necessary to prevent slouching while lighting should be well suffused. You shouldn’t be facing windows with strong sunlight too.
3. Use eye drops wisely. Eye drops can help to ease the symptoms.
4. A warm compress. Get a warm towel and place them over the eye lashes for 10 minutes. This can help reduce inflammation.
5. Get humid. Drier conditions such as winter or air-conditioning can dry out the eyes. So, invest in a good humidifier at your workplace or in your house.
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