In these times of pandemic, many people spend long hours in front of devices that can harm visual health.

Dry eye has become a common syndrome during the pandemic, according to Dr. Veronica Talavera, Ophthalmologist of our clinic. This is due to the considerable increase in exposure to electronic devices such as computers or cell phones, which emit a blue light that could be harmful to our eyes.

Symptoms vary according to the degree of dry eye:

Mild: Burning, redness, and sometimes sandy sensation only when the person is under certain conditions such as sun, wind, air conditioning, heating, sauna, cooking steam, wearing contact lenses, or using electronic devices. When any of these conditions are discontinued, the eye improves without treatment.

Moderate: Burning, redness, itching, tearing, sandy sensation, and when the person is under certain conditions such as air conditioning, heating, or use of electronic devices. These conditions may be reversed with treatment.

Severe: burning, redness, itching, foreign body sensation, irritated and tired eyes, a sensation of an oily film on the eyes, photophobia (discomfort with light), ocular and periocular pain, blurred vision, and tearing. The discomfort is so strong that may disturb your activities. It may lead to chronicity. Requires permanent treatment.

It should be considered that if this is not treated on time, it can progress to a severe dry eye causing changes in the ocular surface, leading to corneal lesions such as keratitis and ulcers, and causing opacities that affect vision. Also, the symptoms may affect the patient’s quality of life.

This syndrome may occur at any age, being older adults the most affected, because other conditions add up and complicate its condition. For example, older women may be affected due to the lack of hormones, systemic diseases, and the intake of certain medications.

Recommendations

• People who work or are exposed to screens should have visual breaks. These breaks apply the 20-20-20 rule: after spending 20 minutes on the computer, a person should spend 20 seconds looking at an object 20 feet away (6 meters approximately).
• Rest 15 to 20 minutes from a computer or cell phone use every 4 hours.
• Wear glasses if you have a prescription, blink frequently and use eye lubricants, if necessary.
• To rest your eyes, close your eyes for about 20 seconds every hour and look as far away as possible. To relax the eye muscles look up, down, and to the sides.

Dr. Verónica Talavera
Ophthalmologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma