In winter we find ourselves indoors much more often, and those heat sources can be drying to our eyes. Add in screen time, and your eyes might be feeling itchy and uncomfortable. There are ways to help.
First, look at your lifestyle. It’s hard to make tears if you are dehydrated, so drink plenty of water and avoid diuretics like caffeine and alcohol. Screen time is also a culprit: We blink less when using a computer screen, so use the 20/20/20 rule: take a break every 20 minutes, to look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This helps our focusing and eye-pointing muscles avoid too much time in one posture.
Use artificial tears such as Systane Ultra, Blink, Refresh Tears, etc. Avoid gel types during daytime, as they can be too thick to provide a clear image. Bruder Masks are reusable, microwaveable warm eye compresses that feel like a spa treatment. They help by getting oil glands functioning better, which improves tear film.
For contact lens users, removing lenses nightly and replacing them on schedule keeps their surfaces as smooth as possible, which makes vision clearer and more comfortable.
Keeping your eyes in good health goes a long way in feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Stay up-to-date with your regular eye exams, and let your eye doctor know if you’ve started or stopped any medications, as certain types can be drying.
Brought to you by:
Dr. Ayda Porkar, OD
We see patients of all ages at our West 11th Ave and Valley River Plaza locations.
3015 W 11th Ave, Eugene 1011 Valley River Way Suite 110, Eugene
541-342-2201 | sterlingvision.com
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