Each year, February seems to be a month of dry eyes and allergies. 2021 is no exception. It is no surprise that most of us are spending more time indoors this month, as well as increasing screen time. In a recent poll from the Fight for Sight charity, 49% of those questioned reported an increase in screen time during lockdown, with 38% reporting deterioration in their eyesight, including difficulty reading, poorer night vision and migraines. Certainly, in the clinic, I am seeing an increased number of patients attending daily, mentioning eye strain, frontal headaches, tired eyes generally and dryness. Not to mention “mask eye”; but I will come to that later.

Most dry eye issues related to increased screen work occur due to reduced blink rate. Essentially, blinking spreads tears across the cornea, keeping the tissue hydrated, lubricated, and nourished. Can you believe that the blink rate can decrease by 66% when using a screen, falling from 18 blinks a minute to just 6? There’s no wonder that dry eye associated with screen time is on the rise.

The simplest way to reduce some of these screen-related eye issues is to take a break. The 20-20-20 rule is a good guide: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break looking at something 20 feet away.

Dry eye can, of course, be caused by many other factors. This can be explored in practice at a routine eye examination.

February also marks the beginning of the tree pollen season. Tree pollen from Alder, Hazel, Yew, and Elm is released now. This means those unlucky enough to be affected by seasonal allergic symptoms may suffer red, itchy eyes along with other allergic symptoms. Depending on the presentation and severity, there are treatments for these symptoms.

One final thing to mention is a continuation of the anti-fog theme. Having researched the best remedy for fogging spectacle lenses the Clear-It Wipe from Hoya does a great job. It is a reusable wipe infused with the anti-fog treatment. Each wipe lasts about 60 treatments can be used as a microfibre lens cloth and are available in practice now for £10.

I hope this blog post has been helpful. I look forward to welcoming you back to practice soon.

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