Have your Eyes Been doing it tough in the pandemic?

Between increased hours at the computer and mask-wearing, you may be wondering why your eyes are feeling a little more tired and sensitive. And you're not alone. 

Dry and tired eyes were getting more common before the COVID-19 Pandemic, and with the lifestyle changes that have occurred during lockdowns, those symptoms are now on the rise. There's no doubt all those ZOOM meetings and online learning is taking its toll.

Reports of ocular dryness have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dry eyes not only affect how your eyes physically feel but can play havoc with your vision – from blurry, fluctuating vision to increased glare – and it can also impact your productivity and your mood. 

 There are many reasons you can be more prone to dry eyes, but two that are very applicable to the COVID-19 Pandemic are our screen use and mask-wearing.  

Dry eye symptoms are common for those using digital screens for work and are getting more commonly reported in children, too. Why is this? Changes to how well and how often you blink are to blame. We don't often think about blinking, but it plays a vital role in our vision and eye comfort.  Blinking maintains a normal healthy eye surface and facilitates the cycle of secretion, spreading and drainage or tears. Tears play a vital role in our vision and the health of the eye. What we may think of as just water is, in fact, a mixture of mucus, water and oil. It also contacts thousands of proteins and ions to keep the eye healthy, flush away debris, fight harmful bacteria, and keep our vision clear. Having the eye opened for prolonged periods when we’re using screens results in greater evaporation of tears from the surface of the eye. This means the eyes dry out, they feel tired and sore, and you need to blink to clear your vision. 

So what can you and your children do? Frequent breaks from digital devices and employing the 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20m away for 20 seconds) can help. As can ensuring, you're well-hydrated and making sure you're screen isn't positioned too high at your desk or where ever you're getting your work done. 

Then there's mask-wearing? There's no doubt that wearing a face mask is an important part of preventing the spreading of COVID-19, but as well as maskne and foggy glasses, mask associated dry eye is also on the rise.  

A report published in the journal Ophthalmology and Therapy earlier in 2021 reported on the increase of cases of eye irritation and dry eye in those who regularly wear masks4. First coined in the USA, mask-associated dry eye (MADE) is a new condition thought to be caused by airflow being redirected up towards the eyes, causing the eye's surface to dry out more quickly, and the eyes feeling irritated, tired, sore and dry.  

“Mask wearing will continue for the foreseeable future, but you can things to improve mask associated dry eye.”

Mask wearing will continue for the foreseeable future, but you can things to improve mask associated dry eye. The first is making sure your mask fits well – look for a mask with a nose bridge that you can mould to your face, and adjustable ear loops can help ensure a tighter fit. If that fails, try folding a tissue and tucking it under the top of the mask to prevent air from escaping towards the eyes. Taping your mask might help, but just don't tape it too high as to restrict your blinking. Eye lubricating drops with an oily component can also help, as can warm compresses to naturally help the oily layer of your tears. And finally, if none of this helps, consider seeing a good optometrist or ophthalmologist to check for underlying dry eye disease.