Dry Eyes

MGD or Meibomian Gland Disorder is an eye condition which is very distressing for the sufferers. The glands become clogged and solid, waxy deposits are formed in the eyelids. It causes symptoms similar to Dry Eye, among other things, which makes life difficult indoors and outdoors. You have to take constant care of your eyes till you get relief.

Dealing with MGD is difficult but not impossible. The glands of the eyes get blocked in the eyes due to many reasons. The pain, irritation, dry eyes, watery eyes makes it difficult to do the simplest things such as reading, working on your computer or even watching TV. Too much strain can cause a flare up of the symptoms. Here are a few clinical and home therapies to make life manageable while suffering from MGD:

Warm compresses

This is the simplest and easiest treatment and has been prescribed by doctors for years. You have to apply warm compresses to your eyelids, followed by a massage so that the oil which is blocking the eyelids would be melted and expressed. Though applying compresses is not enough, it can provide temporary relief for a while, especially when you are tempted to rub your eyes. Rubbing the eyes may lead to a flare-up of your symptoms and doctors advise against that. You might spread the infection to your other eye too.

Lid debridement

This is a procedure can be done by your eye doctor. He or she will use an instrument to remove/extract a material known as keratin from your eyes. This process can get rid of the debris that adheres to your eyelids’ margins and clogs the meibomian glands. Statistics show that eyelid debridement produced significant relief even a month after it was done. So lid debridement is one of the therapies your eye doctor can provide, when the blockage is extreme.

Use eyelid wipes regularly

Eyelid wipes will clean your eyes, remove all the accumulated dirt, pollution, bacteria and parasites from your eyelids and ease the irritation. MGD can have many causes – bacterial or parasitic or a combination of both. Tea Tree Oil has been found to be very effective in the management of MGD, as it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic properties.

To cope with the life disrupting symptoms of MGD, establish a daily eyelid cleaning routine. Just wipe your eyes twice a day (or more) with wipes such as Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes which contain TTO and has no alcohol, parabens, and other harmful chemicals.  This is the fastest and easiest way to care for your inflamed and blocked eyelids, and you can do this anytime, anywhere as you can carry the wipes with you anywhere.

Supplement your diet

Eye doctors sometimes recommend supplementing diet with Omega 3 supplements as an additional treatment for MGD. MGD has been seen to be controlled and recurrence is also low or does not recur at all,  when the diet is rich with Omega 3. The essential fatty acids are supposed to suppress the MGD related inflammation, as well as decreasing the chances of the wax build-up in meibomian glands. Fatty fish, flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts and soybeans also have a high content of Omega 3 fatty acids. Including these in your diet will help to reduce the formation of wax in the eyelids.

Intense Pulsed Light treatment

One of the therapies your doctor might recommend is the IPL which was earlier used in the treatment of rosacea. Now it is being used for MGD too. Intense pulses of infrared and visible light will be applied to your eyelids, for about 20 minutes. Depending on your MGD condition, the doctor may prescribe multiple sessions one month apart. IPL reduces inflammation and decreases the obstruction of meibomian glands.

Lipiflow

Lipiflow is other therapy which eye doctors use to melt the wax deposits in the meibomian glands. Heat is used for melting the wax and then pressure is applied to the eyelids to express the clogged glands’ content.

 What else should you do?

Initially, when the condition is severe, you have to take time off and rest your eyes. As almost 99% of our work is done on computers or other devices with screens, you have control the hours of working, to avoid eye strain. As you may not be able to stop working altogether, you must give yourself breaks after half an hour or twenty minutes.

Try to get permission to work from home or ask leave for a few days, till you are able to bear the pain and control the tearing eyes, as well as the itching in the eyes.

Resist the temptation to watch television or videos online or play games on the phone. Give WhatsApp, Insta, Twitter, and other social media a miss, and spend the time to relax in other ways, preferably indoors.

Apply warm compress and the medication that your doctor has prescribed so that you will get relief as soon as possible. And stick to your daily eyelid cleaning routine with Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes which has Tea Tree Oil and notice the difference within a few days!

Anything to do with the eyes is a little baffling, as we know very little about our valuable asset. We take our eyes for granted, and in India especially, we do not practice proper eye hygiene. This leads to many eye problems, including your eyes leaking tons of water all the time, or eyes water suddenly sometimes, at intervals. What are the main reasons for your eyes watering when you least expect it?

First, how are tears produced?

The eyes produce ‘basal’ tears, a fluid which keeps the eyes moisturized. This lets you see clearly, without any discomfort, according to NEI (National Eye Institute). A mixture of water, mucus, fatty oils and more than 1,500 proteins (bet you didn’t know that!). When we blink, the basal tears spread over our cornea. Blinking regularly throughout the day keeps your eyes healthy and moistened.

If everything’s all right with the eyes, then the extra tear fluid is drained out through the tear ducts called ‘puncta’, located at the inner corners of the eyelids, near the nose.

Ophthalmologists have two terms to describe excessive tearing – ‘insufficient drainage’ and ‘overproduction of tears’.

Now, why do your eyes water all the time?

Reason -1: Dry environment

When you’re in a dry environment, you can feel your cheeks going dry. At the same time, your eyes become dry too. That’s when the lacrimal glands release and produce more tears in a phenomenon called ‘reflex tearing’. You might have noticed the discomfort and watery eyes you experience when you’re in an air-conditioned environment, or when you’re out in strong winds outside.

Solution

If your eyes are watering due to the dry environment, then you should think about a few changes to your lifestyle. For example, buy a humidifier, avoid direct air flowing in your eyes from fans, avoiding air conditioners or keeping the temperature at a little below room temperature, so that it’s cool but not freezing.

Also, you can use eyelid wipes like Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes daily so that your eyes’ moisture level is balanced, keeps your eyelids clean and refreshing.

Reason – 2: You’ve been staring at your computer screen for hours

Whether for work or pleasure, staring at the laptop, iPad, Desktop screen, and forgetting to blink, can dry the eyes too, causing reflex tearing. Your colleagues might be surprised at you seemingly crying your heart out in front of the screen when you’re at work!

Solution

Blink more when you’re working at your lappie. And follow the 20-20-20 rule religiously – the rule is to look 20 ft away, for 20 seconds, every 20 minutes. It gives your eyes rest and the opportunity to blink. Your comp screen should not be above your eye level, as this will cause more strain on your eyes.

Reason – 3: Binging on your favorite shows

The Dry Eye Disease Activity Log Study, conducted by Jayant V Iyer, Sze-Yee Lee and Louis Tong, found that while watching TV for a long time, people experienced episodic blur vision, which was caused by eyes drying up. When you’re engrossed in watching TV, you get totally engrossed in the story and forget to blink.  Not blinking is the root cause of eyes tearing and blurring in the middle of your binge-watching.

Solution

The study found that when the eyes were lubricated then the symptoms of discomfort were reduced. You can use artificial tears to lubricate them or clean the eyes with Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes to get desired relief and freshness in a harmless way.

Reason – 4: Your Meibomian glands are blocked

If something is obstructing the Meibomian glands, then they cannot release the oil, which might cause unstable tear film and eyes watering. But this is also a condition which is accompanied by eyelid inflammation, known as blepharitis, or skin disorders like rosacea.

Solution

You need to consult your doctor about this. Practicing eyelid hygiene by cleaning your eyelids & eye contour every day with Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes will clear blockages, reduce inflammation and rosacea.

Reason – 5: Contact lenses

Watery eyes can be caused by your contact lenses, as they dry the tear film. If your eyes water consistently when you’re wearing the lenses, then it might mean that they’re not a good fit. Or that you’re wearing them for a long time.

Solution

Recheck the lenses’ fit and keep your eyes lubricated and moist. Keep your eyelids & eyelashes clean.

Reason – 6: Eyeliner gets in your eyes

Sometimes, if you apply eyeliner right on the lid, it can cause watering. This is because the eye is irritated, and tries to flush the liner out of the eyes.

Solution

Consider your eyelashes as the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ for eyeliner application. Stay on the lashes as much as possible while applying your liner. Remove your makeup before sleeping both Oculeaf Soft Eyelid Cleanser and Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes are very effective in removing your make up softly.

Reason -7: Your eyes are having an allergic reaction

The body releases a chemical called histamine which might cause your eyes to well up and start watering. Sometimes, you could be suffering from a subtle allergy, which is not pronounced, but it causes severe watering of the eyes.

Solution

You should see a doctor if this is happening randomly.

Reason -8: You suffer from dry eye

It seems contradictory, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Reflex tearing happens to people who suffer from chronic dry eyes. This is because along with burning, stinging, mucus, light sensitivity, blurred vision, exhausted eyes, the eyes might water excessively too.

Solution

You should never neglect persistent dry eye symptoms, and just HAVE to consult an ophthalmologist. There could be an underlying cause for which you have to have a proper treatment plan. Eyelid Hygiene will help reduce symptoms of dry eyes.

Reason – 9: Sleep apnea

More research on this condition has shown that sleep apnea is associated to a host of diseases, including heart conditions, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, stroke, high blood pressure as well as ‘floppy eyelid syndrome’. In this, your upper eyelid stays open when you sleep, leading to dryness.

Solution

Visit your doctor, as he will advise you the proper treatment.

Reason – 10: Excessive uses of two-wheelers driving

Often people use long hours driving two-wheelers suffers from excessive tearing. It is because of continuous air pressure on eyes destabilize tear film.

Solution

You should avoid long traveling on two-wheelers or if it is unavoidable travel with break journey. Keep your eyes moist & clean.

If you’re embarrassed by your eyes watering in the middle of a board meeting, it’s time you made a few lifestyle changes, including practicing regular eye hygiene. When the tearing or watering becomes unbearable and does not improve with any changes you have made to your life, then you should see the doctor immediately. Daily Eye & Eyelids Hygiene is the most important part like brushing your teeth. This will help to keep your eyes healthy.

To know more about eye hygiene, visit www.waypham.com

For the most part of the day, we spend our time in front of a computer or digital device screen. It’s a combination of work, surfing the net, playing games on screens, and connecting with others on social media. Staring at the computer screen for hours on end gives rise to a host of eye problems, which researchers have now termed as Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). According to studies, 50-90% of people who work on computers suffer from at least a few symptoms of CVS.

1. Are you suffering from Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)?

If you work for long hours on a computer, your eye and body might be suffering from CVS.
The symptoms of CVS are:
• dry eyes
• blurry vision
• red and tired eyes
• headaches
• neck, back and shoulder pain
• double vision
• eye irritation

2. What causes Computer Vision Syndrome?

When you work on the computer, your eyes have to focus and refocus numerous times. Eyes continuously react to the images you are looking at, which requires a lot of effort from the eye muscles, causing eye strain. Improper viewing distance, poor posture, and vision problems which are undetected and uncorrected also cause computer vision syndrome.

Age plays a role in CVS too, because as you grow older, the eye lens loses its flexibility, causing more strain on the eyes.

3. How to prevent/treat computer vision syndrome

Some tips for computer vision syndrome prevention:

Don’t forget to blink
Blinking washes and moistens the eyes naturally. This will prevent dry eyes, eye irritation, and red eyes. Wiping your eyes with Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes which is pre-moistened with tea tree oil, as well Sodium Hyaluronate and Panthenol will give you relief from eye stress. You must close your eyes and wipe your eyelids from end to end. Oculeaf Eyelid Wipes will soothe your eyes and help in CVS.

Remember the 20-20-20 rule
Look 20 feet away after every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. Take a break from the screen for 15 minutes after 2 hours of working.

Adjust the lighting
Good lighting is imperative – make sure the overhead lighting is not overbright, nor should it be too low. If you use a desk lamp, then the light should shine on the desk, not on you.

Adjust the monitor screen distance
The monitor should be at a distance of a minimum of 20 inches from your eyes. The height of the monitor should be a little below your eye level so that you look slightly downward. Adjust the contrast, flicker, resolution, etc. according to your comfort and use anti-glare screens.

Get your eyes checked
If you are suffering from dry eyes, eye irritation, and headaches, you must get your eyes checked by the doctor. Do wear prescription glasses as computer vision syndrome treatment.

Sit in the right posture
If you have to sit for long hours, the chair should be padded and conform to your body. Sit straight and flex your neck from time to time.

Following the tips above will prevent CVS and allow you to work comfortably on the computer for a long time.