I am 28 years old with severe dry eyes. How do I manage?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 28 years old and have severe dry eyes. I have been using lubricating eye drops for the past two months, but I still experience eye pain and a burning sensation. I work in the IT field. Please guide me, doctor, on how to overcome this issue. I am unable to look at the screen properly. I wear glasses as I have farsightedness. What should I do?

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Since you are in the IT field, which is a predisposing factor, and are already using tear supplement drops but still experiencing symptoms, please make the following lifestyle changes along with continuing artificial tear drops. Reduce screen time and engage in more outdoor activities.

Other recommendations to reduce the symptoms of dry eye disease include:

Maintaining proper ergonomics, the top of the monitor should be at or just below eye level, and you should sit at an arm’s length from the computer screen, as a shorter distance increases eye strain.

Adjust the lighting at your workspace. Increase the contrast on your computer screen and consider using blue light–blocking filters.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Once every 20 minutes, take your eyes off the screen and look at an object 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Use a humidifier in your workspace, as air conditioners can worsen dry eye symptoms.
Check your refraction and wear fully corrective glasses, even if there is only a small eye power issue.
Practice blinking exercises every 20 minutes. Close your eyes for two seconds, open them, then close again for two seconds, followed by a gentle squeeze for two seconds. This helps alleviate dry eye symptoms.
Increase omega-3 fatty acid intake in your diet through foods such as flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, and fish oil.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.