Dry eye disease is on the rise; know causes, symptoms, treatment, and more

Tears are important for sustaining the health of the x cornea (transparent surface of the eye) and for providing clear vision. They are produced from a small gland called lacrimal gland, and are spread across the cornea with each blink. Tears provide lubrication to the eye, reduce the risk of eye infection, wash away any foreign material in the eye and help keep the surface of the eyes smooth and clear.

People with dry eye disease (DED), either have poor quality tears or do not produce enough tears. Over the past few years, changing lifestyle and increased usage of electronic devices have increased the risk for occurrence of DED. As per a Neilson's report, approximately 2/3rd of adults aged between 30 and 49 years spend five or more hours on digital devices, daily. 

DED is a developing medical issue and stands out amongst the top reasons for patients seeking eye care. As per experts, vision-related issues occur in over 70% of PC users. DED may harm the front surface of the eye and has symptoms like discomfort, disturbance in vision, tingling, foreign body sensation, mucus release and tear film modifications brought about by diminished tears as well as the increased vanishing of tears. These symptoms can worsen in dry climates, with low humidity and higher temperatures.

Often, DED stays undetected and causes poor quality of vision and life for people who suffer from it. An international expert group showed that Asians are at higher risk of DED with a reported occurrence rate of 30 per cent as against a global average of 17 per cent. In India occurrence rates between 18 per cent to 40 per cent have been reported. 

Reports show that IT professionals are 1.87 times more likely to develop DED and this is linked to the number of hours spent in front of the computer. Risk of developing severe DED is 2.5 times higher. 

Usually, we blink about 22 times a minute in a relaxed state. While working on a computer, the mean blink rate comes down to 7 times per minute which disturbs uniform distribution of the tear film over the surface of the eye. 

DED is associated with decreased ability to perform activities which require more attention, such as reading, driving, and computer-related work. Its impact extends beyond vision, affecting the persons daily activities, social and physical functioning and workplace productivity. 

Experts have proposed an approach to describe commonly used distances for viewing digital devices which is '1-2-10'. Mobile phones at 1 foot, 2-2.5 feet for desktop devices and laptops, and 10 feet for TV screens. Place computer monitor in an ergonomic position, one arm distance away, with a downward gaze of 14 degrees or more. 

Ensure ergonomics of computer use, proper screen height and chair position, include blinking and, use glare protection. Adjust lights to reduce glare on the computer screen and screen should not face any open window. The use of artificial tear drops can help reduce the symptoms of DED. Correction of refractive errors, especially astigmatism is considered as an important intervention in those with DED.

If the frequency of symptoms increases and there is blurring of vision and the symptoms do not respond to artificial tears, or if there is redness in eye, one should consult an eye specialist.