Think of it as death by a thousand cuts. Little by little, all sorts of bad habits contribute to a real issue. “Dry-eye disease is a multifactorial, chronic, and progressive condition that if left untreated can significantly affect a patient’s quality of vision,” says Kambiz Silani, O.D., chief clinical director of Beverly Hills Optometry. It’s characterized by one or more of all those symptoms too many of us have experienced: Incomplete blinking is another issue associated with screen time, so try building in regular short breaks for this exercise: “The length of treatment and the amount of heat applied for warm-compress treatment is the key factor in its effectiveness,” says Ellement. She explains that warm compresses need to be applied for at least 10 minutes, and the compress needs to stay warm the whole time. Eye masks like this one make it easy. Your favorite makeup tricks might be problematic, too. “Makeup can be a big factor in meibomian gland obstruction, particularly for people who apply makeup on the waterline.” That’s because they can’t properly release lipids into the tear film when they’re covered in makeup. One option is Avenova, a solution made with 0.01% hypochlorous acid, which is produced naturally in the body and clinically proven to kill bacteria and relieve a number of chronic eye conditions, including dry eye. “Avenova restores the natural homeostasis of the eyes by reducing the bacterial load without altering the diversity of bacterial species on the skin,” says Silani. Incorporating a simple spray-and-swipe solution like this, morning and night, may offer some much-needed relief.
