Don’t cry over dry eyes

RY-EYE syndrome is on the increase and much of the blame must fall on the stresses of modern life. Staring at a computer, smartphone or tablet for hours on end doesn’t help, nor does living in a hot or windy climate, and wearing contact lenses.

The side effects of certain medications such as diuretics, beta-blockers, anti-depressants and antihistamines may also contribute, and hormonal changes during the menopause, taking the oral contraceptive pill or in pregnancy can also play a role.

The most common cause of dry eye disease is Meibomian gland dysfunction, where oils in the glands thicken from the naturally smooth oil to a buttery consistency. This means that eyes become irritated, gritty, inflamed and painful.

Dr Colin Parsloe, ophthalmologist at University Bedford Hospitals, says: “Dry eye disease is an inconvenient and often distressing condition that opticians and eye surgeons frequently see, but millions of people simply put up with it.

“Conventional therapy for dry eye disease advocates warm compresses using a towel or face cloth held over the affected eye. The problem with this traditional method is that the cloth does not retain heat for long enough to be an effective treatment. Regular use of a purpose made, warm eyelid compress combined with gentle massage is more effective.”

Amelia Mulley started to suffer from dry eyes in her late teens but it wasn’t until she spent long hours studying at university that she realised the symptoms were getting worse. Her eyes were tired and sore but they were also sensitive to light from a computer screen which made PC work and reading difficult.

Now 30, Amelia says: “I put it down to my university lifestyle and not enough sleep, but over time my eyes got worse. My optician suggested it might be an allergy, so I started taking antihistamines. Studying English, there is a lot of reading, research and computer work but I could at least take breaks to rest before getting back to studying.”

Once Amelia started full time work however, her eyes really felt the strain of eight hours in front of a computer screen.

“Last year my optician diagnosed Dry Eye Disease. It was a relief to understand what was causing the problem, and she prescribed artificial tears, which I have used almost daily since.” But then