WHAT I USE

When you get paid to test beauty products for a living, what do you actually pay to use? ELLE beauty director Katy Young comes clean

All this time staring at screens has played havoc with our eyes. Whether it’s a trip to the opticians or at-home treatments, our beauty director reveals her TLC tips

Straining to read this? You’re not alone. While recently struggling to focus on the box set du jour, it occurred to me that maybe the advert was correct, and I should go to Specsavers. Clearly, others had the same idea – it was busier than I’d ever (blurrily) seen, with specs flying off shelves faster than I could say, ‘Anything for a wider face?’

A recent poll revealed that nearly half of us have increased our screen time by more than two hours per day in the past 18 months* – unsurprising, given that work-life balance now means closing your Teams tab and opening your quiz-night Zoom – and it hasn’t been kind to our eyes. A survey of 2,000 people commissioned by the College of Optometrists found that 22% noticed their eyesight had worsened over lockdown – and that was after a few months, not the more than a year we’ve had now.

‘So, what’s the damage?’ I asked. An increase in myopia (short-sightedness) for most, apparently – hence the headaches and poorer night vision. Studies have suggested myopia’s rapid rise might be down to spending more time indoors, performing ‘near tasks’ over smartphones and rarely looking beyond 20ft away. This isn’t new. Historically, those who stayed in education past the age of 16 have always been more short-sighted than those who left school then, presumably because they spent extra time poring over books and screens. Lockdown means it’s affecting more of us, more severely.

If you do detect any changes, the sensible thing to do is to book in for a test – if caught early, most serious eye-health issues are avoidable. In the meantime, it might be worth looking into the 20-20-20 rule, encouraged by charity Fight for Sight: look away at something 20ft away for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes spent in front of a screen.

You can also blinkin’ well blink: we close our eyes eight times less often when looking at a screen, causing uncomfortable dryness. Forced blinking may help with what ophthalmologists call ‘maskassociated dry eye syndrome’, caused by exhalations rising up from your mask. Glasses-wearers will be all-too-familiar with steamed lenses, while the rest of us suffer with dry, itchy eyes.

If squeezing shut your eyes for a few seconds isn’t as restful as you’d hope, there are over-the-counter eye drops. I try to avoid versions with preservatives and don’t make anti-redness drops a habit, as both can cause irritation if used for a lengthy stretch. Preservative-free drops tend to come in individual vials and are safer for sensitive types. (You could also try ointments, but keep in mind that these tend to be thicker and can cloud vision, so use them just before bed.) Simpler still? A warm washcloth gently rested on your eyes for five minutes, to cleanse and calm in one.

Wide-eyed and then some, I found a pair of 1970s-style Chanel frames that proved a welcome sight for sore eyes. As for limiting screen time, I’ve got a few episodes to go…

“Blinking helps with maskassociated dry eye SYNDROME – steamed lenses and itchy eyes ”