A good reminder to look closer at the small habits we often overlook.

Small Habits, Big Impact on Your Eyes

Dry eyes do not always start from something “big.” Sometimes, they come from daily habits that feel completely normal. Think about it: waking up and checking your phone, working in front of a laptop, sitting in an air-conditioned room, commuting through pollution, then ending the day with more scrolling. Sounds familiar, right?

One of the most common habits linked with dry eye symptoms is long screen time. When we focus on a screen, we tend to blink less often or blink incompletely. This can make tears evaporate faster and leave the eyes feeling dry, tired, gritty, or uncomfortable.¹ Digital device use has also been associated with dry eye symptoms, especially when screen exposure happens for long periods.²

It Is Not Just About Screens

But screens are not the only “quiet trigger.” Dry air from air conditioning, wind, smoke, and polluted environments can also disturb the tear film on the eye surface.³ Even simple habits like not drinking enough water, sleeping late, or forgetting to rest your eyes can make discomfort feel worse, especially if your eyes are already sensitive.

Simple Changes Your Eyes May Appreciate

The good news is, small changes can help. Try taking regular screen breaks, following the 20-20-20 rule, blinking more consciously, adjusting your screen position, and avoiding direct airflow from AC or fans. The American Academy of Ophthalmology also recommends making a conscious effort to blink during computer use to help keep the eye surface from drying out.⁴

When Should You Start Paying Attention?

You can also support your eyes by keeping your room less dry, staying hydrated, and using lubricating eye drops when recommended by a healthcare professional. If the dryness, burning, redness, watery eyes, or fluctuating vision keeps coming back, it may be more than regular tired eyes. Dry eye can be diagnosed through an eye examination and tear assessment.⁵

This World Dry Eye Month, let’s take a moment to listen to our eyes a little more. Continue learning about dry eye with Eyevenger, and discover simple ways to understand and care for your eye health better.

REFERENCE:

American Academy of Ophthalmology. (n.d.). Computers, Digital Devices, and Eye Strain. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available at:
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/computer-usage
Al-Mohtaseb, Z., Schachter, S., Shen Lee, B., Garlich, J., & Trattler, W. (2021). The Relationship Between Dry Eye Disease and Digital Screen Use. Clinical Ophthalmology, 15, 3811–3820. Available at:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8439964/
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Dry Eyes: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. Available at:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863
National Eye Institute. (n.d.). Dry Eye. National Eye Institute. Available at:
https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye
Craig, J. P., Nichols, K. K., Akpek, E. K., Caffery, B., Dua, H. S., Joo, C. K., Liu, Z., Nelson, J. D., Nichols, J. J., Tsubota, K., & Stapleton, F. (2017). TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. The Ocular Surface, 15(3), 276–283. Available at:
https://www.tfosdewsreport.org/report-definition_and_classification/

NP-DED-Asia-0184

Dry Eye Awareness Month: Is Your Routine Drying Your Eyes?