The dreadful summers are already here, and we’re sweating out from the moment, go. With the scorching heat, staying out in the open becomes bearable. Thank god for air conditioners! On average, a regular person spends about 14 to hours per day in an air-conditioned room. While this may be relief from the sun, it isn’t all good news here. Artificial air and temperature changes are not doing our health any favours, in fact, harms it in the long run. Complains about dryness, irritation, grittiness, stickiness, itching, burning and watering from the eyes of people who work in air-conditioned rooms is becoming more common. This condition is known as dry eyes syndrome.
Dr. S Preethi, head of clinical services, Ophthalmology, Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital, spoke about the causes of and care for dry eyes. She said adequate quality and quantity of tears in the eyes makes them function smoothly. When a person suffers from Dry Eyes, there is a change in the quality and quantity of the three layers of tear film — oily (exterior layer), water/aqueous layer (middle layer) and protein (inner layer).
She added that air conditioners may not be the boon we thought it is as it robs us of humidity and thereby having an effect on the quality and quantity of the tear of the eyes. The air in an air-conditioned room is dry and hence evapourates the watery layer of the tear film which makes the eye feel itchy or dry. Exposure to air conditioning for long durations can also be held responsible for altering lipid production in the eyelids, causing both a change in quality and quantity of tear film.
With a dysfunctional watery layer, the eyes are more vulnerable to infection and inflammation. Air conditioning facilities are not always the most hygienic, making it the main cause for the proliferation of virus, bacteria, and fungi. Dryness and vulnerability to disease due to dryness lead to inflammation and infections.
Here are a few tips you can inculcate to avoid dry eyes.
Untreated dry eyes, when get severe can develop damage to the corneal surface, corneal ulcers, and serious vision problems. Hence prevention must always be practiced.
- Try to minimise the time of using air-conditioned rooms. If you are in an air-conditioned room, the recommended temperature setting would be 23OC
- Do sit directly facing the air conditioners, making sure, your eyes at no time is directly exposed to artificial air,
- Place a small open bowl of fresh water in a corner of the room to maintain the humidity in the room, thereby preventing dry skin and dry eyes
- Frequently blink, consciously while using a computer or mobile phone. This will help in appropriating the distribution of tear film.
- Use lubricating eye drops as prescribed by ophthalmologists
