The Dry Eye Zone works with dry eye specialist opticians and supports dry eye sufferers with news, information and a curated selection of best-in-class products. It is the mission of the Dry Eye Zone experts to bring about better outcomes for sufferers through a combination of education and practical support for both professionals and patients.
The Dry Eye Zone wants those affected by dry eye to be aware of why it is important to follow the professional advice given to them once their optician has assessed and diagnosed the root causes of their dry eye. Here are some of our best-in-class tips and tricks for a better dry eye outcome as you pass through the day... Follow a day in the life of a dry eye sufferer and learn as you go.
7.00am - cleanse
The alarm goes off and your day is about to begin. Get your eyes off to a great start by cleansing away any debris around the lids and lashes using a specialist hypoallergenic cleanser or wipe. It is important to avoid fragrances, preservatives or cleaning ingredients with can irritate your dry eye condition. The Dry Eye Zone saves your time by finding just the right products.
7.30am - prevent
The Dry Eye Zone experts strongly advocate taking preventative action before dry eye symptoms begin to help avoid the inflammatory dry eye vicious cycle escalating. With this in mind pop 1 or 2 drops of your recommended eye drop into each eye. If you wear contact lenses you can put the drop inside your lens prior to insertion. As well as feeling more comfortable your eyes will also looker clearer and brighter – ready to face the world.
8.00am – make-up
We all want to look our best as we go about the business of the day. But make sure your choice in make-up is dry eye friendly. You may well have read or heard in the media about the toxic effects of many commonly used ingredients and the care that is needed when selecting a product free from ocular nasties. It can be difficult to research every ingredient your make up contains so the Dry Eye Zone has done it for you – the Eyes are the Story make-up range has been developed with dry eye in mind. As well as a beautiful look and feel the range is also gentle on eyes.
9.00am - hydrate
Keep yourself and your eyes well hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water. It might sound obvious but when you are rushing round it is easy to forget to about looking after your hydration levels. In fact there was a study which showed that those with dry eye had a more concentrated blood plasma level, compared to a non-dry eye control group, indicating the importance of full body hydration in dry eye. The NHS recommends that you have 6-8 cups or glasses of fluid per day. It is worth considering keeping a tally of your water consumption to help get you into good habits.
12.00pm - nourish
When taking a fully holistic approach to dry eye management diet is important too. Choose a lunch time meal which is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 such as a salmon or tuna salad or take a daily dose of Dry-Omega – just two capsules will do the job. All washed down with a glass of water!
Don’t forget to instil another eye drop to help stop symptoms like tired, gritty feeling eye starting.
3.00pm – rest
It is common to start to feel your eyes getting tired as the day moves on. Make sure you remember to rest your eyes at regular intervals. If you work at a screen the recommendation is to follow the ‘20-20-20’ rule. That is every 20 minutes, look away from your screen to a point in the distance, approximately 20 meters way, for 20 seconds.
5.00pm – care
If you get a spare moment check when you last had an eye examination. It might be time for a regular check up with your optician. As well as monitoring your dry eye symptoms your optician will also be able checking for signs of overall health. Surprisingly, the benefits of an examination extend beyond just eye health as your optician might pick-up some signs of other health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
6.00pm - unwind
Finding a bit of ‘me’ time isn’t always easy so why not grab 10 minutes to unwind with your favourite magazine and your hot eyelid compress. If you have meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) you will have been encouraged by your optician to regularly help symptom relief using a heat therapy. You might struggle to find the time but if you get into the habit the relief you feel will make it all worthwhile. The Dry Eye Zone has just made this a lot easier for you with their new ‘eyes open’ hot compress. The highly innovative design of TearRestore allows you to carry on with life and look after your eyes at the same time.
10.00pm – sleep
Getting a good end-of-day routine together for your eyes will help you form good habits with great outcomes for you and your eyes. Remove make up first, then contact lenses, before cleansing. Keep your eye lashes in great condition by applying a pin-head sized drop of Lash Builder to your eyelids. This restorative serum is dry eye friendly unlike many others which contain ingredients which can make symptoms worse. Simply apply and leave it to work while you sleep.
For those with more persistent symptoms a few drops of a more viscous eye drop or ointment before lights out can lead to a better start to the next day.
Dry eye has long been established as a serious health concern which can affect sufferers both physically and mentally. Dry eye reduces the quality of life for those affected and can lead to anxiety and depression. Make sure you stay on top of your symptoms and be sure to follow the advice of your eye care professional.
If you are experiencing dry, tired feeling eyes then you should ask the advice of your eye care professional. There is no substitute for regular check-ups to help keep your eyes healthy.
Sources:
Walsh N P et al. Is Whole-Body Hydration an Important Consideration in Dry Eye? Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science September 2012, Vol.53, 6622-6627. doi: https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-10175
NHS Guidelines. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/
Craig JP, Nichols KK, Akpek EK, Caffery B, Dua HS, Joo CK, Liu Z, Nelson JD, Nichols JJ, Tsubota K, Stapleton F. TFOS DEWS II Definition and Classification Report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):276-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.008. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28736335.
Hessen M, Akpek EK. Dry eye: an inflammatory ocular disease. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2014 Apr;9(2):240-50. PMID: 25279127; PMCID: PMC4181208.
Takefumi Yamaguchi. Inflammatory Response in Dry Eye. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. November 2018, Vol.59, DES192-DES199. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.17-23651
Dr Dillner’s health dilemmas. How often should I get me eyes tested?
Jones L, Downie LE, Korb D, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Dana R, Deng SX, Dong PN, Geerling G, Hida RY, Liu Y, Seo KY, Tauber J, Wakamatsu TH, Xu J, Wolffsohn JS, Craig JP. TFOS DEWS II Management and Therapy Report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):575-628. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.006. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28736343.
Iyer JV, Lee SY, Tong L. The dry eye disease activity log study. ScientificWorldJournal. 2012;2012:589875. doi: 10.1100/2012/589875. Epub 2012 Oct 24. PMID: 23193384; PMCID: PMC3488393.
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