During the pandemic, when many activities moved to the Internet, our eyes are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of working at the screens of electronic devices. The bottle of artificial tears on the desk may therefore turn out to be as necessary as a cup of coffee or tea.

Currently, the network allows us not only to work remotely, but also shopping and socializing. Therefore, the research according to which a statistical Pole uses a computer more than 6 hours a day may be very outdated. It is much more likely that we stare at the screen of a computer, laptop or smartphone for more than half a day. Our eyes suffer from it - as a result of strenuous work and eye strain, we “forget” to blink. This reflex is necessary to nourish the cornea. You should blink at least 15 times a minute, while working at the computer it happens that we do it only once or twice a minute, replacing the remaining blinks only with eyelid twitching. Effect? Dryness of the eye, which causes burning, redness and the feeling of "sand under the eyelids".

Artificial tears - hydration and protection

The main task of natural tears is to moisturize, cleanse and protect the cornea and conjunctiva from bacteria. If the tear glands secrete too little of them, or the eyelid - due to occasional blinking - does not sufficiently moisturize the cornea and mucous membranes of the eye, the risk of infection and inflammation increases. That is why additional moisturizing with artificial tears is so important. It is a type of eye drop, the main ingredient of which are semi-liquid gels based on methylcellulose or hyaluronic acid. The last ingredient ensures high viscosity, thanks to which the preparation stays on the surface of the eyeball for a long time.

Artificial tears are available over the counter. These are the only eye preparations that can be used without restrictions; They can also be used by people who use contact lenses on a daily basis.

Worth knowing

Artificial tears should not be confused with saline. Saline (available in disposable sterile ampoules) is an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) with the same concentration as in human body fluids (0.9%, i.e. 0.9 g / l). It can be safely used to rinse a foreign body out of the eye or used to rinse upon awakening to remove iteye irritating discharge. Of course, saline also moisturizes the surface of the eye, but artificial tears are more effective in this respect because their layer stays on the surface of the cornea for a longer time.

Artificial tears - a safe choice

Any eye drops can cause allergies. Therefore, if we are prone to allergies, it is better to talk to an ophthalmologist or consult a pharmacist about the selection of the preparation. An allergic reaction is most often caused by a preservative, so it is safest to buy drops without preservatives. There are more and more such preparations on the market, because modern packaging now allows the preparation to remain sterile for a long time - even up to six months after opening.

How to apply artificial tears

Artificial tears should be instilled several times a day, at least whenever we feel that the eye is dry, and a few minutes of rest from working on the computer and a series of intense blinking do not help to get rid of this feeling. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before application. You should lift the lower eyelid, drop the drops into the conjunctival sac (always one for each eye), then press your finger on the corner of the eye right next to the nose to block the flow of tears to the nose - then the drops will stay on the surface of the cornea for a longer time, which will have a positive effect on their absorption.

Artificial tears and rest for the eyes

Artificial tears are not the only way to ease the eyes during intensive work at the computer. Necessary - and equally important - are the rest phases. Take at least 5-minute breaks after each hour of work in front of the monitor. Blink your eyelids quickly for a moment - you will improve the hydration of the eyeball. Look into the distance, preferably at the greenery outside the window, squeeze your eyelids for a moment, look out the window again. Shift your gaze from nearby objects to those that are far away. When your eyes feel tired, cover them with your hands for a moment, without touching your eyelids, and look into the darkness. Important: the air in the room where you work should have the correct humidity (40-60%).

Category:

Eye diseases and vision disorders