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Environmental Factors Induced Dry Eyes

by | Sep 1, 2024 | Manuscripts | 0 comments

V. Akshaya M. Optom

Assistant Professor, Nethra Institute of Optometry, Sevoor Arani, India

PhD Candidate, Chitkara University, Chandigarh, India

 

Introduction:

Environment is defined as the surrounding in which human, animal, or plant lives. As of now, our environment is changing continuously so humans need to be aware about environmental issues. Due to the rise of environmental issues, there is an increase of dry eye conditions. Dry eye is an ocular condition in which the quality of tears is affected which in turn results in reduction in lubricating and nourishing the eye. People with dry eyes experience redness, burning sensation, light sensitivity, watery mucus, stringy mucus near the canthus of the eye and blurry vision. (1) Prevalence of dry eyes in India is 32%. (2)  There are certain environmental issues that need to be considered to prevent dry eye and to reduce risk of it.

Environmental issues:

Environmental issues are due to the harmful activities created by humans. The constant rise of such environmental changes further results in the environmental dry eye disease (EDED). This is caused by both indoor as well as outdoor environments.

Indoor environment categories involve closed ambient room settings which mainly involves variation in humidity and toxic elements exposure. The indoor air-conditioning directed towards the face while working, centralised heating systems affects the tear film quality. Furthermore, the  increase in digital exposure in the form of computers or smartphones, playing videos causes reduced blinking while using them and thus increases the risk of developing dry eye.

Outdoor environment involves wind, UV exposure and other air polluted environment areas. (3)  Airborne Particles also play a major role in causing dry eyes. Self-reported survey-based study of 5 European countries by Van Setten et al., depicted  the environmental factors that most impacted dry eye conditions were wind, sunlight, and heat, affecting 71%, 60%, and 41% of respondents, respectively. This study depicted that there is a strong association between outdoor environment and dry eye. (4)

A study by Amy Huang et al., depicted that indoor airborne particle are associated with dry eye on basis of humidity. (5)

Conclusion:

Use protective goggles, hats when outside in an area with more environmental exposures. Maintain ergonomic settings in the office and home by taking adequate breaks between work and using a digital medium. The 20-20-20 method while working on a computer or any near work helps in maintaining the tear film quality by giving adequate rest to the eye. In this rule, it is advised to take a 20 second break from looking at a screen (including smartphone, tabs as well as video games) every 20 minutes and focusing on an object 20 feet away preferably outside the window. This is not only beneficial to prevent dry eye, it also helps in relieving eye strain.  Avoid exposing eyes directly to air conditions and heating systems. Use lubricant eye drops which helps in lubricating eyes and provides relief from dry eye. Most importantly, Reduce consumption, Reuse and Recycle things to reduce pollution and avoid use of chemicals.

 

References:

  1. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/eye-and-vision-conditions/dry-eye?sso=y [Last accessed – 07Aug2024; 19:35AEST]
  2. Titiyal JS, Falera RC, Kaur M, Sharma V, Sharma N. Prevalence and risk factors of dry eye disease in North India: Ocular surface disease index-based cross-sectional hospital study. Indian journal of ophthalmology. 2018 Feb 1;66(2):207-11.
  3. Alves M, Novaes P, Morraye MD, Reinach PS, Rocha EM. Is dry eye an environmental disease?. Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia. 2014;77(3):193-200.
  4. van Setten G, Labetoulle M, Baudouin C, Rolando M. Evidence of seasonality and effects of psychrometry in dry eye disease. Acta ophthalmologica. 2016 Aug;94(5):499-506.
  5. Huang A, Janecki J, Galor A, Rock S, Menendez D, Hackam AS, Jeng BH, Kumar N. Association of the indoor environment with dry eye metrics. JAMA ophthalmology. 2020 Aug 1;138(8):867-74.

 

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