Think of three main factors:
- Post op Lasik
- Wearing contact lenses
- Use of CPAP
- Dramatic increase in use of eletronics
- Dry climates
- Increased air pollution
- Office buildings, airplanes and car travel with recirculated dry air
- Diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjorgens syndrome, Lupus, Acne rosacea and Menopause
- Normal aging (we produce 60% less oil at age 65 than we do at 18)
- Medications for conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, birth control pills, Parkinson's, chemotherapy, allergies and hormone replacement
Ocular surface disease (OSD) can start at age 10 and is found in 30% of people over the age of 50 and up to 75% of people over 65 will experience significant OSD. The symptoms can range from very mild to moderate to extreme discomfort. These symptoms include:
- Eye irritation - burning, dryness, foreign body sensation, grittiness, itchiness, stinging
- Blurry or fluctuation of vision
- Loss of vision
- Chronic pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing
The dramatic increase in the use of computers, cell phones and electronics in the last 10 years has been responsible for many more new cases of OSD. Research has shown that we only blink an average of 7 blinks per minute on a computer compared with 22 blinks normally. The muscles of the eyelids are like other muscles of the body in that they will learn this behaviour, and now our blinking is reduced even when we are away from computer screens. The electronic age has created a new group of people developing OSD, our youth.
The best way to address these problems is to be proactive and develop a daily routine that will help prevent progression and development of OSD. Three important steps in maintaining eye health and vision is start a daily routine of: