Protect Your Eyes From Covid

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Submitted by Nimesh Shah….

eyeThe effects of Covid-19 have led us to spend more time in front of the screen than ever before. Many of us spend hours upon hours each day working on laptops and with lock-down restrictions in place, spending time on our smartphones, watching television and playing computer games has only prolonged our exposure to screens. Excessive screen usage can lead to several eye related issues including dry eyes.

Are you suffering from any of the following symptoms? If so, you might just need eye drops.

  • Eyestrain
  • Dry eyes
  • Itchy or irritated eyes
  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Tired and sore eyes
  • Watery eyes
  • Headaches

The above symptoms when caused by digital devices are known as computer vision syndrome (CVS). Eye drops offer a great solution to some of these symptoms caused by digital devices. They work to soothe the eyes and provide fast relief from dry, red, or irritated eyes.

Are eye drops necessary for me?

Eye drops can play a big part in maintaining our eye health, especially if you spend a prolonged time in front of a screen or in an environment where air conditioning and pollution contributes to dry eyes.

This is especially true for those who wear contact lenses. If dry eyes are not treated effectively, the symptoms can worsen over time.

Feel Good Contacts stock a wide range of eye drops from premium brands such as comfi, Blink and Systane. Most of these eye drops are suitable to use with contact lenses.

The comfi Soothe Drops are perfect for anyone who requires instant, soothing relief from dry eyes. They come in a 15ml bottle which makes them travel friendly so that they can be carried easily with you on the go.

Blink feature a range of eye drops every need. Blink Contacts Bottle eye drops are a great choice that will keep your eyes hydrated all day and help to minimize the risk of dry eyes, grittiness and irritation. If you’re suffering blurry vision caused by dry eye, you may wish to try the Blink Intensive Tears Bottle or give your lenses a quick and effective clean with Blink-N-Clean Eye Drops.

Systane range offers eye drops to treat dry eye in Systane Hydration and Systane Ultra Bottle; you can find also find Systane available in vial form, making them even easier to take with you on the go.

Other recommended brands of eye drops are Altacor’s Clinitas Soothe Multi eye drops and vials and Artelac Rebalance which were developed by Bausch & Lomb to re-hydrate your eyes while lubricating and replenishing your tear film.

Do eye drops help with eye strain?

Eye drops can help with digital eye strain and will relieve eye fatigue and dry eyes. When staring at the screen for hours upon end, we forget to blink, thus limiting our tear film replenishment. This can damage the protective layer over our eyes and can cause our eyes to feel dry and irritated.

Can anyone use eye drops?

Most people can use lubricating eye drops (also known as artificial tears) as these eye drops contain harmless moisturizers, and they don’t contain medications. However, it’s always worth checking with your optician regarding whether they are suitable for you.

Is it OK to use eye drops daily?

eyeLubricating eye drops are generally okay to use daily if they don’t contain preservatives. They work in a similar way to tears aiding your natural tear film to protect the eye’s surface. You should follow the instructions on the eye drops package regarding how often you should use them.

How can I protect my eyes from screen time?

You can also protect your eyes from screen time by limiting the amount of time you spend on digital devices. However, if your job requires you to spend all day staring at a computer screen, here are some other ways to prevent eye strain and look after your eyes:

  • Follow the 20-20-20 rule-Every 20 minutes, make sure you take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away
  • Reduce glare-you can do this by installing an anti-glare screen, dusting your computer monitor and reducing the external light
  • Wear blue light glasses-these protect your eyes as they feature lenses that block blue light from digital devices
  • Adjust the brightness and screen resolution on your computer
  • Make sure you use adequate lighting around your computer
  • Blink regularly
  • Use eye drops-artificial tears or eye drops are highly effective in protecting the eyes against many environmental factors including digital screen use