In honor of March being Workplace Eye Wellness Month, Dr. Ernest W. Kornmehl discusses how prolonged digital device use could be harming your eye health and explains your options for dry eye treatment.
Dr. Kornmehl is a world-renowned ophthalmologist and an expert in the management of dry eye. If your workplace habits are harming your eye health, it is time to schedule an appointment at Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates in Boston to discuss your treatment options.
How Is Your Workplace Harming Your Eye Health?
If your job involves using a computer or other screens for hours at a time, your workplace habits may be harming your eye health. A common issue that people experience thanks to extended screen time is digital eye strain. Digital eye strain is physical eye discomfort caused by prolonged screen time on electronic devices like computers, tablets and smartphones. Symptoms of digital eye strain include the following:
- Burning eyes
- Headaches
- Light sensitivity
- Dry eyes
If you are experiencing any of the above issues, you should schedule an appointment with Dr. Kornmehl at Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates. He will work with you to determine the cause of your symptoms and possible treatment options.
What Is MGD?
Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a leading cause of dry eye. The meibomian glands are tiny glands in the eyelids. The glands secrete the oily layer of the tear film. When the glands become blocked or clogged, they do not provide sufficient oil. The lack of oil causes the tears to prematurely evaporate, which in turn causes the eyes to feel dry, gritty and itchy.
Excessive screen time can worsen symptoms of MGD. This means that time spent on your computer or your smartphone may be worsening your dry eye symptoms.
LipiFlow Dry Eye Treatment,
There are a number of treatment options for patients suffering from MGD caused by their workplace habits. One treatment that Dr. Kornmehl may recommend is LipiFlow. LipiFlow works by applying precise localized heat and recurrent pressure to the eyelid to unblock the meibomian glands. Unblocking the glands should allow them to secrete the oily layer of the tear film.
OptiLight Dry Eye Treatment
Another treatment option for patients suffering from MGD is OptiLight. Similar to LipiFlow, OptiLight is used to improve the function of the meibomian glands. With the OptiLight system, Dr. Kornmehl uses pulses of broad-spectrum light to target inflamed, abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation and contribute to dry eye. OptiLight treats the underlying disease by constricting vessels, inhibiting inflammatory mediators, and destroying Demodex.
You don’t have to live (and work with) dry eyes. If you are ready to treat your dry eyes, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kornmehl at Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates by calling (877) 870-2010.