Did you know that the average person spends around 7 hours a day looking at a screen? The glare and reflections from computer, smartphone, and tablet screens can reduce blink rates by as much as 60%. When we concentrate intensely we tend to blink less, which can, in turn, lead to dry eye syndrome.
Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include red and dry eyes, irritated eyes, blurred vision, painful or stinging eyes, light sensitivity and mucus around the eyes.
Blinking helps keep our eyes healthy and comfortable. With every blink, the ocular surface is cleaned of debris and lubricated, so less blinking means more irritation and dryness.
Below are a few blinking exercises to help you ensure that your eyes remain lubricated and refreshed throughout the day.
Blinking Exercises
Blinking exercises are simple to do and can be seamlessly integrated into your daily routine. These exercises should be done a few times an hour. Try alternating between the 2 exercises below.
1. Close-Pause-Pause-Open-Relax
- Without squeezing, gently close your eyes.
- Pause and keep your eyes closed for 2 seconds.
- Gently open your eyes and relax them.
- Repeat 5 times
2. Close-Pause-Pause-Squeeze-Open-Relax
- Without squeezing, gently close your eyes.
- Pause and keep your eyes closed for 2 seconds.
- While keeping your eyes closed, squeeze your eyelids together slowly and gently.
- Gently open your eyes and relax them.
- Repeat 5 times
The Importance of Fully Blinking
It’s important to fully blink to completely lubricate your eyes. If you’re only partially blinking, it can render your dry eye symptoms worse.
To find out whether you are fully blinking, just look at your eyes in the mirror. If they feel dry or appear red, or if you see a horizontal stripe of red blood vessels across your eyes, then you have been partially blinking.
If you’ve incorporated blinking exercises into your routine but are still experiencing eye irritation, you may have dry eye syndrome. We can diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms, and offer a variety of dry eye treatments to alleviate any discomfort. Schedule an eye exam with Giddens Optometry today to receive effective, long-lasting relief.
Giddens Optometry serves dry eye patients from Georgetown, Limehouse, Acton, and Halton Hills, Ontario and surrounding communities.
Q: What is dry eye syndrome?
- A: Dry eye syndrome is caused either by insufficient tears or poor tear quality. Every time you blink, you leave a thin film of tears over the surface of your eyes. This helps keep your vision clear and your eyes healthy. If your tears don’t keep the surface of your eye moist enough, you will experience dry eye symptoms. Some medical conditions, certain medications, dysfunctional glands, allergies and environmental irritants can all cause dry eye symptoms.
Q: What are the symptoms of dry eyes?
- A: Symptoms of dry eye include irritation; a gritty, scratchy or burning sensation; blurred vision; excessive tearing; and/or a feeling of having something stuck in the eye.