GET TO KNOW
YOUR EYES
To make more informed choices
about your eyes, you need to
know what to look for. Some
eye problems are minor but
others could be a symptom
of more serious issues. Red
or dry eyes are common
symptoms of a range of
eye disorders. See your
optometrist, who can help
you identify the cause and
give treatment advice.
WHEN YOUR
EYES ARE RED
Conjunctivitis is a common cause of
eye redness but an infection, irritation
and allergy can also be to blame.
Try: Some causes of red eyes can be
contagious so get it checked as soon as
possible. Your optometrist or doctor
might prescribe antibiotics, antivirals or
antifungals if the redness is caused by
an infection. If allergic conjunctivitis is
the problem, non-prescription eye drops
can help. Speak to your pharmacist.
You can also try:
»Resting your eyes
»Avoiding bright lights
»Wearing effective sunglasses and
eye protection to shield eyes from
allergens, sunlight, dust and wind
»Making a conscious effort to blink
»Applying a warm or cool compress
or using lubricating eyedrops.
WHEN YOUR
EYES ARE DRY
Every time you blink a thick film of tears
is swept over the eye. But your eyes can
become dry and irritated if you don’t
»Blinking more often to combat
dryness
»Using eyedrops, gels or ointments,
also known as artificial tears, to lubricate
the surface of the eye
»Using prescription eyedrops to reduce
inflammation that causes dry eyes
»The insertion of tiny silicone plugs
into the tear ducts to stop tears from
draining away so fast.ITCHY EYE
The most common cause of itchy eyes
is an allergy, which may lead to allergic
conjunctivitis, triggered by exposure to
pollen, animal fur, mould, dust mites,
make-up or eye drops. Your body reacts
by releasing histamine, which causes
blood vessels in your eye to dilate and
irritates the nerve endings, making
your eyes water. You might also
experience a runny nose,
scratchy throat and sneezing.What To Do
See your pharmacist or
optometrist, who can help
work out the cause of
your itchy eyes and may
recommend antihistamine
or anti-inflammatory eye
drops. It can help to use
artificial tears (eye drops
designed to lubricate dry eyes)
to wash away any allergens on
the surface of your eye.produce enough
tears to keep
them moist
or if the tears
evaporate and
don’t stay on the
surface of the eye long
enough. We all experience
dry eyes at some point but as we age
the problem becomes more common
because we produce fewer tears.DRY EYE TRIGGERS
Some medications, including oral
contraceptives, antidepressants,
antihistamines, diuretics and beta-
blockers, can trigger dry eyes, as can
some health conditions such as arthritis.
Other factors include:
»Long periods spent staring at
a computer screen or electronic
device (See Eye Fatigue)
»Wearing contact
lenses
»Menopause
»Airconditioning,
wind, dust, smoke or
chemical exposure
»Air travel
»An eye injury
»Infrequent or
incomplete blinking
»Eye surgery.WHAT TO DO
See your optometrist, who
may recommend:QUICK FIX
PROTECT YOUR EYES
AGAINST STRAIN WITH
THE 20- 20 - 20 RULE: EVERY
20 MINUTES, LOOK AT
SOMETHING 20 FEET
(AROUND SIX METRES)
AWAY FOR 20
SECONDS.