Good, Better, Best

Did you wake up last night with eye discomfort?

Were you recently informed that you have dry eye? 

Have you noticed burning in your eyes after a day of work on a computer screen?

But, you don't know where to start. Let us help. Start with five easy behaviors. These can take a few minutes every day, but you will feel better in a couple of days or weeks (depending on the severity of your discomfort).

The best starting point is to do five things: 1) drink more water, 2) take a fish oil vitamin, 3) follow the 20/20/20 rule when on a computer, 4) use a warm compress daily, and 5) "peeq" or wash your eyelids EVERY DAY.

Each step is important for different reasons. But, the most important step is the last one as it helps "correct" for failure on the others.

1) Drinking more water helps improve the amount of lubricating tears created. This will help alleviate some immediate challenges with your gland's production of lubrication. 

2) Taking fish oil is similar - but it works to improve the "quality" of a person's tears. Lubrication resembles olive oil, and many people cause their glands to produce too little (water) and/or poor (oil). Thus, oil and water are good first steps.

3) The 20/20/20 rule means every 20 minutes look away from your computer or smart phone. Look 20 feet into the distance for 20 seconds. This provides your eyes with relief. It helps to blink rapidly and help get your eyes back to neutral. It is even better to get up and go outside. This helps your eyes reset to "normal" non-straining behavior.

4) Use a warm compress. Compresses look like a mask. They are typically made of a cover with an inside based of silica beads. They should be heated in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to 104-108* F. They should be worn while warm for about 10-15 minutes. Then, you should gently massage your eyelids. The massage is really important to "expressing" or pushing the oils out of your eyelid glands. It helps break up blockages or other problems. [Hint: do this while listening to music or an audiobook.]

5) Massage is also key to eyelid hygiene or "peeqing" your eyelids. You should use an appropriate cleanser  (NOT BABY SHAMPOO or REGULAR SOAP). Usually these are made of tea tree oil or hypochlorous acid. There are many manufacturers of both products.  [Hint: move your eyelid wash to the shower.] You use this product by placing two to three squirts of foam in your hand or on a sponge. Place the foam on your eyelids with your eyes closed. Rub or massage it on and along the eyelid. Some of the foam should end up in your eyelashes. The massage will help stimulate your eyelid tears and it will kill the demodex mites that may be infesting the eyelash follicle. Use this product at the sink or shower as a soap alternative. We reference them as an eyelid and facial cleanser on our website.

This is like brushing the teeth. You MUST do this every day or you will end up with problems down the line.

Screens have changed the world, and they have specifically changed the way that humans use their eyes.

Peeqing your eyelids is an essential part of your daily hygiene habits.