Yes, masks can cause dry eye, you’re not imagining it!

A new study suggests “mask-associated dry eye” is a result of exhaled breath flowing upwards out of the mask and over the surface of the eyes. As the air flows over the eye it drys out the tear film, a thin layer of fluid covering the eye’s surface important for keeping your eyes moist and comfortable! Here are a few suggestions.

Find a mask that fits properly – A good fitting mask should contour to your nose and cheekbones to better block airflow leaving through the top of your mask.

Don’t rub your eyes – It’s tempting when your eyes are irritated, but eye rubbing can cause micro-abrasions in the cornea and inflammation that makes your eyes more swollen and irritated.

Schedule an eye appointment – A complete picture of your dry eye and ocular surface better allows our doctors to tailor a management plan for you.

Properly treating your dry eye will keep your eyes healthy and comfortable, in and out of your mask!

It may look a little different this year, but vision is crucial to learning both virtually and in the classroom!

Long hours on computers/tablets and overexposure to high-energy blue light and glare may be disrupting healthy sleep patterns and putting stress on their visual system, making it difficult for your child’s eyes to properly maintain focus. Schedule a visit for your child to ensure they are not held back this year by Digital Eye Strain.

A comprehensive eye exam can make all the difference in your child’s academic performance!

With the ever changing and quickly moving COVID-19 environment and global pandemic, we have decided to follow the CDC guidelines – to suspend all routine eye exams until at least Monday May 4th, in order to slow the transmission of COVID-19 through our community.

Please be assured that the office will remain staffed to triage all urgent issues as well as help you with routine matters during this challenging time. The office hours are 9AM – 3PM on Monday through Thursday, and 9AM – 12PM on Friday. Please understand that patients will not be allowed to enter the office unless it is for a pre-arranged emergency eye care visit.

What does this mean?

1. If you are scheduled for an eye examination before May 4th, we will call you to reschedule your visit.

2. If you need to replace glasses or contact lenses, or need an extension of your prescription, please contact us and we will assist you.

3. If you are running out of a medication, please contact us and we can transmit a refill electronically to your pharmacy.

4. If you have an ocular emergency we will schedule an in office emergency visit. If after hours, please call 203-853-1010 and we will provide a number to reach one of our doctors who is on call.

Together we will weather this storm.

We appreciate your understanding during these trying times, and hope you and your family remain healthy and safe.

1. Avoid exposure! Limiting exposure can help provide some relief – try closing windows, wearing wrap-around sunglasses, and using air conditioning at home or in the car to filter the air.

2. Don’t rub your eyes if they itch! It may provide temporary relief, but eye rubbing releases histamine and worsens allergy symptoms! It can also lead to corneal thinning, keratoconus, and increase your risk of eye infection. Use a cool compress instead to calm the inflammation.

3. Wear daily disposable contact lenses or think about breaking out your glasses more often! The surface of your contact lenses can attract and accumulate airborne allergens.

4. Shower and gently clean your eyelids to remove any pollen that could cause additional irritation while you sleep.

5. Use plenty of artificial tears to wash airborne allergens from your eyes. Ask us which brands work best!

6. Make an appointment! If you still suffer from red, itchy, burning, watery, or swollen eyes, we can help!!

That sore, tired feeling in your eyes after a few hours of looking at a computer may be Digital Eye Strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome.

At Norwalk Eye Care our doctors work with you to design glasses using a combination of lenses to properly focus the light for your work space, filter blue light, and block glare to give you healthier, more comfortable and productive eyes!

@allaboutvision.com

Don’t let Over-the-Counter Costume Contact Lenses turn your Halloween into a Nightmare!

Over-the-Counter Lenses Can Scratch Your Eye

Over-the-counter lenses are not fitted and sized for the person wearing the contacts, so they can easily scrape the outer layer of the eye. The resulting corneal abrasion can cause redness, light sensitivity, discharge, pain, plus the feeling that something is lodged in the eye.

Poorly Maintained Contacts Can Cause Sores

Costume contact lenses can literally create an eye sore called a corneal ulcer, with symptoms similar to corneal abrasions. The ulcers sometimes appear as a white dot on the iris, the colored part of the eye, and they require treatment with medicated eye drops. When the ulcers heal, they can scar over and permanently and adversely affect vision.

Non-prescription Contacts Can Lead to Eye Infections

Both corneal abrasions and ulcers create openings in the eye, making them more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses and amoebas. All of these organisms can cause serious eye infections known as keratitis. A 2011 study found that wearing cosmetic contact lenses increased the risk of keratitis by more than 16 times. Some infections, such as herpes simplex, can be recurring and difficult to eradicate, while a number of bacteria have become resistant to common antibiotic eye drops.

What’s the Worst that Can Happen from Illegal Over-the-Counter Contacts? Blindness.

In the most extreme cases, complications from wearing costume contact lenses may end in blindness or require surgery. For instance, extensive scarring from an infection can distort the cornea or make it opaque, requiring a corneal transplant to restore vision.