How Technology Use Can Affect Your Dry Eye Condition

In our modern world, technology is everywhere. From working on computers to scrolling through social media on smartphones, screens have become a constant in our daily lives. While these tools bring convenience and connectivity, they also pose risks to our eye health. For individuals with dry eye syndrome, prolonged screen use can intensify discomfort and disrupt everyday activities.

The Link Between Technology Use and Dry Eye

Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or the right quality of tears to keep the surface of your eyes adequately lubricated. Prolonged technology use can contribute to or worsen dry eye symptoms in the following ways:
 

• Reduced Blinking: When staring at screens, people tend to blink less frequently. Blinking is essential for spreading tears across the eye's surface, and reduced blinking can lead to faster tear evaporation.

• Blue Light Exposure: Prolonged exposure to blue light emitted by screens can strain the eyes and impact the stability of the tear film.

• Improper Viewing Distance: Holding screens too close or at an awkward angle can cause additional strain on the eyes, leading to discomfort and worsening dry eye symptoms.

Common symptoms include a gritty or burning sensation, blurred vision, eye fatigue, and sensitivity to light—symptoms that can be aggravated by extended screen time.

Implementing Healthy Screen Time Habits

Practicing healthy screen time habits can significantly reduce the strain on your eyes and help manage dry eye symptoms. Start by following the 20-20-20 rule, which encourages taking a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes of screen use. Additionally, Adjust the brightness and contrast of your screen to match the lighting in your environment, and consider using blue light-blocking filters or glasses to minimize exposure.

Lastly, maintaining an ergonomic setup is equally important—position your screen at eye level and about an arm’s length away to reduce strain. Incorporating these habits into your routine can help protect your eye health while allowing you to stay productive.
If you’re dealing with persistent dry eye symptoms, LipiFlow and IPL therapy are advanced treatment options designed to address the underlying causes of this condition.

LipiFlow® Thermal Pulsation Therapy

LipiFlow targets meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), one of the most common causes of dry eye. This in-office treatment uses a combination of gentle heat and pulsation to clear blockages in the meibomian glands, restoring normal oil flow to your tears. By improving tear quality and stabilizing the tear film, LipiFlow helps provide long-term relief from dry eye symptoms.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy

IPL therapy is an effective treatment for dry eye caused by inflammation and MGD. Using pulses of light applied to the skin around the eyes, IPL reduces inflammation, treats abnormal blood vessels, and stimulates the meibomian glands. This results in better tear production, reduced irritation, and relief from dry eye symptoms.

Schedule Your Consultation with Grove Eye Care Today

Technology is a part of our daily lives, but it doesn't have to compromise your eye health. If you’ve noticed an increase in dry eye symptoms, it’s time to explore advanced solutions like LipiFlow and IPL therapy. These treatments target the root causes of dry eye, offering relief and improving your overall quality of life.

Don’t let dry eye symptoms hold you back from enjoying your daily routine, schedule a consultation with Grove Eye Care to learn more about LipiFlow and IPL therapy. Visit our office in Richmond or Midlothian, Virginia. Call (804) 353-3937 or (804) 888-8998 to book an appointment today.