Optical experts say since dry eye is a
“With increased screen time
and longer work days from
increased usage of computers,
televisions, e-readers, gaming and
smartphones, dry eye is becoming
one of the most common conditions
I see as an optometrist,” says
Dr. Judy Parks, an optometrist
at the Ancaster Eye Clinic and
a professional development
consultant with Alcon Canada.
The high incidence of dry eye is
being observed across the country,
according to the Canadian Associa-
tion of Optometrists, which says
it is one of the most encountered
conditions in optometric practice
with a reported prevalence ranging
from 7.8 to 29 per cent.
Optical experts say since dry eye is
a chronic condition with no cure,
artificial tears are the best option
for immediate relief at home and
are a first-line therapy for mild
forms of the disease.
Companies like Alcon Canada,
Johnson & Johnson Vision, Bausch
+ Lomb and Bayer have products
available to help address the
symptoms of dry eye and provide
patients with much-needed relief.
Eye care professionals are also
working to get the word out about
the important role ECPs can play
in helping patients to identify the
type of dry eye they have and create
a plan on how to treat it, which can,
depending on the severity, include
prescription medication or in-office
treatments.
chronic condition with no cure, artificial
tears are the best option for immediate
relief at home and are a first-line therapy
for mild forms of the disease.
Many things can cause dry eyes,
with the most common being a
person’s immediate environment
- use of computers, heaters or fans
can each be factors - as well as
aging, says Dr. Kirsten North, CAO
policy consultant.
Many medical conditions are also
associated with dry eye including
diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,
thyroid disorders, Sjogren’s
syndrome and many autoimmune
disorders, she says. Dry eyes are
frequently a side effect of numerous
medications as well.
Dry eye can cause a range of symp-
toms, from mild to serious. They
can include stinging, burning,
scratchy or uncomfortable eyes as
well as pain, redness or, in some
cases, excessive production of tears.
“Dry eyes can be annoying, uncom-
fortable and even painful, but aside
from that, if left untreated they can
cause you to be light sensitive and
can blur your vision, potentially
permanently. And, since tears
carry the eyes’ immunity to infec-
tions, a lack of tears can make you
more susceptible to eye infections,”
says North.
In most cases, a person’s comfort
can be improved and their eye
health maintained through the
use of artificial tears and other
treatments. Changes in diet and
treating an underlying disease can
also be helpful.
Alcon Canada recently introduced
SYSTANE COMPLETE, the first
all-in-one drop for all types of
dry eye.
The company has also teamed
up with well-known Canadian
technology expert and reviewer
Marc Saltzman to help spread the
message to eye care professionals
and consumers about the link
between screen time and dry eye
and the benefits of the new drops.
Saltzman tells Optical Prism
magazine that Canada has among
the highest smartphone usage rates
in the world, at 71 per cent, and
two-thirds of Canadians play video
games regularly.
“To avoid dry eye, I try to take
frequent breaks and more recently,
I started to use Systane Complete,
which are lubricant eye drops that
work instantly to rehydrate eyes,”
he says.
Parks says the symptoms of dry
eye and digital eye strain are very
similar and include tired eyes,
Optical Prism | April 2019 21