Anyone working in an office has probably suffered from a frequently cited workplace complaint: dry eyes.

With photocopiers and computers blowing air through their cooling fans — coupled with the dry, ventilated air common in large buildings — the workplace is a breeding ground for dry, burning, irritated eyes.

“It’s a frequent complaint that often gets passed off as a simple nuisance. But for some people, it can be extremely uncomfortable,” says Dr. Ralph Chou, an optometrist and associate professor of optometry at the University of Waterloo.

The good news is that most cases of dry eye are easily remedied with lubricating drops and proper blinking technique, and won’t lead to vision impairment.

In more serious cases, however, dry, “gritty-feeling” eyes may be a sign of dry eye syndrome, a chronic condition usually caused by an underlying autoimmune disease, such as arthritis, which attacks body tissues that contain collagen.

“It just so happens that the lining of the eyelids is a target for these immune-system responses. So, to put it in military terms, dry eye syndrome is often the collateral damage of other illnesses in the body,” says Chou.

Keeping the eyes lubricated and comfortable is trickier than it sounds. A healthy body naturally produces three types of fluids to keep the eyeball moist and clean: tears, which contain a variety of antibacterial proteins; mucus, which helps the tears adhere to the surface of the eye; and a lubricating oil, which prevents tears from evaporating too quickly.

With age, however, the natural chemistry of the eye changes and the rate of tear production slows down. Menopausal women are particularly susceptible to dry eye syndrome because of hormonal imbalances that disrupt the function of the eye’s tear-secreting cells.

Although there is no known cure for dry eye syndrome, a diet high in omega 3, an essential fatty acid, has been linked to reduced risk. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in October 2005 found that women with the highest dietary intake of omega 3 reduced their risk of dry eye syndrome by 20%, compared with women who had the lowest levels of omega 3 in their diets.

But Chou warns that omega 3 doesn’t directly reduce symptoms of dry eye. Rather, omega 3 helps suppress the inflammatory response in diseases such arthritis, which is associated with dry eye syndrome.

For those suffering from more common office-related dry eyes, Chou offers the following tips:

> Don’t forget to blink. Blinking is the first line of defence against dry eye; every blink moistens the eye and sweeps away dirt and irritants. While the average person blinks once every four to six seconds, this rate drops significantly among people focusing on a computer screen or reading a document. Get into the habit of blinking more often and blinking fully — making sure the eyelid comes down to cover the eyeball completely, ensuring the eye is fully lubricated.

> Take a break. Computer users should take a break from their screens every 20 to 30 minutes to give their eyes a short rest. “Look up, look out the window, look across the room. Blink a bit to moisten the eyes and then get back to work,” advises Chou. “It only takes a minute or so, and it is often enough to reduce discomfort.”

> Use lubricating drops. Eye drops fall into two basic categories: artificial teardrops, which mimic real tears; and ocular lubricants, which make the eyeball slick. Both are effective against dry eye and are often used interchangeably.

“The idea of these drops is to get the eyes lubricated to prevent tears from evaporating as quickly, so the eye stays moist. And a drop every once in a while goes a long way in helping to reduce dry eye symptoms,” says Chou.

But be wary of eye drops that promise to “get the red out.” Not only are they ineffective against dry eyes, but they usually contain a chemical that acts as a vasoconstrictor, which causes the blood vessels in the eyes to get smaller. When administered over a long period of time, however, the blood vessels become fatigued, resulting in a “rebound” effect that causes additional redness.

> Keep your eyelids clean. Those suffering from dry eyes often develop blepharitis, a mild inflammation of the eyelash follicles resulting from changes in tear production. As a preventive measure, clean your eyelids daily with a mild soap to get rid of grime and accumulated oil. Most pharmacies sell over-the-counter eyelid cleansing products. IE

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