Dry eye syndrome: a downside of modern lifestyles
People usually begin to experience dry eye problems in middle age. However, it is most common in older patients, roughly from age 60 and above. The current growth in cases among younger people is attributed to more frequent work from home and online learning. As experts from the AGEL outpatient clinic on Italská Street in Prague explain, the phenomenon is linked in no small measure to factors in the lifestyle of an individual or their surrounding environment, such as spending a lot of time looking at mobile phone, television and computer screens, dusty environments and air-conditioned or overheated interiors. Other factors that can affect this syndrome include wearing contact lenses and, in the case of women, hormonal changes. All of the above can have a direct effect on the quality of the tear film, which leads to reflexive secretion of tears and more frequent blinking, tear formation in the eyes, burning or cutting sensations and other feelings of discomfort.
Dry eye syndrome is a disease that people should not ignore. Inappropriate treatment of dry eye can lead to instability of the tear film, the overproduction of tears or, paradoxically, a weaker tear film. This causes drying of the cornea, which can have severe consequences including, in extreme cases, the formation of a corneal ulcer.
The treatment of dry eye syndrome is quick and painless. It begins with an interview with a doctor followed by examination using a slit lamp. An ophthalmologist can also perform diagnostics using fluorescein strips to determine the quality of the tear film and the Schirmer tear test, which provides a clear indication if there is underproduction of tears. The doctor will make a diagnosis based on the chosen tests and propose appropriate treatment, usually eye drops or creams, and recommend what to do next.
The enhanced preventative check-ups in the AGEL Plus programme include an ophthalmological examination for assessment of the condition of your eyes, the sharpness of your vision and the overall health of your eyes and vision.
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