You are not alone if you find your eyes feel drier and stiffer after wearing a mask. Mask-wearers often report dry eyes as one of the most common side effects. Why does this happen? Boldsky spoke with Dr Arya Krishnan, NHS UK, who explained the reason behind mask-associated dry eyes, why they happen, and what you can do to prevent them.
A study published in Scientific Reports indicates that mask wearers are more likely to experience dry eye syndrome, which is called Mask-Associated Dry Eye Syndrome [1]. In this article, we will look into dry eye syndrome and mask-associated dry eye syndrome.
Dry eye, also known as dry eye syndrome or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when you don't produce enough tears to lubricate your eyes. An imbalance or blockage in the components of your tear film such as oil, water, and proteins can cause this. It can also be caused by too much evaporation or drainage from the surface of the eyes [2].
Dry eye causes a range of symptoms, and they are mentioned below [3]:
Several factors contribute to dry eyes, including certain medications, laser eye surgery, exposure to windy, smoky, or dry environments, and too much screen time. The condition can affect both eyes at once, and you may need to see a doctor for proper treatment [4].
Mask wear may be a new concept to many people. Researchers are still attempting to determine why masks cause dry eyes. Therefore, the exact cause of this hasn't been determined. However, there are a number of theories [5].
Theory 1: Mask-related dry eye is caused by issues with how carbon dioxide leaves the mask. If your mask does not fit tightly to your face, much of the gas will travel upwards and out of the top of the mask where it comes into contact with your eyes. As a result, the warm breath promotes evaporation, causing the surface of the eyes to dry out more quickly.
Theory 2: Mask-related dry eye may also result from interference with the lower eyelids, either due to the mask sitting high on the cheekbones or from interfering with the glands that create tear film in the lower eyelids.
The condition can develop in anyone who wears a mask for a long period of time. However, a report published in Scientific Reports indicates that the risk is higher among people who wear glasses or contact lenses [6].
In addition, those who spend a lot of time in an air-conditioned or heated environment, or who work on the computer screen for a long period of time without a break are also at risk. It is also possible for older adults to suffer from this condition and drinking alcohol or smoking can also contribute to it, pointed out Dr Arya.
People infected with severe COVID-19 may also experience eye-related problems [7]. When left untreated, dry eye can become a serious issue and can cause serious damage to the eyes. Be sure to get yourself treated if you observe any eye-related problems. Some of the steps you can take to relieve pain caused by dry eyes include the following:
It can be painful to suffer from dry eye, and how concerned you should be ultimately depend on how severe the symptoms are. In general, if you've been wearing your mask all day with no problem, you're fine. Nevertheless, if you're experiencing sudden dry eye symptoms and they're disrupting your life, you should likely do something about it, ideally sooner rather than later [8].
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While it is extremely important to wear a mask, you don't have to be uncomfortable. Talk to your eye doctor if you're having issues with mask-associated dry eye.