Dry Eye

“Burning, red eyes, feeling like having a grain of sand under the eyelid...” This may sound like the complaints of a contact lens wearer but are now the most common symptoms of people who work a lot at a screen or play computer games—whether with or without glasses.

Do you know this feeling? Do you spend a lot of time in front of a screen? Usually, symptoms start mildly but accompany many throughout their workday. Ignoring them for too long can cause symptoms to worsen or lead to eye diseases. What many don’t realize is that these symptoms can be prevented relatively easily.

Back from vacation and full of fresh energy at work, but after a few days, familiar symptoms appear: slight redness of the eyes, itching of the eyelids, sometimes blurred vision, dryness. These are just some of the symptoms, and in most cases, it is not a vision problem but what is called “Office Eye Syndrome.” The cause is the concentrated and thus fixed gaze at the screen, which often significantly reduces the blink rate. The result is an undersupply of tears to the eye, causing dryness. It may also cause pressure or a rubbing sensation, which can later lead to headaches. If ignored too long, there is also a risk of conjunctivitis because viruses and bacteria can enter the eye more easily.

What to do about “Office Eye Syndrome”?

Preventing Office Eye Syndrome is basically not difficult. The eyes need a viewing angle slightly from above to the work area, sufficient light, and moisture. The distance to the screen should be regularly checked—ideally 60 to 90 cm.

Especially during concentration phases, it is advisable to take short breaks consciously and remember to blink regularly. In summer or winter, additional factors like air conditioning or heating dry out the air. These should be minimized, and care should be taken to avoid direct airflow on the eyes and to humidify the room accordingly. The overall workstation setup should be considered. Breaks should be intentional and, if possible, taken outdoors.

In most cases, symptoms can be alleviated this way. If symptoms persist for a longer time, professional help should be sought. Your ophthalmologist can then create a precise cause-effect profile and recommend appropriate treatments, such as artificial tears or workplace glasses (more information on this topic and legal regulations in Austria can be found on the website of the Austrian Chamber of Labour).

It is also important to rule out other causes that can trigger Office Eye Syndrome, such as wearing improperly adjusted glasses or an unnoticed vision defect. Our experienced team is happy to assist with any questions or uncertainties on this topic.