The hot, dry season is here, bringing dust, dirt and other eye irritants.
“The no. 1 chief complaint I get is always eye irritation,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Juan Pablo delos Santos at the launch of EyeMo’s new campaign, “Eyeritation.”
EyeMo, an eye drop brand, identified five signs of eye irritation:
1) Red eyes usually caused by allergy, dirt, pollution, smoke, or eye infections due to high exposure to outdoor activities by motorcycle riders and commuters;
2) Watery eyes caused by excessive tearing, not from crying, but from irritation or inflammation of the surface of the eye;
3) Sore eyes caused by staring at the computer screen or book for extended periods of time;
4) Itchy eyes often caused by allergies, but also triggered by constant exposure to household elements such as mold and dust;
5) Dry eyes, common among people exposed over a long period of time to the computer, TV and other gadgets.
“Like other body parts, you should take care of the eyes,” said Earl A. Jayona marketing manager-healthcare, LF Asia Phils. Inc., distributor of EyeMo in the country. “It’s good to see an eye expert once a year to give you a comprehensive eye check-up. Vision screenings should not be a substitute for a complete eye exam.”
EyeMo comes in two variants: EyeMo Red Eyes Formula contains tetrahydrozoline HCI (for red eyes, watery eyes, sore eyes, and itchy eyes) for quick relief of eye redness and minor discomforts caused by irritants; and EyeMo Moisturizing Formula that contains hypromellose (for dry eyes) that lubricates and soothes the eyes, easing eye strain and dryness.
Gray area
“Eye care is one of the gray areas in the healthcare system. The campaign intends to teach about common minor eye irritations that Filipinos face every day,” says Glenda Arceno, general manager of LF Asia Phils. Inc., healthcare division.
There are steps you can take to ensure healthy eyes. You may know that carrots, fruits and other leafy vegetables are good for your eyes because they help maintain good eyesight and prevent eye problems in the future.
Eat food that provides nutrients like omega-3, fatty acids, zinc and vitamins C and E. Research shows that such food will help take care of the eyes, Jayona said.
It is also important to know your eye history—if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since many of these are hereditary. Knowing your family health history will help determine if you are at risk for developing an eye condition.
Smoking damages the optic nerve and leads to macular degeneration.
Obesity and being overweight have also been linked to increased risk of diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss.
“Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, since these are harmful to both the eye and skin. If you wear lenses, they also protect your eyes from UV rays, but you should still wear sunglasses for more protection,” he said.
If you spend a lot of time in front of the computer screen, do the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This can help reduce eyestrain.
Always wash your hands. You don’t want to scratch eyes or remove your lenses with dirty hands and increase the chance of infection.
“Keep a first aid solution handy. Sometimes you can’t avoid irritation like redness, watery, sore, dry and itchy eyes. Make sure to have a trusted eye drop solution that relieves you from these minor eye irritation,” he said.
EyeMo is now owned and manufactured by Combiphar Group of Companies, a leading multinational Indonesia-based consumer healthcare company, and distributed by LF Asia Phils. Inc.
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