You eye health isn’t just about whether you need glass or contacts. Read on to learn more about dry eye and how it could be affecting your vision, plus some treatment options available in Cincinnati at Eyecare On The Square.

You may regularly take a coffee break

But if scrolling through social media goes along with your java time, you should also be regularly taking a blink break, too.

Whether you follow The Scout Guide on Instagram or not, you likely are getting your fair share of screen time. In fact, for most of us, screen time has increased as we’re connecting more on Zoom or Facetime and email or text message than in person.

And while screens may help safely connect us to avoid one type of illness, they may be leading to another condition: dry eye.

Dry eye is a progressive and chronic condition that can be debilitating. A local ophthalmologist is leading the charge to help people in the Cincinnati area who suffer from this ailment that can lead to painful, blurry vision if left untreated.

The solution, however, can be just a blink a way. 

According to Eyecare On The Square owner and optometrist Dr. Carly Rose, we’re blinking a lot less than we should these days–in fact about 75% less– and screens are to blame. “Your blink is the pump for oil glands in your lids that help lubricate your eyes. You need to blink to make sure our pump keeps pumping,” Dr. Rose explains. A first line of defence is to schedule blink breaks into your day, especially when much of the day is spent staring at screens. Dr. Rose urges her patients to follow her 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. During that 20 seconds, it’s time for some conscious blinking. 

Conscious blinking? You might not have thought about blinking before, but putting some intention into your blink will make sure you’re blinking fully and completely, making sure the eye pump has the chance to do its job. “Without using your brow muscles, squeeze your eyes together using just your eyelids. Then squeeze, hold, open; squeeze, hold, open,” Dr. Rose explains.

A blink break is first line treatment for dry eye, but if you’re still suffering from other symptoms of dry eye, like dryness, redness, and irritation, even with regular blink breaks, you may have clogged, blocked meibomian glands. A mix of tears and oil from these glands keep your eyes lubricated. When these glands get clogged, which can sometimes be the result of improper cleaning and some cosmetic products, your eyes get dried up and irritated. Once these glands are clogged, Dr. Rose recommends a non-invasive treatment called Lipiflow, which uses heat and therapeutic massage to remove meibomian gland blockages. The procedure takes 12 minutes and most patients report feeling relief. 

Dr. Rose treats a lot of dry eye at The Eyecare On The Square and will soon open a new medical spa in Mariemont where she will offer procedures like Lipiflow, IPL, and photo facials that are great treatments for dry eye also also have benefits for the rest of the skin. 

If you think you may have dry eye symptoms, it’s important to check in with your own eye doctor and to keep those appointments for regular check ups. In between appointments, though, make sure you keep your eyes in check with regular blink breaks. Dr. Rose recommends the new Blink Break App to help you practice good blinking habits. You can download it in the app store. 

For more information about the Blink Break App and more tips on keeping your eyes and skin clear, follow Dr. Rose on Instagram and TikTok. She’s leading the way for dry eye treatment here in Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more news on Eyecare On The Square and Dr. Rose’s new med spa, Clear. Give her a follow and be sure to tell her The Scout Guide sent you.