Does dry eye drive you crazy?: advice from an ophthalmologist

Do you have problems with your eyes? could you have dry eye? The experts of the blog «Health and prevention», in this post from the specialty of ophthalmology, offer you advice

The eyes need to be lubricated by tears in order to function properly and be healthy. If not, discomfort and even a pathology known as ‘dry eye’ appear.

This occurs when the eyes are not sufficiently protected by tears, either because they produce enough, or because they do not have the right composition.

Dry eye represents an increasingly frequent problem, apart from being one of the pathologies that are studied the most in consultation, according to Dr. Nabil Ragaei Kamel, head of the Ophthalmology Service of the Hospital Quirónsalud San José (Madrid): “This is due to many factors. Perhaps the boom right now is more related to the use of screens, and to the lifestyle we lead indoors, where there are dry environments, heating, or air conditioning in summer.”

Moreover, it highlights that the incidence of dry eye has also been pronounced with the use of masks.

“Perhaps this may be related to the dysfunction of meibomian tears, which is called blepharitis, a chronic inflammation of the glands on the edge of the eyelid, from which a greasy secretion comes out that irritates the eye and destabilizes the tear layer or film. These glands normally produce a fine fat that forms a very thin layer that protects the tear film and keeps the eye moist”, explains the Quirónsalud specialist.

However, this ophthalmologist emphasizes that, if this process does not develop correctly, the type of fat secreted by these glands becomes harmful to the eye, consequently destabilizing that tear layer.

“Doing this produces more evaporation of the tear, so it does not last in the eye and does not protect the ocular surface”, he adds.

The prevalence of dry eye also increases with age, according to this doctor, being more frequent among women of menopausal age.

Taking some drugs, or pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren’s syndrome also influence the appearance of dry eye.

Dry eye symptoms and possible treatments

Among the symptoms of dry eye, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) points to the following:

• Itchy and burning eyes
• Red eye
• have many tears
• Eye pain when wearing contact lenses
• Rough or lines of mucus inside or around the eye
• Feeling of grittiness and discomfort
• Blurred vision, especially when reading

Regarding treatment, Dr. Ragaei Kamel indicates that the ophthalmologist may advise the use of artificial tears, a series of compounds that mimic the composition of natural tears; the use of eye drops; and since in many cases dry eye is accompanied by blepharitis, he points to palpebral hygiene, which consists of applying heat to the eye, followed by a gentle massage on the edge of the eyelid with a foam, gel or wipe, something that is especially indicated in the mornings.

“There are also a series of general measures such as avoiding environments with smoke, draughts, dry environments, air conditioning jets directed at the face, driving with the windows closed, etc. that your ophthalmologist will explain to you”, adds in this sense the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology (SEO).

The power of the IPL laser

However, the head of the Ophthalmology Service at Quirónsalud San José Hospital maintains that sometimes, despite these measures, discomfort may persist or the dry eye situation may not improve.

“A very good solution for this pathology is the IPL or pulsed light laser. It is a very simple treatment that is carried out in consultation, normally there are three sessions, each lasting two minutes. The application is carried out by means of light pulses around the eye, they are never carried out directly on the eye, and thus any related risk is avoided”, details this expert.

As indicated, the application around the eye causes a calculated wave of heat to spread through the tissues below the skin, reaching the glands of the eyelid, and stimulating them.

“With this technique it is possible to change its secretion, and produce less harmful fat. Consequently, the patient obtains a better tear layer, which lasts longer in the eye, while avoiding its early evaporation, as well as ocular dryness”, values ​​Dr. Nabil Ragaei Kamel.

Specifically, this specialist recalls that the application of the IPL laser is “very simple”, and practically takes one minute per eye.

“The eye is covered and protected at all times, and after application there is no special indication, except for the use of factor 50 protective creams, because the skin becomes more sensitive to the sun during the first 4-5 days after treatment. . Other than that there is no further indication or anything special. It can be continued after the treatment session with the normal life of the patient and also without any problem”, concludes the head of the Ophthalmology Service of the Quirónsalud San José Hospital.

Election dry law: How will the measure be applied in the main cities? - Other Cities - Colombia

The Association of Bars of Colombia (Asobares) asked the Constitutional court to review how the Prohibition Law will be applied for the next elections.

David Contreras, member of the national board of directors of Asobares, said that they are working in Congress with several groups regarding the beginning of the dry law for the ordinary elections, a measure that is from six in the afternoon on Saturday, until six in the morning on Monday.

“With a view to the March elections, the first presidential round in May and a possible second round in June, it is more important that the Constitutional Court rule quickly on the revision of this Law approved in Congress, where the law is limited dry at the time of the day on election day,” said Contreras.

A weekend is everything in our activity. The operation of the establishments has a concentration on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

The spokesman added that “said decision would greatly help multiple economic activities and their workforce, which would see an infinitely lesser impact than the damage it has caused since the 1980s.”

For her part, Adriana Plata, president of Asobares, said: “A weekend is everything in our activity. The operation of the establishments has a concentration on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays which, with 12 days of work, the costs of the whole month must be paid. Each weekend that advances has a specific destination, where the generality is that one is destined for payroll, the second for rent payments, the third for the payment of suppliers and services and the fourth, the profitability of the company and provision for taxes.”

Due to the foregoing, the representatives of the union asked the Constitutional Court that, given the situation they experienced with the pandemic and that there are several days of elections, “it would be a great boost for the procedure and decision to be carried out in the Court so that the limitation of the dry law adjusts solely and exclusively to the time and day of the electoral appointment”.

Dry season and public calamity in Montería - Other Cities - Colombia

The municipal administration of Montería, through the Risk Management Unit, declared the public calamity in Montería and its rural zonesbefore the season summer strong.

The authorities made an assessment of the situation in the neighborhoods of the capital and its rural areas, knowing first-hand the lack of water.

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Low levels of the Sinú River

Several sectors affected by the dry season have already been attended to, in the company of the Montería fire department and staff from the Metropolitan Police…

“Due to the dry season that is taking place in the municipality of Montería and after the first Municipal Council for Disaster Risk Management was held, it was agreed together with the corresponding entities to decree the public calamity in order to attend to the dry season,” he said. Luis David Ordosgoitia Mora, advisor to the Municipal Risk Management program.

Authorities were able to verify the low levels of the Sinú River and the infrequency of the service to subnormal neighborhoods of the city.

The municipal Risk Management official said that among the actions to be carried out is the supply of drinking water through tank cars, after requests made by the affected communities.

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They indicated that the work is done in this way due to the great demand for families to receive the service.

“Several sectors affected by the dry season have already been served, in the company of the Montería fire department and personnel from the Metropolitan Police, entities that support the supply of drinking water,” he said.

Affected areas

It was established that the vast majority of neighborhoods in subnormal areas suffer from a lack of drinking water.

In the same way, the corregimientos of San Anterito, Santa Clara, Santa Lucía, Morindó and Leticia are in need of the service.

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The Risk Management coordinator said that the communities may directly request the supply of drinking water by directly submitting the request physically through an official letter on the first floor of the Mayor’s Office, or by sending an email to the entity.

Authorities in Montería also prohibited the burning of garbage to prevent forest fires.

Francis Xavier Barrios
Special for WEATHER
Hunting

Cold wave and excess rain in the dry month of the year in the Valley - Cali - Colombia

To first dry season of 2022 he crossed the chill in the Pacific Ocean that impacts the region, with an increase in rainfall compared to its historical average, so events and possible effects are not ruled out.

January It began like this with excess rain in the department, probably caused by temperature anomalies that occur in the Pacific. says the report of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Valle del Cauca (CVC).

February has also had its rains.

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The greatest rainfall surpluses were recorded in the north of the department of Cauca, which is the area of ​​influence in the south of the valley, followed by the north of Valle del Cauca. In total, the rainfall surplus reached 47 percent.

The CVC report says that in the south of the department it rained 106 percent of its average. The surplus marked 6 percent.

At vallecaucano center it rained 138 percent of its average, with a surplus of 38 percent.

At North it rained 182 percent of its average, with a surplus of 82 percent.

In the Pacific slope del Valle rained 122 percent of its average, this is a surplus of 22 percent.

While in the department of Cauca, in the area of ​​influence, the rains reached 219 percent. The surplus touched 119 percent.

The surplus rains not only in January, but also in the previous months, have saturated the soils of most of the basins located in the department, making them vulnerable to landslides and landslides, to which are added the high flows in its currents and some effects due to overflows in specific places.

The CVC urged the competent authorities and the general public to continue with the preventive measures that allow them to face, in the best way, the threats derived from the rains and the eventual affectation by forest fires in some sectors of the region.

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How to take care of lips that are dry due to the cold and the use of a mask

The experts of the «Health and prevention» blog offer you tips to take care of dry lips in winter due to the double effect of the cold and the continued use of masks

Dry lips, cracks, an increase in dead skin and painful wounds at the corners of the mouth or sores are some of the conditions that are emerging among Spaniards this winter and mainly due to the much-needed use of the mask.

Added to this is the damage that the cold winter causes on our lips, one of the most sensitive skins on the body.

The cold, the sudden changes in interior and exterior temperature, the use of the mask for hours and hours cause dehydration, cracks and excess skin on our lips.

“This skin is very thin, sensitive and fragile and, as it does not have melanin or sebaceous glands, it has no protection against external aggressions and it is easier for it to dry out. For this reason, it is so characteristic that the lips become dehydrated and easily damaged, even causing cracks. Of course, the skin of the lips is capable of regenerating four times faster than in other areas of the body, although being so thin it is more easily damaged”, explains Dr. Ana Rita Rodrigues, Head of the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Quirónsalud Valle del Henares.

In fact, “the lips represent one of the most sensitive parts of the body, and as we have mentioned, they have very thin, sensitive and fragile skin,” emphasizes the specialist at Quirónsalud Valle del Henares Hospital.

They have 3 to 5 cell layers, while facial skin can reach 16 layers. Their delicate skin is one more victim of the effects of the mask, drying them out, irritating them and cracking them (cheilitis) frequently if they are not cared for, hydrated and nourished continuously.

Dr. Rodrigues explains that the famous cold sores or angular cheilitis consists of an inflammation that appears in the corners of the lips and manifests itself with redness and cracks that can be painful.

They are produced by the accumulation of saliva in that area, which favors the overgrowth of bacteria and/or fungi, which ultimately leads to the appearance of local irritation and erosion.

The fact of frequently moistening the lips with saliva to alleviate the sensation of dry lips or tightness together with the continuous use of the mask worsens and maintains this alteration. Saliva evaporates quickly, leaving enzymes on the lips that promote xerosis, irritation and the appearance of superficial cracks.

Our biggest ally right now: lip balm

To avoid this, the lips must be well nourished and hydrated. The specialist highlights that “lip balm is essential during the day, so we can apply it before leaving home and use it again several times throughout the day depending on our needs, especially if we are outdoors.”

Especially in winter and, apart from moisturizing the lips, it is advisable to protect them from ultraviolet light during the day, by using lipsticks with photoprotection, and if possible with antioxidant vitamin E; especially if you are going to practice any winter sport (skiing, snowshoeing, mountaineering, etc.).

We must not forget that the lips suffer a lot in winter, even more so if there is some basic alteration (atopic, actinic cheilitis…), and also after sun exposure.

At the same time, the use of moisturizing lip balm is essential at night.

It can be applied as a routine and use a lip mask, leaving it to act to maximize hydration, nourishing and regenerating dry lips during sleep.

Specifically, to repair cracks it is recommended to use active ingredients such as panthenol, allantoin, rosehip oil, shea butter or other moisturizers.

Likewise, and for the hydration to take effect, “we must leave the lip area free of dead cells and impurities through an exfoliation that we will carry out by applying the product with gentle and circular movements for a couple of minutes,” recommends Dr. Rodrigues.

Subsequently, we must moisturize the area and turn this into a beauty routine to combat the effects of cold, changes in temperature, and the mask on our lips.

However, in severe cases of cheilitis or cold sores, medical treatment will be required, with anti-inflammatories and/or topical antibiotics.

Another piece of advice to follow “if you notice dry lips is to avoid moistening them with your tongue, since saliva can cause greater irritation and promote dehydration, as we have mentioned,” recommends Ana Rita Rodrigues.

You should also avoid biting your lips if there are skins, as this can impede the healing process. If you tend to moisten your lips, avoid flavored lip balms, which can tempt you to moisten them more.

Avoid dry environments and allergens or irritants

On the other hand, ensuring a humid environment in the workplace or at home, as well as adequate liquid hydration, drinking more water on those days, can be equally beneficial when it comes to avoiding or treating possible problems with our lips.

Thus, Dr. Rodrigues advises that during those days the application of lip cosmetic products with a greater amount of allergens, such as fragrances, be avoided, and minimize the use of makeup and lipstick.