TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – One of the keys to preventing the spread of Covid-19 is wearing face mask. However, the use of masks has caused complaints for some people. In addition to triggering acne, wearing a mask also causes dewy glasses and a general irritation around the face.
Recently, findings in the journal Ophthalmology and Therapy stated that regular use of masks is associated with the emergence of conditions eye dry and irritated.
Researchers from the University of Utah through the report noted this complaint appeared in clinic patients who had never previously experienced dry eyes.
“This information has important implications for eye health and prevention infection, because the use of masks is likely to continue in the future, “according to University of Utah researchers as reported by Health.
Dry eye is a condition that occurs when the number or quality of your tears is insufficient. This condition can occur if there is a problem with one of the components of the tear membrane.
Symptoms of dry eye include itching like something is in the eye, a burning sensation in the eye, red eyes, sensitivity to light and blurred vision.
This condition can be caused by a variety of things, including taking certain medications, undergoing laser eye surgery, exposure to windy, smoky or dry environments, and taking too long to look at screens.
The exact cause of dry eyes when using a mask has not been studied. However, there are several theories, one of which is dry eyes due to wearing a mask due to air flow problems.
When you exhale and the mask is not too tight, air can flow up and across the surface of your eye, then induce evaporation and can eventually dry out your eyes (This is like air from AC which blows directly into your eyeballs can dry them out).
Using an improper mask can also interfere with the ability of the eyelids to do their job.
“Some doctors also noted that masks can make it difficult to blink down normally to restore a healthy eye surface,” said Aditya Kanesa-thasan, a cornea specialist at Wills Eye Hospital.
– .
