Philomena (not her real name) began to experience dry-eye symptoms about 13 years ago. Despite being diagnosed then, her condition really only worsened three and a half years ago.

A single mom in her mid-50s, Philo began wearing contact lenses in her teens. As a store manager, much of her workday was spent in front of a computer.

She also has dysfunction of the Meibomian gland – tiny glands at the edges of the eyelids that secrete oils to coat the surface of the eyes and keep them from drying out.

With age, the oil layer secreted by the Meibomian glands and the amount of tears decrease. This makes the tear film, which keeps the eyes lubricated, less stable and prone to evaporation.

In other words, her career in front of a screen, her contact lens use, as well as her age created the perfect scenario for dry eyes to develop. People would comment her eyes looked bloodshot, and occasionally they would burn.

Even with lubricating eye drops, Philo’s symptoms grew worse. She continued to wear her lenses daily but the burning made it painful.

Her eye doctor suggested a procedure in which tiny silicone plugs are inserted into her tear ducts to block drainage and preserve the eye’s tear film. But even after the procedure, wearing contact lenses was too painful, so she only put them on for special occasions.

Philo has tried home remedies such as applying cool compresses and taking supplements such as anti-inflammatory fish oil and bilberry. Additional remedies include blinking more regularly and deliberately, drinking plenty of water, and increasing the humidity in the office or home.

She has learnt that everybody is different, and what works for one person might have no effect at all on someone else.

Philo has finally stopped wearing contact lenses, as advised by her ophthalmologist. Within a few days of doing this, her symptoms reduced.

She still applies lubricative eye drops as well as an ointment before bed. The nighttime gel coats the eyes with moisturiser and prevents evaporation during sleep, working in a similar way as moisturiser does for the skin.

She is sharing her story as she wants people to respect their eyes as they age. Be wary of bad habits such as staring at a screen or wearing lenses all day; and listen to your eyes, and body, telling you not to put too much stress on them unncessarily.

TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.

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