Autumn has arrived

As the clocks go back this weekend and we head closer and closer towards winter. A lot of our minds are turning to thoughts of central heating and big woolley jumpers.But how many of us have thought about how our eyes are going to be affected by the change in the seasons.

How many of us with dry eyes suffer more during the winter when the central heating goes back on, I certainly know my dry eye is worse during the winter. Have you thought about what eye drops you're going to use to combat those dry eye symptoms this winter?

What about that low winter sun that catches you right in the eyes when you're trying to drive during the winter. Have you got your sunglasses in the glove compartment?

And how is irritating is it when you have so much rain on your glasses that you can't really see and then you head indoors and they steam up!

Ever thought of contact lenses?

If you want to know more, come and consult our experts.

Blepharitis

More simply described as an inflammation of the eyelids, this condition afflicts many of us.

We know that it can be caused by a chronic infection of the eye lashes and it is more common if you have seborrhoeic (greasy) skin and a less than thorough hygiene routine.

Sometimes it is an acute condition that lasts for a few weeks, others have it continuously with variations in severity over time.

Signs and Symptoms

Flaky debris along eyelashes

Red eyelids

Gritty eyes

Crusty lids especially on waking

Management

Management is key! Depending on the cause of your blepharitis most of the signs and symptoms reduce greatly with some simple steps.

Lid Hygiene

This was historically done with a weak solution of bicarbonate of soda with water, or baby shampoo and water rubbed along lids with a cotton bud to physically remove flakes and debris.

Luckily these days things have moved on with leaps and bounds- there are a wide selection of products designed to comfortably remove the flakes and help heal the skin around your eyes too. These usually come in solution applied with a cotton pad or in handy pre-made wipes.

Take a look at a few of our favourites:

( http://www.spectrum-thea.co.uk/Apps/Content/HTML/ViewContent.aspx?fid=5 )

Hot Compresses

Again back in the dark ages this was commonly done with a flannel dipped in hot water then applied along eyelids to encourage the glands along the lid edges to open up and release their protective oils.

These days some clever doctors have come up with a handy bag, filled with flax seed, that can be placed in the microwave and heated to a set temperature. ( http://www.eyebagcompany.com/ )

It has the same aim as the hot flannel – to open up the glands along your eyelids and encourage them to release these protective oils BUT the the Eyebag achieves this quickly and conveniently. It stays at the same temperature for a longer time, meaning your little glands receive a consistent heat for a more predictable length of time.