MADE: Mask Associated Dry Eye
Mask Associated Dry Eye is dryness caused or exacerbated by wearing a face-covering mask.
Many of us have been mandated to wear a face-covering while in public by our local government for months now. Many people who work in the public are now wearing these masks for a large portion or at least several hours a day.
Personally, I wear a mask the entire time I am at work, whether I am in front of patients or not. I am still in the building or in a room with others, so wearing a mask is important. Dry eyes associated with wearing a mask is increasing in patients. It is even increasing in patients who did not have dry eyes previous to the pandemic.
2 Ways Poor Mask Fit Leads to Dry Eyes:
Too Loose:
Breathing out while wearing a mask that does not fit tightly to your cheeks can send the air up into the eyes. The air escapes at the top of the mask and is directed into the eyes. The breaths will cause increased evaporation of the tears which leads to dry eyes.
Too Tight:
If the top of the mask fits too tightly, it can pull on the lower eyelids. Altering the position of the lids can cause them close incompletely while blinking. Poor blinking leads to less oil in the tear film.
There are oil glands that line the rim of the eyelids. The job of these glands is to coat the watery layer of the tears with oil and prevent them from evaporating into the air. When the top and bottom eyelids don't come in contact, the oil is not expressed appropriately into the tears.
What can you do to Help your Mask Associated Dry Eye?
1) Make sure your mask is fitting correctly.
Use a mask with a metallic nose bridge so you can adjust the fit across the top. Curve the metal portion over the top of the nose. Check that air is not blowing out the top of the mask.
Adjustable ear loops can help control how snuggly the mask fits onto the cheeks as well. Tighten the loops to get the proper fit, but be aware of the mask pulling down on the lower lids.
Consider rolling some tissue under the top of the mask. You can use this to prevent the air from escaping.
Or, use a bit of medical tape to tape the top of the mask over the nose. Be aware of skin irritation. Remove the tape from your skin gently to avoid getting sores from the adhesive.
2) Take a break.
Go somewhere to safely take a break from the mask. If you are unable to take a true break, consider removing the mask while you are in the bathroom. Or, open the bottom of the mask to allow you to breathe downward for a few moments in a socially distanced place.
Tip: Your car could give you some personal space if your workplace does not offer a personal space.
3) Try moisture chamber glasses.
Moisture chamber glasses have a plastic seal around the eyes which prevents any air, wind, or breath from reaching the eyes. The heat from the body tends to make the chamber of the lens into a nice moist area.
4) Go see your eye doctor.
If your eyes are significantly dry, see your eye doctor for specific tips and an individualized treatment plan. You may benefit from using scleral contact lenses to protect the front surface of your eyes from the air.
CONCLUSION
We are all experiencing some degree of irritation from wearing masks. Whether it is fogging up our glasses or drying out our eyes, there are ways to combat these irritations.
Try your best to get a mask that is well-fitted. Tighten the mask under the eyes with adjustable ear loops or use a flexible metal bar over the nose. You can also use a bit of medical tape at the top of the mask to limit the air blowing up into your eyes.
Once you have a good fit with your mask. Consider using an artificial tear to rehydrate and soothe your eyes from the excess air blowing in them. If you don't have a favorite artificial tear yet, check out this handy guide to artificial tears.
And, if you can, give your eyes a break by removing your mask and blinking your eyes a few times. Doing a couple of hard blinks will get the oil flowing from the oil glands in the lids. These oils coat the tears and feel soothing to your eyes.
