Daily eye care: how and why it is important

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Monday, 14 May 2018

Argomento

Ocular discomfort

The term hygiene (from the Greek hyghiein? -téchn?, 'wholesome, beneficial to health') means the set of rules aimed at promoting and preserving health, especially with regard to the cleanliness of the person and the living environment.

To this day, however, ocular hygiene is often neglected, despite the eyes are a high-risk 'environment' for infections and inflammations due to the watery consistency of the surface and eyelids, the viscous secretions of the Meibomian glands (involved in the correct balance of the lachrymal film) and the accumulation of crusts on the eyelashes and eyelid margin. In addition, the ocular surface is an anatomically complex structure and its physical positionsurrounded by the nose, cheeks and eyebrows, is not as easily accessible for daily cleaning as the surrounding structures are.

Eye-cleaning education

L'ocular hygiene is an important factor in eye health and should be understood in a broader context that includes both the education of the patient and the healthy individual. In this sense, the analogy between eye health and dental health seems appropriate. The dental patient is indeed personally responsible for the hygiene of his or her teeth, but when necessary, the dentist and/or dental hygienist intervenes to educate him or her in the correct cleaning techniques to maintain healthy gums, habitually recommending the most appropriate products (electric toothbrushes, dental floss, etc.) to make the hygienic process pleasant and effective. Similarly, the concept of eye health could include screening and risk assessment, patient education, daily hygiene regimes and treatment intervention if necessary.

The benefits of proper daily ocular hygiene, not restricted to ophthalmic patients but extended to the entire population, are manifold. For example, cleaning the eyes correctly reduces the presence of dust, tiny debris, allergens and bacteria from the eyelids, decreasing the risk of diseases such as conjunctivitis.

For whom eye cleaning is particularly recommended

-Remove make-up before going to bed. In fact, the cosmetics of the ocular region, despite having safe formulations to date, if not removed for a long time can have a negative impact on the ocular adnexa, the ocular surface, the system and the tear film. For example, make-up left on eyelashes and eyelids can penetrate the eyes and cause infection and inflammation, and eyelashes that are too heavy with mascara are less likely to protect the eyes from dirt and wind.

-Wipe your eyes well. To clean the eyes, washing with soap and water is essential, but may not be sufficient to ensure effective cleaning of the eyelid margin. On the other hand, the use of cotton or cotton pads can lead to discomfort and irritation due to the microfilaments released by the cotton or the surface of the pads being too rough.

For this purpose, it is advisable to use specific sterile disposable wipes, free of parabens and perfumes, which are more suitable for daily periocular hygiene. In addition, these wipes, cooled in the refrigerator, can alleviate the sensation of discomfort ocular, an increasingly frequent phenomenon in an era where the use of digital devices (smartphones, computers and tablets) is common and everyday practice.

-For contact lens wearers it is essential to remember to wash your hands before putting on and removing the contact lenses. In addition, it is good to use sterile solution to rinse and store contact lenses and not to use tap water. Removing contact lenses and specifically cleansing the eyes before going to bed is a good hygiene practice.

-For children and babies Thorough periocular cleansing with specific sterile and gentle wipes can be a good idea. Indeed, children do not yet have a fully mature natural self-defence system. In this case, the use of sterile and gentle wipes can serve to remove conjunctival mucous secretions, which are often present on the eyelids and eyelashes in the morning, limiting any irritation from their delicate skin.

-For individuals with infections or eye inflammation such as conjunctivitis, chalazas, styes and blepharitis, hygiene of the periocular area, in combination with the most appropriate medical therapy, is an indispensable factor in limiting symptoms and shortening the course of the disease.

-In patients undergoing eye surgeryIn the pre- and post-operative phases, thorough periocular cleansing is essential to prevent the establishment and spread of infections as well as to promote healing. In these cases, cleansing must necessarily be done with disposable and sterile systems.