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• The most common symptoms include irritated or itchy eyes, and a sensation of dryness or sand on the surface of the eye.
• Screens are also a source of projected light, which raises the temperature of the eye’s surface and increases tear evaporation.
• According to the data we gathered, increased screen time was linked to more severe dry eye symptoms.

Although reducing screen time is impossible in certain jobs, we can reduce irritation and problems by following certain recommendations. A basic understanding of the issue can also help us to look after our eyes.

Teardrops and eyelids

• The eye’s surface is made up of eyelids, the tear film (the eye’s liquid coating), the cornea and the conjunctiva.
• If any of them are affected, it can lead to irritation in the eye.
• The eyelids are what keep the tear film evenly distributed, as well as providing protection.

Do you suffer from dry eye disease?

• First and foremost, there is often no cause for panic: suffering certain symptoms of dry eyes does not necessarily mean you have dry eye disease.
• A medical professional will determine whether this damage exists, and what further measures need to be taken.

How to reduce irritation and avoid dry eye disease

By taking precautions, we can ensure that screens work with us, not against us.
Screen height: It is always best to keep screens below eye level. This way the eyelids do not have to open as much, meaning less of the eye’s surface is exposed for prolonged periods.
Screen position and lighting: You should avoid light reflecting off screens, be it from a lamp or from a window behind where you sit. Excessive light forces us to concentrate harder, and therefore to blink less. This can be solved by using anti reflective filters.
Rest periods: Rest is your eyes’ best friend. A common rule of thumb is the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of work, look at something 20 feet away (about 6 metres), for 20 seconds. This has been proven to reduce symptoms of eye dryness, as looking away from the screen re establishes our normal rate of blinking.
Environmental conditions: Low humidity, high temperatures, air currents from open windows or air conditioners, tobacco smoke and excessive air freshener can all be bad for eye health.
Eye hydration: Eye drops may be the best option on particularly intense working days. Avoid saline solutions, as their composition is not the same as the tear film. They lack the oils and proteins, and could destabilise this layer. The best option is single dose artificial tears, which do not contain preservatives and do not damage the eye.
The prevalence of screens in our society means that symptoms of dry eye disease are commonplace. If we confront this issue by taking the right steps, however, it doesn’t have to affect our quality of life.
Las personas firmantes no son asalariadas, ni consultoras, ni poseen acciones, ni reciben financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y han declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado anteriormente.

• WESTBOROUGH, Md., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following their fifth annual fundraiser for Disabled American Veterans (DAV), EG America raised $750,000 for the nonprofit that provides a lifetime of support to veterans and their families.
• DAV provides a range of programs for veterans including benefits assistance, transportation to and from medical appointments, and more, at no cost.
• Members of EG America's leadership team presented a check to DAV Executive Director and CFO Cody Vanboxel at the company's headquarters on January 23, 2024.
• "We are honored to support the critical services and benefits DAV provides to veterans across the nation," said EG America President John Carey.

• These treatments have side effects, such as dry mouth, the development of antimicrobial resistance and increased blood pressure.
• But research has indicated that a molecule called nitrate, which is found in leafy green vegetables, has fewer side effects and offers greater benefits for oral health.
• Periodontitis is a more advanced form of gum disease, causing damage to the soft tissues and bones supporting the teeth.

Leafy greens may be the secret

• Leafy greens and root vegetables are bursting with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants – and it’s no secret that a diet consisting of these vegetables is crucial for maintaining a healthy weight, boosting the immune system, and preventing heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
• The multiple health benefits of leafy greens are partly because spinach, lettuce and beetroots are brimming with nitrate, which can be reduced to nitric oxide by nitrate-reducing bacteria inside the mouth.
• However, in the mouth, it helps to prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria and reduces oral acidity, both of which can cause gum disease and tooth decay.
• Antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern, predicted to cause 10 million deaths yearly by the year 2050.

In contrast, dietary nitrate is more targeted. Nitrate eliminates disease-associated bacteria, reduces oral acidity and creates a balanced oral microbiome. The oral microbiome refers to all the microorganisms in the mouth. Nitrate offers exciting potential as an oral health prebiotic, which can be used to prevent disease onset or limit disease progression.

How many leafy greens for pearly whites?

• As a rule of thumb, a generous helping of spinach, kale or beetroot at mealtimes contains about 6-10 mmol of nitrate and offers immediate health benefits.
• For example, consuming lettuce juice for two weeks reduced gum inflammation and increased healthy bacteria levels in patients with gum disease.

Mia Cousins Burleigh has previously received funding from The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Siobhan Paula Moran does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Yet exactly how rising water levels affect the coast is often misunderstood.
• A new coastal hazard assessment for Victoria’s Port Phillip Bay has again thrown the spotlight on the impact of sea-level rise on coastal communities in Australia.
• We should be doing all we can to limit sea-level rise to protect our coastal cities and towns.

Why are sea levels rising?

• Global sea levels are rising for two main reasons: the oceans are getting warmer, and land-based ice sheets and glaciers are melting.
• Because the ocean basins are finite (like a bathtub), this results in a rise in water levels.
• “Relative” or “isostatic” sea level is the sum of “eustatic” sea level plus local vertical land movement.
• This slow rebound of the land provides a small offset to eustatic sea levels around Australia.

Sea-level rise is accelerating

• Tide gauges indicate the rate of rise in northern Australia since the early 1990s is around 4–6mm/yr.
• Rates of sea-level rise are not uniform around Australia because of local effects like ocean circulation and tidal processes.
• This is why is it important to factor in sea-level rise when we make planning decisions along the coast.
• Unfortunately, the rate of sea-level rise over the coming century remains highly uncertain, making it difficult to include in coastal planning.

Small rises have big impacts

• An increase in tide heights (both higher high tides and higher low tides) increases the probability of coastal flooding and erosion when storms come along.
• While these back-of-the-envelope estimates are often significantly reduced when local conditions are accounted for, it explains why a small shift in the mean sea level can have big impacts at the coast.

Storms aren’t always bad for the beach

• A high water level plus a storm surge on top leads to a storm or “king” tide.
• However, storms also bring sand from deeper water towards the beach.
• Read more:
  Become a beach scientist this summer and help monitor changing coastlines

All eyes on Antarctica

• Sea-level rise is here to stay and gathering pace, but the rate of future increase remains uncertain.
• It largely depends on what happens in Antarctica over the coming decades.

Thomas Mortlock works as a senior analyst for Aon Reinsurance Solutions Australia.