There are many factors that cause dry eye, or rather increase the risk factors. We can count many reasons from not eating right to not paying attention to the hygiene of the eyelids. But did you know that office life in the business world also plays an active role in the formation of dry eye? Recent scientific research shows that the risk of dry eye is higher in office workers.
Let’s move on to the details of the scientific research and the results of the comparisons. Let’s see what kind of relationship there is between dry eye and office life.
Higher Risk of Dry Eye in Office Workers
In the scientific research published on Reviewofoptometry, office workers working indoors and those working in construction and outdoor work were compared.
In the study conducted with more than 300 participants, it was revealed that office workers were much more at risk of developing dry eye. Let’s try to summarise the situation with numerical data.
Over 150 office workers were examined at the event. Dry eye symptoms were detected in 57% of the participants. Office workers who stayed on the computer for more than 6 hours showed dry eye symptoms with a rate of 75%. This shows that there is a high risk of dry eye, especially in office workers who spend their time at the computer.
In the same study, 35% of outdoor workers, such as construction workers, were found to have dry eye symptoms. Compared to office workers, the risk of dry eye is much lower.
What are the Reasons for this Difference?
- There is also an explanation of the results of the research. We immediately add below the reasons shown as the reasons for the higher risk of dry eye in office workers.
- In the offices where 80% of the office workers participating in the research work, humidifying devices are not used and work is done in a closed environment. This means that there is not enough ventilation.
- The use of digital screens such as computers, which increase the risk of dry eye, is much higher in office workers.
- Air conditioners and similar air-blowing devices are used more frequently in the office environment and this is said to have an extra effect on dry eyes.
- Construction workers in the study have a working environment with better airflow and the advantage of natural light, which reduces the risk of dry eyes.
- It should also be noted that the use of protective eyewear, which was found in more than 50% of construction workers, also has a mitigating effect on dry eyes.
Source
- https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/office-work-not-construction-implicated-in-dry-eye
