Pittwater Life January 2024 Issue

Health & Wellbeing
with Sani Nand
Health & Wellbeing
Tips for sufferers of ‘Dry Eye’
heading into heat of summer
eye’ is an
inflammatory disease
‘Dry
which if left untreated
will likely worsen over time.
Tears, which compose of water,
fatty oils and mucus, play an
important role in lubricating
and nourishing the outer
surface (cornea) of the eye. Dry
eye syndrome may occur if you
don’t produce enough tears
or if you produce poor-quality
tears.
Some of the symptoms of
dry eyes may include redness,
stinging or burning, irritation
of the eyes, watery eyes,
foreign body sensation, eye
fatigue, blurred vision and light
sensitivity.
Dry eye is not as simple as it
may sometimes seem, as the
causes are multi-factorial in
nature.
One of my speciality areas
is detecting and managing
dry eye disease. It can be
temporary or chronic in nature
– more so the latter.
Dry eyes are probably one
of the most common diseases
I come across in the practice
and I have been treating this
condition throughout my
career.
Eyedrops are a temporary
solution – they do not fix the
cause of the problem. During
an eye test I always take a
detailed medical history,
go through a questionnaire
and conduct a repertoire of
diagnostic tests to determine
the underlying cause of dry
eyes. Backed by an evidencebased
approach, treatment and
management depends on the
severity of the dry eyes.
Some of the treatment
options include prescribing
eye drops and ointments to
lubricate the ocular surface; in
some instances there may be
a need to prescribe specialised
eye drops to reduce the
inflammatory process that is
involved with the dry eye cycle.
Lid hygiene and heat
application to the lids may be
needed to promote the opening
of the tear glands.
It’s also important to discuss
diet, lifestyle, environmental
factors and other medical
issues that can cause dry eyes.
With the hot summer upon
us, it would be important
for dry eye sufferers to wear
good quality sunglasses,
drink lots of water, avoid
direct air blowing into
the eyes (such as car airconditioning
and hairdryers),
blink frequently, take breaks,
have a well-balanced diet and
take nutritional supplements
designed for dry eyes.
It is also very important to
have an eye test at least every
two years.
At our clinic, we cover
all aspects of eye health,
offering comprehensive eye
examinations, prescription
glasses and contact lenses.
Having a therapeutic
qualification has fuelled
my passion for detecting
and managing various eye
conditions.
Sani graduated from Auckland University in 2009; she has
been practising as a clinical Optometrist for the past 14 years.
She was born in Durban, South Africa, and migrated to New
Zealand with her family when she was 12. She says the family
then did the “typical Kiwi move”, travelling across the ditch
to Australia. Sani now permanently reside in Sydney with her
husband. Having worked across most locations of Sydney she
has returned to the Northern Beaches, joining Eyecare Plus
Avalon Beach (formerly Milat Optometrist) – a business that has
operated in the local area for the past 40 years. P: 9918 2400
56 JANUARY 2024
The Local Voice Since 1991