Excessive screen time is leading British people towards a “dry eye epidemic,” with a prediction that eye care professionals (ECPs) will soon see an increase in childhood cases of the condition.
SpaMedica, a provider of NHS ophthalmology services, says that UK searches for “dry eye symptoms” have jumped significantly in the past five years. The company adds that, according to Google Trends data, 2025 has seen the highest volume of searches about the condition.
Alex Silvester, Chief Medical Officer at SpaMedica, says, “A recent study revealed that British children spend on average 14 hours on screens and only four hours exercising each week (1) as a result we’re expecting to see not only a rise in dry eye cases, but an increase in children presenting with symptoms.”
As the UK marks Dry Eye Awareness Month in July, The Ophthalmologist sat down with Dr. Sylvester to discuss the implications of the findings.
How can ECPs better distinguish between dry eye symptoms and early signs of more serious ocular surface diseases?
Taking a careful history may help to distinguish between dry eye symptoms and the early signs of ocular surface disease (OSD) – the latter tends to be more chronic in presentation, however, the signs and symptoms can be similar and there is some overlap, so appropriate follow up after an intervention to ensure the patient is improving is important.
What preventative strategies do you recommend for managing screen-induced dry eye, particularly in children and young adults?
Reducing screen time! The National Eye Institute recommends the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is not always possible, so lubricating eye drops will be helpful for acute symptom relief.
How should ophthalmologists adapt pre-op assessment and post-op care protocols for cataract surgery patients who present with dry eye?
Patients with dry eye may require repeat biometry following treatment with lubricating drops to ensure the most accurate readings (tear film can have an impact on keratometry). Consider supplying preservative-free dry eye drops for the post operative period and in more severe cases, preservative-free post operative steroids or consider “dropless” cataract surgery.
How should clinicians tailor their treatment approach across different patient populations?
A full medical and lifestyle history will support the effective diagnosis and management of dry eye patients. Removing as many potential triggers as possible is important.
References
- Axa Health Poll of 2000 parents with children aged six to 17, Jan 2025.
