By CHIOMA OBINNA

Increasing prevalence of Dry Eye Syndrome, DES, is as a result of on climate change and ozone layer depletion, the Nigerian Optometric Association, Lagos State branch, has confirmed.

DES also known as Keratoconjuctivitis Sicca (KCS) is a condition that affects the individual tear film layers, lipid, aqueous and mucin layers and have recently become pronounced especially for contact lens users in recent times.

Speaking during the Association’s Annual Conference tagged: “Dry Eye Syndrome: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management”, the State Chairman, Dr. Eniola Ajayi noted that climate change and ozone layer depletion with possible attendant effects on the external portions of the eye made it necessary for theNOA to look closely at the differential diagnosis for more accurate management.

“Dry as the name implies mean your eye is dry, but many times eye is comforted by wetness. The eye actually tears to wet the eyes. Even when you have dry eye you may be watery, this is the contradiction in terms of dry eye syndrome. When the eye is dry there is a signal that goes to the brain to wet the eyes so in the process the eye begins to water.”

Ajayi, who is also Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment, said DES is difficult to diagnose even for professionals because it is very difficult to pick. “That is why we are looking at the challenges in diagnosis and looking at effective ways to diagnose it. Is it just the palliative by putting drugs on the eye or can we use capsules that can actually help build the tears from within and give a more helpful handling to the eye?.”

Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris said optometrists are part of the state’s workforce, stressing that they drive the Save a Sight or Vision Corridor programme where there is optical chart on the wall for people to assess their sight by themselves.