I'm a single mom. To support my two kids, I work at an office, staring at a computer screen for 8, sometimes 10 hours a day, hunting down the minute details and tiny discrepancies that other people might miss. It's...not the most fun job in the world, but it pays the bills.
Because I depend on my eyes so much for work, I need them to be in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, the office isn't always the most soothing environment for my eyes: dry air, fluorescent lights, the strain of focusing on a computer monitor. Add in the fact that I wear contact lenses, and it's no wonder my eyes started to feel tired and uncomfortable. It was like...there was something stuck in them, but I could never seem to get it out. At the same time, it seemed like my eyes were watering almost constantly. It was so distracting that I could hardly focus at work. My attention to detail was slipping, and I can't afford to let that happen.
I knew I should have made an appointment with my eye doctor right away to find out what was causing my gritty eyes, but I just kept putting it off. It seems like something or other is always getting in the way.
In the meantime, I did what I could to give my eyes a break. I wore my contacts less, and tried to take more time during the day to rest my eyes. It wasn't enough.
I tried all kinds of eye drops, but nothing seemed to work. Some made my eyes look less red, but they certainly didn't feel any better. Some relieved the irritation for a little while, but the painful feeling of gritty eyes returned the moment the drop left my eye. And they never stopped watering!
Finally, I made it in to see my eye doctor. A few tests, and she was able to diagnose me with Dry Eye Syndrome. She explained that stress in the office, combined with my contact lenses and anything from aging to hormones, had left my eyes with insufficient moisture. My eyes tried to respond by producing more tears - that's why they were so watery!
Unfortunately, dry eye doesn't have a cure, but there are ways to help alleviate its symptoms. My doctor recommended SYSTANE® Lubricant Eye Drops. She told me that SYSTANE® works with my own tears to provide long-lasting comfort and protection.
So, I gave it a shot, and I have to say, SYSTANE® really does seem to do the trick. I put a few drops in before I put in my contacts each morning, and I can get through my day without being distracted by tired, gritty eyes. Finally I can get back to work!
This is only my story. SYSTANE® may not work for everyone, but it helped me, and it may help you.
*Inspired by real-life experiences.
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