hydrate dry eyes with systane

Are you at risk for dry eyes? Did you wake up this morning to the sound of your smartphone alarm clock? Most probably, you browsed through your social media newsfeed right after, all this in the first half an hour of waking up. What is the likelihood of ending your day with more than a quick glance at your phone, just to catch up and close your already busy day? If  you can relate to these instances, then you are not alone. This is a growing worldwide phenomenon, and Malaysia is part of this trend.

Malaysians spend an average of more than 5-8 hours a day staring at digital screens which include exposure to different gadgets such as laptops and desktops, smartphones, tablets and televisions. [1]  Multi-screening, or the simultaneous use of multiple digital screens, is a daily practice adapted by the increasing Malaysian digital population in consuming news and information, and in doing their tasks at work. This figure is consistent with the digital consumption trends in Asia which show that Asians log an average of 439 minutes or over 7 hours per day glued to digital screens, 2 hours out of which are spent looking at a second screen while watching TV. [2]

While our dependence on technology to go through our daily lives has provided us with much convenience and great connectivity, it has also brought harmful effects to our health – one of which is digital eye strain.

Digital eye strain is the discomfort characterized by dryness, irritation and blurred vision that we feel with our eyes after staring at multiple digital screens for a long and sustained period of time. The continued occurrence of digital eye strain can lead to Dry Eye Condition, which, when not addressed, may cause long-term issues with a person’s vision and can interrupt one’s ability to perform common daily activities, even affecting an individual’s capacity to drive and read.

“A thin layer of tear is supposed to spread at the surface of the eye every time a person blinks. When a person has Dry Eye condition, the tear glands don’t produce enough lubrication to moisten and protect the eyes, which gives individuals feelings of discomfort and irritation. This can be an effect of protracted and too much exposure to digital screens on a daily basis, or what we call digital eye strain. When this is not prevented, it could have hazardous long-term effects and direct impact to the eye health condition of an individual,” said Dr. Siva Kumar Sundralingam, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Columbia Asia Klang.

Technology indeed has a lot of benefits but it should be used responsibly to prevent it from having harmful effects to our health. Below are simple tips that you can include in your daily routine to keep your eyes from becoming dry and strained:

  • Take a break from staring at the screen after every 20 minutes to rest your eyes even for a short while
  • Decrease the brightness of your computer or smartphone screens to the level comfortable for your eyes
  • Use digital screens from a comfortable distance and avoid staring at it at a very close range

Systane also advises individuals to visit an eye doctor at least once a year for a check-up to make sure that their vision and eye condition are in great state. Apart from these simple tips, Systane encourages individuals to ‘Don’t Wait. Hydrate.’ through its family range of eye products created to provide long-lasting relief for dry and tired eyes, including the following:

  • Systane ULTRA Lubricant Eye Drops. High performance therapy that provides fast relief, immediate comfort and extended protection for dry eye conditions.
  • Systane Hydration Lubricant Eye Drop. For prolonged increased hydration and lubrication. Allows healing of damaged cells on eye surface and compatible with contact lens wear.
  • Systane Balance Lubricant Eye Drops. Contains clinically proven Restorative Formula that helps prevent tear evaporation for long lasting eye relief.
  • Systane Gel Drops. Contains power of a gel in the convenience of a drop. Provides a protective shield over eyes to provide enduring relief for severe dry eye conditions.
  • Systane Lid Wipes. Gently cleanses eyelids and removes debris or eye makeup that can cause irritation.

In addition to providing solutions to consumers through its family of products, Systane also has an ongoing effort to increase awareness about the Dry Eye Condition and what people can do about it. “In Malaysia, we have recently launched our local Facebook page as a platform for us to constantly engage with the Malaysian community and educate them about proper eye care and available solutions that they can use should they experience symptoms of Dry Eye. We hope that we can use the Facebook page to reach out to as many individuals as possible and generate awareness on unhealthy eye practices that could lead to long-term vision issues,” said Joshi Venugopal, Country Manager of Novartis Malaysia.

To stay updated with the latest information on how to properly take care of your eyes, visit and like Systane Malaysia’s Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/SystaneMY/. Remember: Don’t Wait. Hydrate.

[1] Multimedia and Communications Ministry, Malaysia, 2015

[2] CNBC: Asian users are most ‘screen-crazy:’ Report by Millward Brown