I work in a pizza restaurant and now in about two months my eyes are very sensitive the heat oven. The pizza oven bothers me. I went to an optometrist and another one. They tell me your eyes are ok but somethink is wrong. I work now 6 years in the same oven  and i was ok. They told me I have dry eyes not to much tears and maybe caused from the heat of the oven. Tthe aircondicioner it hurts the same. Is there anything you can help me with any solution?  thanks, luan

ANSWER:
Dear Luan, Thank you for your interest in this question. You are working in what is called a “challenging” environment. This can alter the tear film function on the surface of the eye and could contribute to create dryness which seems to be your problem. A recent study, published in a major journal in ophthalmology, proved that wearing silicone hydrogel contact lenses, namely the OASYS lenses (Johnson & Johson) could help to restore the comfort and to alleviate the dryness occuring in challenging environments. Other lenses can also offer a solution to this problem.
 
Another way to address this issue is to control the environment conditions if possible. If it is not possible, to put non-preserved artificial tears in your eyes, hourly or each 2 hours, could prevent the eye surface to dry. I strongly recommend Refresh Tears (Allergan) or Blink (AMO) for this use. Do not ever put Visine or other over the counter products that promotes to relief for red eyes since they can cause rebound effect over time.
 
If the condition is not solved either way (contact lenses or lubricants) you can consult your optometrist and asking him to consider punctal plugs as a treatment. This procedure helps the eye to remain wet but could have the disadvantage to create tearing in other conditions (outside, at home); therefore, it has to be considered a last solution.
 
Good luck and thanks again for your interest.  
Dr Langis Michaud, o.d. M.Sc. FAAO (Dipl)
Associate Professor University of Montreal - School of Optometry

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