You’re not imagining it – wearing a mask can make your eyes feel dry. Mask-Associated Dry Eye (MADE) is an emerging phenomenon that eye experts are urging the public to be mindful of. MADE is triggered by air being expelled over the top of the mask, and flowing over the surface of your eyes. That moving air dries the tear film, a thin layer of fluid covering the eye’s surface. Masks may also aggravate oil glands near the eye, causing inflammation and speeding up tear evaporation. Experts urge that the benefits of mask-wearing outweigh the discomfort of MADE, but suggest that people be conscious of symptoms of dry eye and treat them proactively. Learn ways to help alleviate MADE at https://wapo.st/36lm41H
