What you need to know about dry eyes
Dry eye disease is a common and uncomfortable condition that occurs when tears are unable to adequately lubricate your eyes. This can occur if you don’t produce enough tears or if you produce poor-quality tears, which can lead to inflammation and damage of the eye’s surface.
“If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “You may experience dry eyes in certain situations, such as on an airplane, in an airconditioned room, while riding a bike or after looking at a computer screen for a few hours. Treatments for dry eyes may make you more comfortable. These treatments can include lifestyle changes and eyedrops. You’ll likely need to take these measures indefinitely to control the symptoms of dry eyes.”
Symptoms
• A stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Eye redness
• A sensation of having something in your eyes
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Difficulty with nighttime driving
• Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes
• Blurred vision or eye fatigue You should contact your doctor if you experience prolonged symptoms of dry eyes, who help determine a cause or refer you to a specialist. Prevention
• Avoid air blowing in your eyes. Don’t direct hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners or fans toward your eyes.
• Add moisture to the air. In winter, a humidifier can add moisture to dry indoor air.
• Consider wearing wraparound sunglasses or other protective eyewear. Safety shields can be added to the tops and sides of eyeglasses to block wind and dry air.
• If you’re reading or doing another task that requires visual concentration, take periodic eye breaks. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Or blink repeatedly for a few seconds to help spread your tears evenly over your eyes.
• Position your computer screen below eye level so that you won’t open your eyes as wide. This may help slow the evaporation of your tears between eye blinks.
• Use artificial tears regularly. If you have chronic dry eyes, use eyedrops even when your eyes feel fine to keep them well lubricated.