Battling Dry Eyes: Discover the Causes, Treatments, and Self-Care Tips

Tell us if this sounds familiar: you’re going about your day, feeling fine, when you suddenly notice a dry, burning sensation in your eyes. You rub at them and try to blink but to no avail. A few moments later, it feels like someone’s blasted your pupils with hot air! If this sounds like you, chances are you’ve had to deal with dry eyes at some point in your life. Whether it’s the cold air during winter, allergies during the fall, or the dehydration that summer can cause, dry eyes can strike at any time of year—and while they are inarguably annoying, they can sometimes be dangerous.

But what causes dry eyes? And what’s the best way to deal with them? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the reasons why you might experience dry eyes—and some hints on how to deal with the discomfort that comes with them.

What causes dry eyes, and how are they treated?

Some of the most obvious causes of dry eyes are seasonal. But there are also biological reasons why a person experiences dry eyes. Your eyes are covered by a tear film that normally keeps your eyes moisturized. This film is composed of three layers—fluid, mucus, and oils—and if there are problems with any of them it can lead to dry eyes¹.

Some causes—like allergies and smokey air—are environmental, while others—like aging, medication, or corneal nerve damage—can have more complex sources.  If this hits a note with you check our other article titled: Vision Concerns at Any Age | Eye Floaters, Dry Eyes & Photophobia

Regardless of the cause, dry eyes can be a health hazard. The tear film protects your eyes from infection and other forms of damage¹, so if you’re experiencing prolonged dry eyes, your first stop should always be to the eye doctor. They can perform several helpful tests to figure out what’s going on with your eyes. Apart from your regular eye exam, they can perform a blotting test to measure the volume of your tears, use dyes to figure out what’s happening on the surface of your eyes or perform other tests to look for abnormalities in your tears².

Depending on what your doctor finds, as well as the severity of your symptoms, treatment might consist of eye drops, transitioning to a different kind of medication, or even surgery².

That said, there are a few things you can do yourself to help manage dry eye discomfort.

How to Manage Dry Eye Symptoms
 

1. Use eye drops. If you’ve ever dealt with dry eyes, you’ve probably turned to eye drops for relief at some point. These are easy to find and don’t require a prescription.
2. Change Your Environment. Like we mentioned above, environmental factors are often a cause of dry eyes. If it’s a smokey or windy day, your best option might be to stay indoors. You can also use a humidifier in your home to make sure the air doesn’t get too dry.
3. Drink lots of water. Your eyes need water to generate tears—so make sure you’re drinking 8 to 10 glasses a day.³
4. Take a break from your devices. We know, we know—after a long day staring at your computer screen, what’s more relaxing than sitting on the couch to stare at your TV? But recent evidence⁴ suggests that staring at screens for too long might cause dry eyes since it might lead to us blinking less. Be sure to take plenty of breaks when you can, and don’t forget to blink!

1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/when-should-your-child-have-a-first-eye-exam-2
2. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/how-to-know-if-your-child-needs-glasses
3. https://www.uabmedicine.org/news/nine-signs-that-children-may-need-an-eye-exam/#:~:text=Comprehensive%20eye%20exams%20can%20detect,conditions%20include%20astigmatism%20and%20nearsightedness.
4. https://www.optometrists.org/childrens-vision/guide-to-pediatric-eye-conditions/7-common-pediatric-eye-conditions/
5. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amblyopia-lazy-eye
6. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-strabismus
7. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-ptosis