3 Effective Ways to Relieve Dry Eyes
If you wake up in the morning feeling like your eyes have spent the night in the desert, or your eyes are itchy, dry, red and irritated all day long, you may have dry eye syndrome (DES).
DES is super-common, yet many people either ignore it or put up with the condition, not realizing that there are steps they can take to lessen their dry eye symptoms in conjunction with treatment from their optometrist.
Left untreated, moderate to severe cases of dry eye syndrome can impact your quality of life and even damage your vision.
At Grove City Vision Center in Grove City we diagnose and treat DES, so contact us today to schedule a dry eye exam. In the meantime, here are some tips to manage your dry eye symptoms.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes result from not having enough tears, or tears that can't adequately hydrate the eyes. In most cases, DES is caused by a malfunction of the meibomian glands, located at the edges of the eyelids. Dry eye syndrome can also be caused or worsened by environmental factors like arid weather, wind, air conditioning and heating, and even the amount of time you spend looking at a digital device.
1. Limit Your Screen Time
People blink much less often when looking at a computer, a cell phone, or even a TV screen. Blinking is the way our eyes spread moisture around the tear film. The less we blink, the drier our eyes become.
If you or your children must spend time on digital devices, make a conscious effort to blink more often and to take frequent breaks to rest your eyes.
2. Eat Healthy and Hydrate
The organs of your body need moisture to function, and your eyes are no exception. If you find it hard to drink several glasses of water a day, add some lemon juice for flavor or make yourself a smoothie.
In addition to fruits and vegetables, consume nuts, legumes, whole grains and lean proteins. Fatty fish is packed with omega 3 fatty acids, which can help keep your eyes hydrated.
3. Control Your Environment
If you work indoors, your workplace is likely heated in the winter and air conditioned in the summer. The best way to prevent dry eyes indoors is to add moisture to the air with a humidifier.
When outdoors, consider wearing wraparound sunglasses, as they can help prevent dry air and wind from affecting your tear film. We also recommend placing a warm compress on your closed eyelids for a few minutes.
Schedule an Eye Exam with Your Eye Doctor!
As helpful as these tips may be, they're not a substitute for seeing your eye doctor, who can determine the underlying cause of your dry, sore, gritty eyes and prescribe the best treatment.
Contact Grove City Vision Center in Grove City today to schedule your dry eye exam.