Why Are My Eyes Dry?

If you have ever dealt with dry eyes before, you probably understand how uncomfortable it can be. Your eyes need natural lubrication and moisture so that they can function the way that they are supposed to. When there are issues related to tear generation or your eyes are affected by certain illnesses or drugs, it results in some very unpleasant symptoms. Stinging, burning, blurry vision and itchiness are common symptoms for people that are dealing with, which is why avoiding dry eyes is a good goal.

Everyone will deal with dry eyes at some point in their lives, which is why we’ve prepared the following article to let you know about some of the common causes of dry eyes and how to deal with them. Remember to reach out to AV Eyecare if you are interested in an eye exam or your eyes are consistently dry.

Environmental Factors

One of the leading causes of dry eyes has to do with certain environmental factors. If you are spending time in an area with low humidity or heavy wind, there’s a good chance that it is the cause of your eye dryness. These types of environments affect tear production in your eyes and leave your eyes dry and itching. You can look into a humidifier or turn down any fans or air conditioners that are running if you think they might be causing you to experience symptoms of dry eyes. Allergens and smoke are also environmental factors that can cause your eyes to dry out.

Eye Strain

These days, we tend to spend a lot of time staring at screens. With more people working from home than ever before, dry eyes caused by eye strain is more prevalent than ever. This occurs because when you are focused on a visually intensive task like working on the computer, you tend to blink a lot less often. Blinking is an essential component of helping your eyes produce tears, which is why dry eyes are often the result of excessive screen time. If you are someone that works on a computer during the day or spends a lot of time watching digital content, make sure you give your eyes a break at regular intervals.

Keeping Contact Lenses in Too Long

If you are a contact lens wearer, you should maintain a regular schedule for taking them out at the end of the day. That’s because wearing your contacts for too long can lead to dry eyes and eye strain. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s suggestions for the length of time you wear them and listen to your eye doctor about any particular recommendations for contact lens use. If you are wearing contacts and seem to always be dealing with dry eyes, you might want to change the brand or type of lenses you are using. Reach out to AV Eyecare if you are interested in a consultation.

Dry eyes are not fun to deal with, so make sure you talk to your optometrist if you are regularly experiencing symptoms.