Do you suffer from dry eyes in the hotter months? From eyewear to diet and a warm compress, steps can be taken to improve lubrication.
What do dry eyes feel like?
Dry eyes can sting or burn, tear up, and may be red or itchy. Your eyesight could blur, or become sensitive to bright light. Sometimes it feels as if something is in your eye.
Why it happens
As we get older, our eyes are more prone to dryness. Dry eye disease is common, but with many potential causes.
Environmental or medical conditions, or changes in habits and routine may be in play.
For example, possible contributing factors include increased mobile phone usage, more time in the sun, hormonal shifts, or the development of diabetes.
Seeking medical advice
It’s worth mentioning dry eyes to your GP, especially if they worsen. Aggravation may be a sign of infection, or symptom of an autoimmune condition.
Possible recommendations – depending on diagnosis – include eye drops, gels, eyelid wash, a nasal spray, ointment, warm water compress and night masks or eyewear.
In some cases, a specialist visit may be needed. Ignoring dry eyes ups infection risk. Over time, depending on severity, you could risk future vision loss. Best to take action now.
Heads up: medications
Certain medications and over the counter drugs list eye dryness as a side-effect. If severe, talk to your GP about changing medications, or ask for advice handling dryness.
The weather
Our Aussie summer is hard on your eyes. Sunlight, searing heat and lack of humidity can leave eyes dry, irritated and vulnerable to infection.
Are you drinking enough? Dehydration contributes to dry eyes, as your body struggles to produce the tears you need.
Invest in quality sunglasses with decent UV protection. Designs with side pieces or wraparounds block light and hot breezes.
For increasingly dry eyes, air-conditioning and indoor fans are common culprits.
Try not to have either blowing directly in your face, or stuck on high settings. Sit away from air-conditioner vents, and set the fan to oscillate.
Irritants
Dust, pollen and bushfire smoke can aggravate eyes, drying them out. Hotter months may also offer low humidity, a known cause of dry eyes.
Humidifiers increase moisture and air purifiers remove irritants in the air, making them helpful additions to the home and work space.
A summer of swimming
If you love swimming regularly during warmer months but chlorine makes your eyes sting, try swimming goggles.
Remember to take contacts out before you swim to avoid potential infections.
After swimming, rinse the chlorine from your eyes.
Try applying eye drops before you hit the water, and after you swim, enhancing lubrication.
Change in contacts
If your contacts hurt due to dry eyes, seek optometrist advice, as special contacts for dry eyes are available.
It’s worth checking in if dry eyes are a problem. Your optometrist may recommend a change in your eyewear and eye care routine.
Remember to blink
The searing heat can lead to more time indoors reading, communicating online via phone and computer, or watching TV.
These activities dry eyes, especially if you blink less when concentrating.
If possible, break up screen time. A solid half hour on a screen is too long; see if you can give your eyes a break every 15-20 minutes – and remember to blink more often.
Diet changes
To help combat itchy, dry eyes in the summer, reduce your salt intake, and increase the omega-3 fatty acids you consume. Oily fish is your best bet.
Tuna, sardines, mackerel and salmon are high in omega-3. Alternatively, consider fish oil supplements. Just check with your GP first, to avoid potential medication interactions.
Lifestyle
Smoking can cause dry eyes. Alcohol is also guilty of contributing to eye dryness. Consider cutting back on both fronts.
Lack of sleep leads to dry eyes. If a good night’s sleep eludes you in summer, add a daytime nap to the schedule.
Step up your eyecare
Your chemist can help select eye drops that may provide better relief. Be aware certain eye drops cause blurry vision.
If this doesn’t help, speak to your GP, who might suggest another over the counter item, or prescribe a more intensive eye treatment option.
Do you suffer dry eyes in summer? What works for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Shock weather map shows Australia in for scorching summer
