How To Soothe Dry, Irritated Eyes
Dry eyes is a common eye issue for many people and there are a number of reasons why you might be suffering with dry, irritated eyes. Here, the experts at Simply Meds have revealed the reasons behind dry eyes and also offer expert advice for soothing them.
1 Your age
Age is a huge factor behind why you might be suffering with dry, irritated eyes. If you are over 50 you may have noticed that along with your vision becoming increasingly worse, your eyes are more itchy, irritated and dry and it may become more uncomfortable as time goes on. This is mainly due to the fact that elderly people often suffer from certain illnesses which can actually increase your likelihood to suffer with dry eyes, these include diabetes mellitus or rheumatism. Women who are menopausal also suffer with dry eyes which is down the hormonal changes.
2 Contact lenses
Pic: Shutterstock
Contact lenses are a common cause of dry, irritated eyes and this is usually due to damaged contacts, contacts not being properly applied or lubricated, or an allergic reaction to the contact lenses solution. Allergies such as pollen and dust may also collect underneath the contact lenses and could cause the eye to become irritated and itchy. If your eyes are particularly dry and irritated whilst using contacts, try to switch to glasses until it subsides.
3 Too much screen time
Pic: Shutterstock
Staring at a screen for several hours a day can also cause dry eyes. Switching from computer screen to phone screen to iPad can have a huge impact on our eye health and not only cause irritated eyes, but may also promote cluster headaches from eye strain. The reason why your eyes become dry whilst looking at a screen is because the tears coating the eye actually evaporate more rapidly due to long non-blinking phases. Try to limit your screen time, and if you have to work on a screen take regular breaks to give your eyes a break.
4 Your environment
Pic: Shutterstock
Environmental factors play a huge part in your eye health. Heating, air con, humidity and lack of fresh air will all contribute to dry eyes. This is especially true in the hot summer months when we have air con on, or in the winter when the heating is on more often. Pollution, pollen and dust can also aggravate the eyes, so if you are living in a highly populated city, or journey on the tube often you might find your eyes dryer more often. Hay fever season may also cause your eyes to become itchy due to pollen and dust particles entering the tear duct and causing your eyes to itch.
5 An underlying condition
Having prolonged dry or irritated eyes can also be a sign of an underlining health condition such as blepharitis, Sjogren’s syndrome or lupus. If you are suffering with dry eyes and no treatment options are working for you, then you must visit your GP who will be able to get to the root of the problem and advise treatment options.
6 How do I soothe dry eyes?
There are a few ways you can reduce dry eyes. The first thing would be to limit screen time or take regular breaks from the screen, this is important for those who have jobs which require them to spend long hours looking at a screen and this should help to keep eyes normal and moist.
Try not to touch or rub your eyes too often. There are a number of reasons people may rub their eyes; out of habit, if they are tired, stressed or sometimes having dry eyes can promote people wanting to rub or itch the area however this can cause more damage. If your eyes remain dry and sore, try to wash your eyelids and lashes with warm water which should help to get rid of any particles which may have entered. If you are travelling on public transport or out and about and find your eyes irritated when you get in, ensure you properly clean your eyes with warm water to remove any environmental particles.
Eye drops are a great way to help alleviate any discomfort and to keep eyes moist and healthy. You want to opt for an eye drop which actually works to keep the area area moist for longer periods of time. There are a number of eye drop options available at Simply Meds, including Systane gel eye drops which provides instant relief for dry eyes.
If your eyes do not get any better after trying the tips above, please see your GP.
Simply meds are currently offering same day delivery on all products and medication for customers in the London and Essex area. Please visit https://www.simplymedsonline.co.uk/pages/delivery-information.html for further information.
Moira Chisholm
I'm the Health Editor on My Weekly and am always interested to hear what's new in this fascinating field. I also deal with the gardening, shopping pages, general features, our website content and the Ask Helen problem page. I have a special interest in Christmas content because I'm on the team for Your Best Ever Christmas Magazine, too!
