Living with dry eye can be a pain. Dry eye causes redness, swelling, itching, and irritation, as well as other symptoms.
Left untreated, dry eye can become worse. It can even lead to permanent vision damage including corneal abrasions and ulcers.
If you are currently suffering from dry eye, here are some tips to help you handle the symptoms! Keep reading to learn how you can manage these symptoms and get relief!
Use Eye Drops Frequently- and Correctly
Rubbing your eyes can relieve dry eye symptoms, but it will also lead to more damage. It can also put you at a higher risk of developing eye infections, as your hands tend to carry a lot of germs.
It is also important to apply eye drops correctly. Eye drops don’t help if you end up introducing bacteria into your eyes. Don’t try to aim the drops into your eye.
Instead, use one hand to pull down the lower lid of your eye and aim the applicator into the pocket that you’ve created. Add one drop at a time. You do not want your eyes to overflow with artificial tears.
The tip of the applicator should not touch anything during the process. Make sure to wash your hands before and after.
Stop Excessive Screen Use
In society, it is difficult to get by without the use of some kind of screen. There’s computer screens, phone screens, television screens, the list goes on and on.
Screens have simply become integrated into our lives. But frequent use of screens can cause dry eye. This is because when you are focused on a screen, you forget to blink.
If you cannot avoid screen use, try following the rule of 20. Every 20 minutes, look at an object at least twenty feet away for at least 20 seconds.
This will give your eyes a much-needed break. It will also stretch the muscles inside of your eyes to help your vision from becoming locked up.
With excessive screen use, this is key if you want to avoid eye fatigue.
Change Your Environment
The causes of dry eye are often caused by the environment that you’re in. When there is not enough moisture in the air around you, your eyes may not be able to produce enough to compensate.
Additionally, wind can dry out eyes. Dirt, dust, and allergens can irritate them.
To fight this, you can buy humidifiers and air filters to increase the amount of moisture in your home. Humidifiers and filters also help remove airborne pollutants.
It is also helpful to dust frequently, but do so using a damp cloth. Using a feather duster only puts the dust and allergens back in the air, further irritating your dry eyes.
Get Treatment
Preventative measures are not always enough to combat dry eye. Sometimes the problem is physiological.
If you are experiencing dry eye, your first step should be to see a doctor. They can help you determine what course of action is needed.
Tired of living with the debilitating symptoms of dry eye? Schedule an appointment at Colorado Eye Consultants in Littleton, CO today!
