For most people, any hindrance to their eyesight can become a cause for concern. The discomfort alone is bad enough, but the inconvenience to everyday tasks and work makes it even worse.
One of the most common eye problems people suffer from is dry eyes. You can try to ignore it in the first hour, but as it persists, it can prove to be very annoying and painful for some people. The first instinct is to assume something might be medically wrong with you. However, it’s worth noting that your surroundings or habits can also cause dry eyes.
Let’s look into what other possible non-medical causes there might be for dry eyes.
Indoor Elements
It can be difficult to imagine what could be causing your dry eyes when you spend most of your time indoors. However, an indoor space that lacks moisture in the air will quickly lead to red, itchy, and irritated eyes. Poor lighting can also cause issues if you’re working indoors. In addition, pollutants are a problem—a dusty and poorly maintained indoor environment can quickly lead to dry eyes.
If your time indoors requires you to be in front of a computer screen all day, not taking enough breaks will surely earn you a pair of dry eyes. It’s essential to be prepared for a full day of screen time indoors. If you can, prepare wipes or eye mist to moisturise your eyes throughout the day.
Outdoor Elements
You must be thinking: if being indoors for extended periods is the problem, why not just stay outside? Well, that would be great if the environment you’re heading out to is suitable as well. Just like how extreme temperatures indoors can cause dry eyes, extreme heat or cold outdoors will also do you in.
Remember that you’ll also be dealing with smoke, pollutants, and so on when you spend time outdoors. It’s the same thing. If you’re going to be spending a majority of your day outdoors in less than ideal conditions, make sure to prepare items that can help keep your eyes moisturised throughout the day.
Computers
As previously mentioned, working or spending time in front of a screen all day without taking proper breaks can cause dry eyes. Your eyes actually can’t take continuous exposure to a screen for long. That’s not all that surprising, but did you know that eye doctors truly recommend the 20-20-20 rule?
Every 20 minutes in front of a screen, you should try to look at something about 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. If space doesn’t allow for it or if estimating a distance of 20 feet is not something you want to do, simply closing your eyes for 20 seconds is good enough. It can do a lot to prevent dry eyes and protect your eyes in the long run.
Dehydration
Of course, dry eyes are generally caused by a lack of moisture or water in the eyes. Your eyes may not be producing enough moisture, or they might be drying up too fast. Your body needs water, especially your eyes so that they can stay nice and moisturised.
Hydration is vital for preventing dry eyes after a night of drinking. Alcohol tends to dry your eyes, and not drinking enough water can worsen the situation. For your comfort and overall health, aim to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day and maybe a little more if you’ve come from a drinking session with your friends.
Summary
Dry eyes are uncomfortable and can be a hindrance to accomplishing everyday tasks. However, if you are suffering from dry eyes, first pay attention to your environment and personal habits to determine possible causes. From there, you can deduce the appropriate solution to the problem, and you should be good to go!
If you are curious to learn more about improving and taking care of your vision health, we are happy to help you. Vision & Eyes is committed to providing you with the best care, services, and products to maintain your eye health. We have a broad catalogue of products and eye solutions that can fit any lifestyle.