When tears do their job correctly, they maintain the eye’s surface smooth, pleasant, and moisturized, as well as washing away dust and debris and protecting the eye from infection. To keep moist, healthy eyes produce tears all day, every day.
However, some conditions, drugs, or even simply becoming older might cause your eyes to produce fewer tears. Dry eye can also occur when your eyes do not have enough tears to clean away particles and maintain the surface well-lubricated.
What exactly is Dry Eye?
Dry eye illness affects the surface of the eye, disrupting the natural balance of factors that keep your eyes pleasant and clean. With each blink, tears spread across the cornea or the surface of the eye. The quantity and quality of one’s tears are critical for one’s eyes.
Here are five basic steps you may take to prevent or treat dry eyes:
1. Avoid Dry-Eye Inducing Environments
Environmental causes frequently cause dry eyes. Avoid smoking and remain indoors while it’s windy. When participating in sports such as riding a bike or motorbike, skiing, or riding in a convertible, wear proper eyewear to protect your eyes from the wind. It may also be beneficial to get a humidifier for your house to provide moisture to the air.
2. Make use of High-Quality Sunglasses
Dry eyeglasses may wrap around your eye sockets and prevent UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. They also shield your eyes from the hot or cold wind, dust, and other particles. Your eyes will naturally feel more comfortable after using dry eyeglasses due to reduced evaporation. Clear lenses (with or without your prescription) are also available, and they can make a significant difference while working with air conditioning.
3. Don’t Forget to Blink
When you stare at a computer, you reduce the number of times you blink each minute. So, when you’re online, try to blink frequently. Follow the 20/20 rule: shut your eyes for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Another easy way to keep your eyes moist when working on the computer is to lower the screen below eye level. Because you won’t have to open your eyes as wide, tear evaporation between blinks may be slowed.
4. Use Drops
Eye drops, sometimes known as artificial tears, can provide brief comfort. It’s important to remember that certain eye drops include preservatives. These are often packaged in multidose vials with preservatives to inhibit bacterial development after the vial is opened.
Ointments are thicker than drops and are intended to cover the eyeball, providing long-term relief from dryness. Ointments, on the other hand, might impair your vision while you’re using them. It is recommended to use them before going to bed and use drops throughout the day.
5. Keep Hydrated
Water is essential for the health of every organ in your body, including your eyes. Drinking water keeps them hydrated. But don’t put off drinking water until you’re thirsty. That point may mildly dehydrate you. Instead, strive for eight to ten glasses of water each day. If you don’t like simple water, any other non-alcoholic or caffeine-free drink will suffice. Cucumbers and watermelon are examples of water-rich foods. One method to tell if you’re adequately hydrated is to: Examine your urine. You’re probably receiving enough fluids if it’s white or light yellow.
Conclusion
Dry eye disease is becoming more frequent. Dry eye illness can hurt your everyday life if not treated properly. Dry eye illness is generally irreversible after the glands atrophy, making treatment challenging.
Don’t take your eye health for granted! Visit Agile Urgent Care, a full-service and walk-in urgent facility in New Jersey is more than capable of setting you on the right track so you don’t have to put out fires later on. Get in touch with us today!
