There could be many different explanations for why you keep experiencing dry eyes. Many people find that their eyes are especially dry after spending a long day working at their computer.
Others have seasonal allergies to blame for their dry eyes. Here are five causes of dry eyes and how you can manage the symptoms:
You take certain medications
Dry eyes are a common side effect of many medications. This can be true for both over-the-counter and prescription medications.
It is especially common for people who take blood pressure medications, antidepressants, or painkillers.
If your dry eyes become problematic, you can talk to your doctor about trying a different medication. You can also use lubricating eye drops to help alleviate the symptoms.
You wear contacts
Dry eyes are a common side effect for people who wear contacts. Contacts can cause your tears to evaporate, which makes your eyes feel dry or gritty.
If this is a recurring problem, you may want to talk to your doctor about switching to a different brand. You can also try wearing your contacts for shorter periods of time. And it’s never a good idea to sleep in your contacts.
You have an autoimmune disease
Various autoimmune diseases, like thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, can cause dry eyes. This is because autoimmune diseases often cause an imbalance in the composition of your tears.
If you think an autoimmune disease could be the culprit for your dry eyes, you should contact your primary care doctor.
Too much screen time
There are many reasons why too much screen time is harmful but one is that it can cause your eyes to dry out. Looking at a screen for long periods of time causes your blink rate to decrease which means your eyes will be less lubricated.
The best solution for this is to simply dry to decrease your screen time. However, if you have to use your computer frequently for work, try to take breaks more frequently and remember to blink more often.
You have diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause progressive nerve damage called polyneuropathy. This can injure the network of nerves to the eyes, interfering with your body’s ability to produce tears.
Studies have shown that half of all diabetic patients also experience dry eyes. The best way to treat this problem is by proactively managing your diabetes and keep your blood sugar under control.
You can manage the symptoms of your dry eyes with over the counter eye drops.
Dry eyes may seem like a minor problem but you don’t have to live with the daily irritation they cause. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment at our West Hills location.
