Other Dry Eye Considerations

Your eyes might feel dry one day and be fine the next. Below you’ll find some other sources of eye discomfort that might seem like dry eye—but aren’t—and simple solutions for addressing them.

Allergies

A person rubbing their eye while holding a drinking mug.

Pollen, mold, dust, pet dander, weather and seasonal factors can all cause your eyes to become inflamed. This can lead to other symptoms, such as:

  • Itchy eyes
  • Eye swelling
  • Tearing
  • Stinging/burning
  • Redness
  • Temporary blurred vision

What you can do:

The best defense for allergic eyes is to try to avoid the allergens that cause your symptoms altogether, but that’s not always possible. If you wear contacts, it may help to remove them and rinse your eyes with artificial tears if you are exposed to allergens. Blink® drops are not currently indicated for the treatment of allergies, but other over-the-counter or prescription treatments may be an option. Talk to your eye care professional about the best treatment for your allergies.

A person rubbing their eye while holding a drinking mug.

Face Mask Wear

Wearing a face mask is a good practice to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, you may experience increased feelings of dry eye. One of the reasons for that is when the air you breathe out while wearing a mask escapes upward toward your eyes. This causes the tears in your eyes to evaporate quicker in a similar way as if you were in a windy or dry environment.

A person closing their eyes while securing a face mask tightly across their nose.

What you can do:

If you’re feeling extra dryness or discomfort in your eyes when wearing a mask, here are a few tips:

  • A close-fitted mask can make a big difference.
  • Masks with wires around the nose may be more easily fitted against the face.
  • Gently taping the top edge of your mask against your skin can help redirect the air flow downward.
  • Keep lubricating eye drops on hand to restore moisture when you need it.

Tired, Strained Eyes

Spending a long time doing any one thing—like watching TV, working on the computer, staring at your phone, or driving—can make your eyes feel strained, tired, or dry. Some symptoms include:

  • Tearing
  • Dryness
  • Blurred vision
  • Squinting to see better or feel more comfortable
  • Blinking more often

What you can do:

One of the simplest solutions for tired-feeling eyes is to be sure you give yourself breaks, no matter what you’re doing. Whether that means getting up from the computer, putting down your phone or book, or making regular rest stops while driving long distances. If your eyes are feeling dry, artificial tears can help.

GIVE YOUR EYES AN INSTANT REFRESH WITH THE 20-20-20 RULE

  • Every 20 minutes
  • Look up for 20 seconds
  • And focus on an object 20 feet away

Then blink 20 times to give your eyes an extra bit of care.

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A doctor’s smiling face.

Have Questions About Dry Eye? Talk to Your Eye Doctor

If your eyes feel uncomfortable, or you have trouble seeing and the tips above haven’t helped, make an appointment with your eye doctor. No issue is too small to discuss, especially since your eyes are what connect you to the world.

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