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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
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.
Contact Lens Wear and Care
If you wear contacts and experience dry eye symptoms, a few things could be going on:
- Are you wearing your contacts for longer than recommended? If yes, consult your doctor. Contacts should not be worn longer than recommended.
- Have you cleaned your lenses according to the instructions specific to the contact lens solution you use?
- Have you switched solutions? Remember, not all solutions are the same.
- If you use a lens case, are you cleaning it regularly and properly?
- Are you in a room with air conditioning on?
- Have you traveled to a dry environment?
What you can do:
If you said yes to any of the questions above, start by making sure you’re adhering to the proper wear cycle of your lenses and practicing proper contact lens care. You can use Blink Contacts® Lubricating Eye Drops, or if you notice build up impacting clarity of vision, try Blink-N-Clean® Lens Drops. Consult your eye care practitioner, as there may be other determining factors, you may have a sensitivity to your contact lens material or using the wrong contact solution, and it’s worth discussing with your eye doctor.
DON'T FORGET
Not all contact lens solutions are the same. Make sure yours is a multi-purpose disinfecting solution to help kill harmful germs and bacteria, like ACUVUE® RevitaLens Contact Lens Solution.
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.
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.
Find Long-Lasting Relief For Your Dry Eye Symptoms
Johnson & Johnson Vision offers an array of dry eye, contact lens, and eyelid care products. Use our product selector to find the best fit for your needs.
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.