Dry eyes: causes, symptoms and solutions

Do your eyes sting, burn or turn red after wearing lenses all day? You're not alone. Many wearers feel this kind of discomfort, especially when spending the day in front of a screen or in a dry environment.

Fortunately, there are simple and effective solutions to get back to optimal comfort.

This condition often appears when your tears evaporate too quickly or when your tear production is insufficient. This imbalance can cause stinging, burning, or even damage to the surface of your eyes if it gets worse. Even with mild discomfort, it’s important not to ignore these signals.

Dry eyes can also be caused by internal factors like hormonal imbalances or side effects from certain medications (antihistamines, decongestants, hypertension treatments).

If you suffer from dry eyes regularly, talk to your doctor: a change in treatment can significantly improve your comfort.

When you spend hours in front of your computer or phone, you blink less, which reduces your eyes’ natural hydration. Screens also emit blue light, which can increase eye fatigue and make their condition worse.

To reduce these effects, think about wearing blue light blocking glasses.

Air at home or in offices is often dry due to AC or heating. This low humidity causes your tears to evaporate quickly, contributing to eye dehydration.

Using a humidifier helps maintain a comfortable humidity level for your eyes.

Pollen, dust or other allergens can irritate your eyes, causing inflammation and increasing that dry feeling.

Antihistamine eye drops can help relieve the symptoms.

Lenses can reduce the eye’s oxygen supply, which increases discomfort. To avoid this, it’s essential to follow your eye care specialist’s advice about wearing and maintaining your lenses. Choose lenses with high oxygen permeability, which are specially designed for dry eyes.

You’ll find several effective options on Linsenmax, like Acuvue Oasys 1-Day, Total 30 ou Dailies Total 1.

• Itching: Do your eyes sting or do you feel the urge to rub them? Itching is common with dry eyes and can get worse if you touch your eyes too often.

• Eye pain: Persistent pain in your eyes can be a sign of severe dryness caused by a lack of hydration.
  
  If the pain continues despite using lubricating drops, it’s essential to see your eye specialist.

• Blurred vision: Another common symptom is less sharp vision. If your vision gets blurry when you read, work on a screen or look far away, it might mean your eye surface is affected.

1. Use lubricating eye drops: They help maintain your tear film and immediately improve your comfort.

2. Take regular breaks: If you spend your days in front of a screen, remember to take breaks to blink naturally and rebuild your tear film.
   Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

3. Improve your room’s humidity: In closed spaces like offices or heated rooms, the air is often dry. Use a humidifier to increase the humidity and stop your tears from evaporating too fast.

4. See your eye specialist: If your symptoms continue, don’t wait. An ophthalmologist can give you a proper diagnosis and suggest the right solutions: punctal plugs, medication to boost tear production, or lenses made for dry eyes.

To avoid dry eyes, it’s essential to stick to a thorough lens care routine. Here are a few tips:

1. Clean your lenses regularly: Use cleaning solutions like Aosept or Opti-Free. They’re made to remove deposits that build up on your lenses and increase irritation.

2. Replace them frequently: Follow the replacement schedule for your lenses. Daily lenses like Dailies Total 1 or Acuvue Oasys 1-Day can be a great option since no maintenance is needed.

3. Hydration: Keep your eyes well hydrated, especially if you're often in dry or air-conditioned spaces.
   
   Besides using lubricating drops, make sure you drink enough water to stay well hydrated in general.

Artificial tears, also called eye drops, are a must-have for dry eyes, especially if you wear lenses. They effectively rehydrate the eye’s surface and reduce stinging, burning or discomfort.

There are different types of eye drops, each suited to specific needs:

• Preservative-free drops like Hylo Eye Care Comod or Systane Ultra PF are perfect if you use them often, since they reduce irritation risks and protect your eyes’ health.

• Lipid-based drops, like Systane Complete, are designed to restore the lipid layer on your eye’s surface, slowing down tear evaporation and giving lasting relief.

• Electrolyte-enriched drops help nourish and revitalize your eye’s surface, especially if it's weakened.

By adding them to your daily routine, you’ll extend your lens comfort and protect your eye health.

To choose the solution that suits you best, don’t hesitate to ask your eye care professional for advice.