Whether allergies or exhaustion cause them, dry eyes hinder your vision and make you uncomfortable all day long. If you’re tired of battling to keep your eyes comfortable, there are several steps you can take to minimize dryness. Below are five tips approved by an eye doctor for managing eye dryness.

How to Minimize Your Dry Eyes

1. Manage Your Screen Time

When using screens, your eyes are staring into a source of light with minimal blinking for long periods, which strains them and leads to dryness. Limit your screen time to 3 hours a day or less, if possible. This includes devices like cell phones, tablets, e-readers, laptops, video games, and TVs. Ways to limit it are to call someone instead of text and reading paper books from your library instead of purchasing them on an e-reader.

2. Follow Protocol for Contact Lenses

If you wear contacts, follow the care instructions carefully. Don’t wear them for longer than recommended, and never fall asleep in them. Always keep them clean in fresh contact solution, and store them in airtight cases when they’re not in use. Never reuse contact solution that you’ve already used to clean your contacts, and make sure the lenses you wear are comfortable and appropriate for your eyes.

3. Use Eye Drops

Artificial tear products are available from most pharmacies and drug stores, and they help relieve dry eyes. Different products target various causes of eye dryness, such as allergies, tear gland blockage, or exhaustion.

4. Minimize Stress On Your Eyes

The more you strain your eyes, the dryer they’ll be. Make sure you get enough restful sleep each night and wear sunglasses during the day to prevent sun damage. Wear your visual aids when required, and don’t sit too far from or close to screens and items you’re reading. You should also keep your optical prescription updated to keep your vision sharp.

5. Consult With Your Eye Doctor

Chronic dryness could be a result of tear duct blockages or other conditions, like diabetes and lupus. It can also be a side effect of medications like antidepressants and birth control. Furthermore, abnormalities of the eyelids will cause faster tear evaporation and blocked glands. Your eye doctor can find the cause and directly treat it if possible. If not, they will recommend useful tips and prescribe medications for relief.

Are you tired of stinging, dry eyes? The doctor at Comprehensive Eye Care in Washington, MO, will be able to restore your comfort. Taking patients of all ages, their experienced team stays current on cutting-edge eye care developments, and they offer flexible scheduling and competitive pricing. Additionally, they have offered clinical trials for over 20 years, and you too can apply to be a part of these. Learn more about these and other optical services online, and call (636) 390-3999 to schedule an appointment.