Lifestyle Modifications
There are a multitude of lifestyle factors that can impact how your eyes feel. Being mindful of these triggers and making adjustments to them can go along way in keeping your eyes comfortable.
The Air Around You.
Many modern environments can aggravate and contribute towards dry eye, including smoky or dusty environments; air conditioning/heaters in the home and car and air pressure changes (e.g. flying on a plane). Avoiding these triggers or being proactive with lubricant use can help.
How You’re Using Make Up.
Eye makeup & personal care products can contain many ingredients that are irritants, including Sodium laureth sulfate & Benzalkonium chloride. Old makeup, putting eyeliner on the inner rims & not removing makeup well each night has also been shown to cause additional problems.
Your Love of Screens.
The amount of time you spend staring at computer and digital device screens can affect your eye comfort and worsen dry eye symptoms. When we’re at a computer screen our rate of blinking slows and we do more incomplete blinks. Taking breaks, remembering to blink and a low screen position can help.
Eye Products.
Contact lenses, over-use of preserved eye drops, redness relieving eye drops (e.g. naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine or herbals such as witch hazel), over-rinsing your eyes, can all impact how they feel. Get good recommendations from your eye care professional as to what to avoid, and if you’re a contact lens wearer discuss lens types & materials that are best suited for drier eyes.
Dry Eye & Nutrition
Could what you eat make your eyes feel and look better?