
ORLANDO, Fl. – Do you have red, irritated and watery eyes?
“I was probably lubricating up to, maybe, 10 times a day.” said Bill Casey.
It could be dry eye, a condition that happens when you don’t produce enough tears, or poor-quality ones.
Health experts say it can happen due to chronic computer use, contact lenses, hormonal changes, certain medications or other illnesses.
“Any patient with any kind of systemic inflammatory disease, whether it’s rosacea, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, they’re more prone to having an inflammation of their tear film,” said Dr. Rolando Toyos, founder & CEO of Toyos Clinic.
But doctors say you can help ease dry eyes.
First, try over-the-counter artificial tear drops.
Next, it’s recommended that people take screen breaks. Try the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes of screen time, look away at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
Experts say a gentle eye massage can also help. Try a warm compress. It may help stimulate glands to produce more tears. You can also add fish oil to your diet.
And make sure you’re drinking enough water! A tear is made of 98 percent water and two percent oils, salt, and proteins.
Lastly, an FDA approved light treatment called Optilight is also helping manage dry eye disease.
Doctors say you might also want to try using a humidifier if you suffer from dry eyes. It adds moisture to the air and may ease symptoms caused by dryness.
