Not sure why your eyes feel irritated, itchy and red? This can be a temporary condition or a chronic one, depending on the cause. If this sensation is persistent, it’s important to have your eyes examined to prevent any complications from developing. Here are some common causes of dry eyes.

Medication

If you’re on medication, this could be the cause of your dry eyes. Certain medications like diuretics, antidepressants and antihistamines can reduce the production of water and mucus that are needed to keep eyes well lubricated. If you’ve recently started a new medication and have noticed dry eyes since taking them, talk to your doctor about this. They may have a better alternative that can help reduce this symptom.

Staring at Screens

Do you spend a significant amount of time staring at a computer screen? If so, this could also be a contributing factor to your dry and irritated eyes. Looking at screens for long periods of time places our eyes under strain and stress. It takes a lot for them to stay focused for so long! Also, when we look at screens, we generally don’t blink as often as we should, which makes tears quickly evaporate. To help your eyes out, take frequent breaks every 20 minutes and look away from the screen. Also, use artificial tears if need be to help lubricate them.

Aging

Dry eyes become more common for those who are over the age of 50. This happens because our tear production naturally reduces as we get older. If you’re over the age of 50, artificial tears can help.

Menopause

Women who are going through menopause or pregnancy can experience drier eyes because hormones naturally activate tears. So when hormones become imbalanced during these periods, tear production can be offset as well. 

Autoimmune Conditions

Those who suffer from an autoimmune condition such as lupus, diabetes or arthritis can be more susceptible to dry eyes.

Allergies

A common culprit of dry eyes is allergies. If you get flare-ups that seem to happen out of nowhere, talk to your doctor about potential allergies. Antihistamine eye drops could help.

Deficiency in Vitamin A

If you have a diet that’s low in vitamin A, this might also be a reason for irritated eyes. Try to incorporate foods like fish, spinach, eggs and broccoli to get more vitamin A. Or talk to your doctor. There are eye drops that have vitamin A in them.

If your eyes are persistently dry and irritated, come by Laurier Optical for an eye exam so we can determine the cause and help find you a solution. Contact us today!