Many people get dry eyes. It's not usually serious and there are things you can do to help.
Check if you have dry eyes
You may have dry eyes if your eyes are:
- itchy
- sore
- gritty
- red
- blurry
- sensitive to light
- more watery than normal
Causes of dry eyes
You may be more likely to get dry eyes if:
- you're over age 50
- you wear contact lenses
- you look at computer screens for a long time without a break
- you spend time in air-conditioned or heated environments
- it's windy, cold, dry or dusty
- you smoke or drink alcohol
- you take certain medicines, for example, some antidepressants or blood pressure drugs
Some conditions can cause dry eyes, such as:
- blepharitis - swollen and itchy eyelids that can be treated by washing your eyelids every day
- lupus - a long-term condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes and tiredness
- Sjögren's syndrome - a condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, like tears and spit
How to treat dry eyes yourself
Do
-
keep your eyes clean
-
take breaks to rest your eyes when you use a computer screen
-
make sure your computer screen is at eye level so you do not strain your eyes
-
use a humidifier to stop the air getting dry
-
get plenty of sleep to rest your eyes
-
if you wear contact lenses, take them out and wear glasses to rest your eyes
Don't
-
do not smoke or drink too much alcohol
-
do not spend too long in smoky, dry or dusty places
-
do not spend too long in air-conditioned or heated rooms
-
do not stop taking prescribed medicine without medical advice, even if you think it causes your symptoms
How to keep your eyes clean
Wash your hands properly before you clean your eyes.
- Soak a flannel in warm (not hot) water and gently press it on the area around your eyes. This makes the oil produced by the glands around your eyes more runny.
- Gently massage your eyelids with your finger or a cotton bud. This pushes the oils out of the glands.
- Soak some cotton wool in warm water. Do not use hot water.
- Gently wipe your eyelids with the cotton wool.
This can remove any excess oil, crusts, bacteria, dust or grime.
How a pharmacist can help
You can ask a pharmacist:
- what you can do to treat dry eyes yourself - such as cleaning and protecting your eyes
- if you can buy anything to help - such as eye drops, gels, ointments or allergy medicines
- if you need to see an optician or GP
Non-urgent advice: Contact an optician or GP if:
- you still have dry eyes after trying home treatments for a few weeks
- there's any change in the shape of your eyelids
- you have any changes to your vision
Ask for an urgent appointment if you have any vision loss.
What happens at your appointment
There are many things that can cause dry eyes.
An optician or GP can:
- ask you about your symptoms
- check for the most common causes of dry eyes
- recommend treatment
If they cannot find a cause, they may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for tests.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
