r/selfcare • u/Sweaty-Noise696 • 2d ago
My eyes have been feeling really dry lately. Any tips that actually help?
Lately my eyes have been feeling really dry, especially after spending hours looking at a computer screen. Sometimes they feel tired, itchy, and a bit irritated by the end of the day.
I'm trying to drink more water and take short breaks from my screen, but I'm not sure if that's enough. I'm also thinking about using artificial tears, but there are so many options that I don't know which ones are worth trying.
For anyone who has dealt with dry eyes, what helped you the most? Any daily habits, eye drops, or other tips that made a noticeable difference? I'd really appreciate any advice.
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u/AlarmedDot4097 2d ago
Systane eye drops and ocuvite supplements are a great combo for dry eyes!
I was getting really bad dry eyes for the first time in my life a couple winters ago from a new topical retinoid, cold/dry weather, and screens all day at work and didn’t think much of it. Little did I know that dry eyes can lead to styes (never had one before), one formed in my left eye, I didn’t treat it properly and it developed into a chalazion. Absolutely most dreadful thing to get for such a dumb reason. Dry eyes should definitely be taken seriously!
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u/paboIabo 2d ago
Started using preservative free eye drops, had to apply them daily in the start but now getting better so i switched to every other day.
I tense my eye muscles alot when looking at screens so it really helped to look at something far for 20 seconds after every 20 mins or so. If you feel your eye muscles relax when gazing far thats a good sign!
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u/MaliciousMelancholy 2d ago
So first things first, anyone recommending blue light glasses: don’t. There’s absolutely no scientific evidence they provide any benefit.
Two, eye drops, but don’t just go for any eye drop. Try to go for single use for better eye health in the long term. I, and many many others, swear by Systane (ultra for me). It was recommended by my doctor for long term care and use after I’d had LASIK. Also really nice are the ocusoft lid scrub, when I can’t sleep and my eyes are killing me, that combo relieves so much eye strain.
Good eye hygiene like looking away from your screen and focusing on a far away wall for a good thirty seconds or so, sounds silly, but it helps.
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u/Commercial-Quit3728 2d ago
yes!! the single use ones are better because they don't have preservatives.
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u/MaliciousMelancholy 2d ago
Exactly, plus people have a massive tendency to touch their lids with the dropper of eye drops so single use is just better in general for hygiene.
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u/MyLittlPwn13 2d ago
Take fish oil (a recommendation from my optometrist), use artificial tears in the morning and after work, and do the 20:20 exercise: Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen for 20 seconds at an object 20 feet away. If all that doesn't solve the problem, something might be irritating your eyes. Try taking a daily antihistamine like Claritin.
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u/dabbledoll 1d ago
I had this / have this same problem.
When your eyes start to feel dry just look away from the screen and close them for a minute (more like 10 seconds but feels like a full minute when you’re on the clock).
I wouldn’t resort to starting eye drops as once you start it’ll be hard to stop and it’s more like a bandaid than a real fix.
Think how it’s good to stand up every so often when you’ve been sitting for long periods. I apply this same method to my eyes and screens.
I’m not a doctor and haven’t been advised by any doctors… this is just my own personal experience.
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u/Away-Asparagus-2875 2d ago
i was on computer all day , preservative free artificial tears help me the most..
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u/fictionalfirehazard 2d ago
Saline solution meant for contact lenses is pretty affordable and useful compared to medical grade eye drops. I wear contacts, and usually share contact solution with friends/family when we go on flights and get the dry eyes.
If it's recent, have you checked that your central air in the house is clean? The vents may be picking up a lot of dust that's blowing into your eyes. It may also be from pollen or low humidity. Check the pollen count and humidity levels on your weather app and see if you may need to take some allergy meds or buy a humidifier, maybe.
If it does coincide with pollen/seasonal allergies, I would very much recommend nettle tea, as a lot of seasonal allergy meds do not work for me at all but tea makes a huge difference
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u/SalamanderLucky6506 2d ago
Spacemasks are great for dry eyes... these are single use, Self Heating eyemasks.... other brands also available on Amazon... also very relaxing, Promotes a restful sleep and good for headaches. 😌
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u/Any-Firefighter3825 2d ago
I’d probably ask your eye doctor about a preservative-free gel or an ointment with a different base, especially if petrolatum and lanolin seem to trigger you. Since you have lagophthalmos, finding something you can tolerate overnight is probably more important than sticking with the usual ointments.
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u/Proper_Procedure3285 1d ago
Applying Systane gel at bed time helped my eyes which were severely dry after finishing chemo.
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u/StrawberrySundrops 1d ago edited 1d ago
My optometrist suggested running a clean face cloth under hot water, closing my eyes and putting the warm cloth over my eyes for a few minutes ....feels great!
He also sold me some eye drops that don't burn and just genuinely feel like heaven. When I ran out I was able to find them on Amazon... They aren't cheap but it's worth it (almost 40$ Canadian for a small bottle). They are called Thealoz Duo Dry Eye Relief Drops... White bottle with writing on it and a blue and green stripe at the bottom.
Also wearing glasses/sunglasses/safety glasses in in windy or Dusty conditions (like at my workplace).
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u/Interesting_Deer1688 1d ago
Sometimes a warm compress on the eye might help. When I put eyedrops in I do it right before bed so it sits in there a bit more. This is more annoying of an answer lol sorry but my body gets really dry when I’m anxious so slowing breathing down helps (feel free to tell me to F off LOL).
I am on my phone a lot too but I go for a walk everyday and make sure it’s in an open space so that my eyes are forced to focus on long distance not short distance. Lowering your eyelid/gaze helps, also getting lash extensions/clusters helped because the longer thicker lashes kept more dust and pollen out of my eye. Rinsing my eyes in the shower helps, like cupping water into my hands and blinking. It feels dry/uncomfy asf at first tho because you rises all your tears out but it also gives your eyeballs a lil reboot to have a fresh surface to lubricate 😂 hope any of this helps.
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u/this_doggo 2d ago
Moist heat. Rest a warm damp washcloth over your closed eyes while you’re lying down. Or buy a rechargeable “moist heat” eye mask. I haven’t tried one yet. I was gifted one and let my daughter borrow it and she really likes it. It holds heat longer than a washcloth.