I talked with PS Health (POPSUGAR) about some surprising causes of dry, irritated eyes, and what you can do about them.
- Screen time: when we focus on a screen, we blink much less, so our tears evaporate. Try the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Hormones: estrogen and progesterone help keep the eye healthy, so changes in hormone levels can affect tear production and the oil glands that protect the tear film.
- Chronic health conditions: autoimmune diseases and diabetes can both contribute to dry eye. Treating the underlying condition, together with your eye doctor's care, is key.
Preservative-free artificial tears can help with many of these, and your eye doctor can recommend prescription drops if you need more.