When your eyes are dry, it's hard to focus on anything else. You may need to rub your eyes to alleviate itching, use eye drops, or try extra hard to focus on the items you're looking at. Many people with dry eyes just put up with this symptom and figure it's a fact of life. But this is not typically true. There are four common causes of eye dryness, and they are all manageable once you figure out what is going on.

Allergies

Do you notice that your eye dryness gets worse during certain seasons? If it's worst in the winter, you may be allergic to something in your indoor environment, like mold spores or dust mites. If it is worst in the summer, you might be allergic to pollen. When eye dryness is caused by allergens, your eyes may also be red and itchy. You may also notice some sneezing or nasal secretions.

Try taking over-the-counter allergy medications to keep your symptoms at bay. Your doctor or eye doctor can also prescribe eye drops that contain antihistamines, which will reduce swelling and irritation in your eyes.

Computer Time

How much time do you spend looking at your computer screen or a phone screen all day? When you stare at a screen, you don't blink as often. This can contribute to your eye dryness. To make the  practice easier on your eyes, try looking away from the screen and closing your eyes for 30 seconds every 10 minutes or so. You can also turn down the brightness on your screens. If something can be done off-screen, do it that way. Try to spend less screen time on unnecessary tasks, like playing games, too.

Past Surgeries

If you had laser eye surgery of some type in the past, your eye dryness could be a lingering side effect from the surgery. In this case, you should talk to your doctor about special, lubricating eye drops. They may also prescribe an oral medication that increases your tear production. If it has only been a few months since your surgery, be patient. Many cases of dryness continue to improve as time goes on.

Autoimmune Diseases

If you have an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren's syndrome, your eye dryness might be yet another issue associated with your condition. This could indicate that the medications you're taking for your illness are not as effective as they should be. Your doctor might change your dose or recommend a better medication to keep your symptoms under more control. You could also use supplemental treatments like drugs to boost tear production.

Don't go on ignoring your eye dryness. Talk to your eye doctor about ophthalmology services that can help get this annoying symptom under better control. 

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