When your eyes feel uncomfortable, they’re trying to tell you something—and you shouldn’t have to just push through it. 👀 You can tell if your eyes are dry by looking for common signs like a scratchy feeling, redness, and even watery eyes. Dry eyes can sneak up on you in different ways—even when your eyes feel watery, not dry.
Understanding these signals is the first step toward finding relief. This discomfort often points to a simple cause, which is why it’s good to see an eye doctor with experience with various dry eye therapy strategies to provide effective solutions.
That way, you can get back to enjoying the California sunshine without eye irritation. 🌴
Common Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye is more than just dryness—it can show up in surprising, annoying little ways. Dry eyes don’t always feel “dry.” You might notice:
- A scratchy, stinging, or gritty feeling, like sand is in your eye
- Watery eyes (yes, even too many tears can be a sign!)
- Sensitivity to light ☀️
- Redness or eye fatigue
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Fluctuating Vision
If your eyes feel scratchy by afternoon or tired after staring at screens, you’re definitely not alone. 😮💨
What Causes That Dry and Irritated Feeling?
Between sun, wind, and long screen hours, your eyes work overtime—especially in Long Beach. Healthy tears keep your eyes smooth, clear, and comfortable. They are a special mix of water, oil, and mucus. When this mix gets out of balance, your eyes can feel dry.
Not Enough Tears
Sometimes, your eyes just don’t produce enough tears to stay properly lubricated. This lack of tears can happen due to many things. A few common reasons we see people with dry eye are:
- Age
- Side effects of medications
- Related to another health condition
Poor-Quality Tears
Your tears need the right balance of water, oil, and mucus to work correctly. The oily layer, produced by meibomian glands along your eyelids, is essential. If the layer evaporates too quickly, the surface of your eye is left unprotected. For this type of evaporative dry eye, effective treatments like OptiLight by Lumenis can help restore balance and provide relief.
Everyday Habits That Can Make It Worse
Certain things can make you more likely to experience dry eye symptoms. Some of these factors you can control. Others are just a part of life.
- Age and hormones: Tear production often slows down as you get older, and research shows that aging is a primary risk factor for dry eye
- Your environment: Spending time in windy, smoky, or dry places can dry out your eyes
- Screen time: You tend to blink less when you focus on a screen, which can lead to digital eye strain as your tears are not spread across your eyes as often
- Contact lenses: Wearing contact lenses can contribute to eye dryness over time for some people
Long Beach sunshine is amazing—but the sun + ocean breeze combo can definitely leave your eyes feeling dry.
Simple Lifestyle Tips for Happier Eyes
Mild dry eye symptoms often improve with a few simple tweaks to your day—little habits that keep your eyes feeling cozy and comfortable. ✨These simple habits can help keep your eyes more comfortable. Here are some quick, everyday habits we love recommending: 👇
- Stay hydrated: Water helps your whole body, including your eyes
- Take screen breaks: Look away from your screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds to give your eyes a rest
- Add moisture to the air: A humidifier can add moisture to the air in your home or office
- Protect your eyes outdoors: Wear quality sunglasses to shield your eyes from wind and sun
How an Eye Doctor Can Help Your Dry Eye Symptoms
If home fixes aren’t helping, don’t tough it out—your eyes deserve real relief! We can pinpoint what’s really going on and create a personalized plan to help you feel better.
An eye exam helps find the cause of your discomfort. Your eye doctor can look at your tear production and quality. This testing helps explain the reason behind your symptoms. We offer customized solutions, from gentle in-office treatments like OptiLight to everyday at-home care plans. So you can finally feel real, lasting relief and get back to enjoying your day comfortably. 💙
Explore Your Treatment Options with Us
If persistent eye dryness affects your daily life, don’t keep “toughing it out.” There are practical solutions that require zero downtime. Let us help you find a path that works for you.
You don’t have to let dry, irritated eyes take over your day. A little clarity about what’s causing it can make a big difference. 🌿We’ll take the time to listen, test, and tailor a treatment that fits your lifestyle. Reach out to our Sea View Optometric team in Long Beach—we’re here to help your eyes feel calm, clear, and comfortable again.
