When Dry Eye Flares During Fall

Fall is the favorite time of year for many of us. The air is crisp, the leaves are gorgeous, and football is back. 

But fall sometimes comes with an uninvited visitor: dry eye. This condition occurs when your eyes can’t adequately lubricate themselves, which can lead to symptoms such as eye irritation, itching, burning, watering, eye fatigue, and feeling as if something is stuck in your eye.

Many of our patients at Berkeley Heights Eye Group in New Providence, New Jersey, experience this annual occurrence. Here’s why it happens — and what you can do about it.

Why does dry eye flare during the fall?

Dry eye is more prevalent in the fall due to several environmental factors.

The biggest culprit is the drop in humidity. As the air outside becomes drier, and we turn on our heaters inside (which also dries out the air), the amount of moisture in the air drops dramatically. 

Drier air accelerates the evaporation of your tears, leaving your eyes feeling scratchy and uncomfortable.

Wind is another factor. Fall breezes may feel nice, but they quickly dry out the tear film on the surface of your eyes, which can lead to irritation. 

Allergens such as ragweed, pollen, and mold spores also increase in the fall; they can land on the surface of your eye, causing irritation and inflammation, especially if your tear layer has been disrupted.

Fewer daylight hours also drive people inside more, where they tend to spend more time looking at screens. That can lead to less blinking, which distributes tears and maintains proper lubrication; your eyes dry out.

How can you prevent dry eye?

There are several ways to fight dry eye. Run a humidifier at home to keep moisture in the air at a more comfortable level. Do that especially in your bedroom and areas where you spend the most time. Aim for a humidity level of 40%-50%. Limit your exposure to allergens, if possible.

Lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) can help keep your eyes moist and lubricated. When it comes to screens, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. That gives your eyes a break and keeps them from becoming too dry.

How is dry eye treated?

If you still experience dry eye after preventive measures, we can try a couple of treatments at the office. Plugging your tear ducts (where your tears drain) with small, removable silicon plugs can keep your natural tears in your eyes longer, easing your symptoms. 

We can also provide eye drops that stimulate your eye’s natural tear production.

For more advanced cases of dry eye, there’s surgery to block your tear ducts and/or reduce tear evaporation.

If you’re already suffering from dry eye this fall, our team at Berkeley Heights Eye Group is happy to help. To schedule your visit, call our office or request an appointment online today.