How to Care for Your Dry Eye in Summer

Summer should be a time for fun, a time when we enjoy precious moments with friends and family, a time to relax and unwind in the sun. But for many people, summer is a time when they find the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease flaring up more than usual.

But your dry eyes don’t need to ruin the season. Once you understand what is causing your symptoms and how to manage them, you can still have the summer you’ve been waiting for all year!

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry Eye Disease is caused by a lack of moisture in your eyes, due to an issue with the quality or quantity of the tears produced.[1]. It leads to symptoms like

Blurred vision

Watery eyes

Stinging or burning sensations

A sensation of sand or grit in your eye

Red, irritated eyes[2]

The causes of Dry Eye Disease can be numerous, with lifestyle, environmental, and age-related factors all contributing to the development of symptoms.[3]

Is Dry Eye Worse in Summer or Winter?

While different seasons can bring unique difficulties, for many people, one season is worse than the other, with summer and winter having extremes of weather that can cause irritation and bring on symptoms.

One of the biggest considerations for the development of Dry Eye Disease is environmental factors, with exposure to the weather and seasonal illnesses often being tied to symptoms. As outdoor humidity drops in winter, the dryer air can aggravate symptoms, as does the heating system in your home or office.[4] In spring, hay fever can also cause many of the same symptoms of dry eye, like irritation and sore eyes.[5]

But for many people, summer is the season they’re likely to struggle with dry eyes the most. If this is you, don’t worry, we’re here to help.

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How Summer Can Trigger Dry Eye Disease

While summer can bring a lot of joy with holidays, time spent outdoors, and enjoying the heat, it can also bring stress for those who suffer from dry eyes. Many aspects of the summertime can aggravate symptoms, causing flare-ups of Dry Eye Disease.

Sun

The sun can cause issues for your eyes for various reasons. The harmful rays can make it harder to see and the heat it produces removes moisture from the air, aggravating dryness and feelings of irritation.

More than this, though, many people choose to protect themselves from the heat of the sun with suncream. While this is a smart move, it can cause more problems for dry eye sufferers as sweat can cause the suncream to enter your eyes, clogging the glands and making it hard to produce the adequate hydration our eyes need.[6]

Air Conditioning

You might find yourself running to the air conditioning to deal with the heat in summer months, but this can also cause additional dryness, aggravating your symptoms.[7]

Sand

Going on holiday this summer? Many people do, but they might find their trip away ruined by aggravation and irritation of the eyes caused by Dry Eye Disease. While you’re tanning on the beach, it’s a good idea to protect your eyes, as sand can exacerbate Dry Eye Disease. The particles can scratch the cornea, leading to discomfort and damage to the eye surface.[8]

Dehydration

During the summer months, our bodies require more hydration to be able to function and manage the temperature. Dehydration means we’re unable to produce as many tears, resulting in dry eyes.[9](9) So it’s important to manage your hydration levels and keep drinking this summer!

How to Care for Your Dry Eye Disease This Summer

If you’re looking for solutions for your Dry Eye Disease so you can still enjoy the season with the people you love the most, there are ways to tackle it:

Avoid Irritants – By not applying much makeup if you’re aware you might sweat or being careful of the delicate eye area as you’re using suncream, you can avoid irritants getting into your eyes and damaging your cornea or causing discomfort.

Avoid Triggers -  Keep your dry eyes at bay by avoiding triggers like the wind and direct sunlight.

Make Sure You’re Hydrating Properly -  Hydration is key! Especially if you’re drinking alcohol, you need to keep dehydration at a minimum with adequate water supplies throughout the day.(10)

Make Sure You’re Cleansing and Following Good Hygiene Rules -  By continuing with your three-step routine and maintaining your meibomian gland health, you’re able to continue to improve your eye health and battle symptoms.[10](10)

Use Protection -  Sunglasses should be your best friend this summer. They won’t just protect your eyes from the sun, but also the wind, dirt, and dust that can all cause irritation and that painful, gritty feeling many Dry Eye Disease sufferers report feeling.[11](11)

Manage your Symptoms - The best thing you can do to care for your Dry Eye Disease this summer is to manage your symptoms with medication and eye health products. VISUshop has a vast range of eye drops, gels, and hygiene products that can help soothe irritated eyes. Xailin® Hydrate eye drops can help to provide comfort from the symptoms of Dry Eye Disease.[12](12)

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If you’re looking for more advice on how to tackle your Dry Eye Disease, we have an entire blog section available full of intriguing articles that could provide you with the lifeline to have fun this summer.

Read more here or get involved with our Dry Eye and Me community on Facebook and Instagram. You don’t have to suffer alone.

References

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