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Summer is a time for sun, fun, and relaxation, but for many, it also marks the peak season for dry eye struggles.
Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), also known as dry eye disease (DED) or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is characterized by insufficient lubrication on the eye’s surface. It’s more than just looking or feeling tired.
As Mayo Clinic explains, “Dry eye disease is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren’t able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Tears can be inadequate and unstable for many reasons. For example, dry eyes may occur if you don’t produce enough or poor-quality tears. This tear instability leads to inflammation and damage of the eye’s surface.”
Believe it or not, this condition affects millions globally. While the warm weather and bright sun are typically welcomed, they bring unique challenges to eye health, including increased exposure to UV rays, outdoor irritants like wildfire smoke, and screen overload from prolonged device use.
Whether you’re out enjoying the sunshine or glued to a screen indoors, summer can exacerbate dry eyes, leaving you with irritation, redness, and discomfort. Below, we explore the causes behind summer’s dry eye surge and discover eight expert-backed tips to feel better and see clearly.
If you have dry eye syndrome or struggle with dry eyes in the summer, read on.
Why Are Dry Eyes Worse in the Summer?
While dry eyes can strike year-round, several summer-specific factors make the condition more pronounced. These include environmental triggers like increased UV exposure, wildfire smoke, allergens, and lifestyle habits like more screen time and extra time spent in air conditioning.
UV Rays and Outdoor Exposure
Spending more time outdoors in the summer means more exposure to harmful UV rays, which can cause eye irritation, dryness, and increase the risk of eye infections. UV rays can damage the cornea without protection, which plays a crucial role in tear production. This can lead to an aggravation of dry eye symptoms.
While all this Vitamin D and sun exposure during the summer months can be great for mental health, your eyes may suffer as a result.
Wildfire Smoke
As wildfires increase in some regions during summer, the smoke and particulate matter in the air can severely irritate the eyes. Wildfire smoke can cause redness and dryness, and even trigger allergic reactions in people with sensitive eyes. This irritant can lead to inflammation, making it harder for eyes to produce sufficient lubrication, increasing the risk of infections, or worsening existing dry eyes.
As the University of Utah writes, “Smoke from summer wildfires can travel hundreds of miles. With it come micron-sized particles made of solids and liquids that wreak havoc on our health and float in the atmosphere long after the smoke has cleared.
Sometimes, the particles can affect us before we even smell the smoke. In addition to their harmful effects on breathing, these particles may land and stick in our eyes, causing burning sensations, tearing, and redness. For those with dry eye syndrome, it’s even worse. The smoke is also a challenge for contact lens wearers.”
They advise staying indoors in an area affected by wildfires, resting with a cold washcloth on your closed eyelids, and wearing wraparound glasses or goggles. Also, avoid rinsing your eyes with tap water, as it can change the chemical makeup of your tears.
Screen Overload
More time spent indoors due to the heat or on vacation means more time spent in front of screens. Whether it’s your phone, computer, or TV, the blue light emitted from these devices contributes to increased eye strain, exacerbating dry eyes. Staring at screens for extended periods reduces your blink rate, meaning fewer tears are spread across the eyes, which leads to discomfort.
Swimming Pools
Another common eye irritant is a favorite summertime activity: swimming pools.
As Healthline explains, “Many people look forward to cooling off in the pool on hot summer days. If you have chronic dry eye, it’s worth taking a few precautions. Chemicals used in swimming pools, such as chlorine, can irritate the tear film on your eyes. This is the layer of tears that protects the eye. Chlorine can cause the water in this film to evaporate, leaving your eyes dry and vulnerable to irritation and infection.”
To reduce the effects of chlorine and other pool chemicals, it’s best to use eye drops before and after swimming, always wear goggles, and wash your eyes with fresh, cold water. Also, remember to always remove contact lenses before swimming.
What Else Can Summer Do to Your Eyes?
Business Standard reports a few more examples of summertime eye struggles:
“Long hours in the sun without protection can lead to several eye issues:
● Pinguecula: A harmless, yellowish bump on the white part of your eye that can cause dryness and discomfort
● Pterygium: A fleshy growth that may spread onto the cornea and affect vision if ignored
● Dry Eye Syndrome: Caused by increased tear evaporation due to UV rays, heat, and dry air
● Cataracts: Prolonged UV exposure speeds up the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurry or dim vision over time.”
As you can see, summer is an especially important time to take extra good care of your eyes!
8 Tips for Conquering Summer Dry Eyes
If you’re experiencing increased dryness or irritation in your eyes, these tips can help you manage the condition and protect your eyes throughout the warmer months.
1. Wear Sunglasses with UV Protection
Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is essential to maintaining overall eye health. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection are a simple but effective way to shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Look for sunglasses that also wrap around the sides of your eyes to help prevent wind and dust from entering and further irritating the eyes.
2. Stay Hydrated
Hydration plays a key role in the health of your eyes. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day helps keep your body hydrated, ensuring the tear glands produce enough moisture to lubricate the eyes. Consider adding moisture-boosting foods like cucumbers and watermelon to your diet, which are high in water content and will further hydrate your body.
3. Use Artificial Tears
If your eyes feel dry and scratchy, artificial tears can help provide immediate relief. There are different types of eye drops that need different considerations. Eye drops like Restasis, Cequa, Xiidra, and Miebo are available to help restore moisture and reduce inflammation; Restasis and Xiidra are prescription options, designed to target the underlying inflammation, while Cequa and Miebo are often used to enhance the tear film and promote hydration.
For extra cooling relief, you can keep the drops in the refrigerator, which will provide an even more pleasant effect when you use them.
4. Limit Screen Time
Summer brings more outdoor activities, but if you’re indoors, reduce your screen time to minimize the chances of screen overload. A common recommendation is the 20-20-20 rule, which advises looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to rest your eyes. Adjusting the lighting around your screens to reduce glare can also help minimize strain.
5. Consider a Humidifier
Air conditioning may cool the air but it can also dry it out significantly. A humidifier adds moisture to the air, helping prevent dry eyes caused by dry indoor environments. Set up a humidifier in your living room or bedroom to maintain moisture levels, particularly during the hot summer when the air is drier.
6. Use an Anti-Reflective Screen Filter
For those who can’t avoid screen use, consider using an anti-reflective screen filter or glasses containing blue-light blockers. These filters help reduce glare, while glasses that block blue light can minimize the strain caused by extended exposure to screens, thus reducing dry eye symptoms.
7. Wash Your Eyes and Eyelashes Regularly
Keeping your eyes clean is crucial, especially during summertime when allergens and irritants are more prevalent. Use a gentle, preservative-free eyelid cleanser to remove pollen, smoke particles, or other debris. Regular eyelash hygiene helps prevent blockages in the meibomian glands, which secrete oils that help keep the eyes lubricated.
8. Consult an Eye Specialist
If your dry eyes persist despite trying over-the-counter treatments, it’s time to consult an eye specialist. They can help diagnose underlying conditions, such as blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction, which can contribute to chronic dry eye. An ophthalmologist or optometrist may also recommend prescription eye drop treatments like Restasis or Xiidra, or suggest other therapies like punctal plugs to prevent tears from draining too quickly.
Preventing Eye Infections Due to Dryness
Summer dry eyes can increase your risk of eye infections due to insufficient lubrication and exposure to environmental irritants. Keeping your eyes moist with artificial tears and managing irritants like wildfire smoke and UV rays will reduce your risk of infections.
Infections can occur if debris, bacteria, or viruses are trapped on the eye’s surface due to dry eye conditions. It’s important to avoid rubbing your eyes, which can introduce bacteria, cause further irritation, or even lead to conjunctivitis (pink eye). Regular cleaning and proper hygiene practices can go a long way in maintaining eye health during the summer months.
Summer brings beautiful days of sunshine, but it also presents unique challenges for eye health. Dryness caused by wildfire smoke, strain from long hours in front of screens, or simply exposure to UV rays can aggravate dry eye symptoms during these warmer months.
By following these eight tips—from wearing UV-blocking sunglasses to using artificial tears or even prescription eye drop options if needed—you can prevent discomfort and keep your eyes fresh. Remember that prevention is key, and if symptoms persist, don’t hesitate to seek the appropriate medications or professional medical care to maintain optimal eye health.
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