Yes, proper hydration and eye health are connected. Just like much of our bodies, our eyes are made up mostly of water. With water being an essential component in our eyes, it should be no surprise that dry eyes can be caused by dehydration and lead to vision-related problems such as redness, burning, scratchy eyes, sensitivity to light, watery eyes, blurred vision, and eye fatigue.
About 83% of the interior of our eyeballs are filled with a jellylike substance called vitreous humor, and it’s made up of 98% water. The other 17% is filled with a liquid called aqueous humor.
Dry eyes is a condition when your tear ducts are no longer producing enough tears, causing a loss of moisture in your eyes. Decreased tear production can be caused by medical conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders, and vitamin A deficiency.
While many of us may dismiss these vision-related problems as temporary ailments, they can have a severe impact on our health and lead to long-term vision loss and impact the quality of our lives.
As we get older, our tear production tends to diminish. Both men and women can experience dry eyes after the age of 50. Women, however, are more likely to suffer from dry eyes due to hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, birth control, and menopause. People who wear contact lenses are also more likely to suffer from reduced production of tears.
Medications like antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure, acne, birth control, and Parkinson’s disease can also reduce tear production in the eyes.
Tear evaporation, which occurs from increased exposure to wind, smoke or dry air, and blinking less due to spending hours reading, driving, or staring at screens, can also cause dry eyes. It’s important to note that many people today suffer from eye strain caused by spending excessive amounts of time in front of a computer, TV or phone screen.
Without proper hydration, our eye cannot produce tears and maintain moisture levels; this ultimately leads to blurred vision, eye strain headaches, and can even cause loss of sight.
Here are some essential tips on how to improve dry eyes:
Stay Hydrated.
It makes natural sense that if dehydration is causing your dry eyes, drinking more water should help. And while many people may think that consuming water alone may solve their dry eyes, it’s not just about drinking more water. According to medical experts, it’s critical to maintain a proper level of electrolytes or “osmotic gradient” between the tear film and ocular surfaces, which are essential to regulating adequate cell function and homeostasis.
Studies published in the Experimental Eye Research found an imbalance of electrolytes can cause many eye-related pathologies, including dry eye.
Patients with dry eyes due to Sjogren’s Syndrome and Lupus have found that drinking Hydrus helps improve whole-body hydration throughout the day and provides relief. Hydrus is more effective in relieving dry eyes and restoring osmotic balance in the body and its organs because Hydrus’ exclusive Nanosome(TM) technology encapsulates electrolytes in phospholipid nano-particles to deliver electrolytes faster and more effectively (about 50% greater water and electrolyte absorption) than conventional sugary- and sugar-free electrolyte drinks or water alone
Get Your Eyes Examined
Rather than trying many topical over-the-counter treatments, it’s essential to get your eyes inspected by a professional regularly. They are the ones who can accurately determine the cause of your dry eyes. As discussed earlier, an optometrist may be able to determine if you need a different type of contact lens or if a visit to an ophthalmologist is required.
Reduce Your Screen Time
Adults spend an average of 11 hours a day staring at a computer, phone, tablet, TV, or another electronic device. And while much of it is unavoidable, it’s essential to make sure to take breaks, especially if you spend a lot of time staring at a screen at work. Taking a quick standing break to stretch every hour and avoiding backlit displays an hour before bed, two ways to reduce screen time without impacting productivity.