Dry Eye Syndrome in South Florida: What You Need to Know

Dry eye is surprisingly common, affecting millions of Americans—not to mention having a rather confusing name as the condition can often cause your eyes to water excessively. The climate can also have an effect on symptoms, with hot, dry weather exacerbating them. But did you know that a warm, humid climate can also have negative effects?

Suffering from dry eye syndrome in South Florida or any other location with similar weather patterns can cause particular challenges. While humidity can sometimes bring an element of relief, many things that go hand-in-hand with that glorious, never-ending sunshine can also mess with your tear production.

The Curse of Air Conditioning

Air con is a way of life in South Florida. You hop from sunny sidewalk to icy cool office, then swap that outdoor café table for the fridge-like interior of your car. You probably even sleep in air conditioned comfort… But that blissfully cool environment plays havoc on your tears, leaching the moisture from the surface of your eyes and potentially increasing symptoms, such as:

• Stinging.
• Redness.
• Light sensitivity.
• Grittiness and irritation.
• Blurred vision.

The same goes for fans, because the increased air movement can also have a similar effect.

OK, but if you suffer from dry eyes in Boca Raton, for instance, you’re not going to want to turn off the a/c when the mercury is hitting the high 90s… So, what’s the answer? Well, because the lack of moisture in an air-conditioned area is one of the known environmental causes of dry eyes, the antidote is to add back the humidity. This is easily done at home with a humidifier. Add a hygrometer to monitor the levels and, ideally, keep humidity at around 45% to help your eyes stay comfortable.

You should also make sure that moisturizing eye drops are your constant companion. Buy a few bottles and keep them everywhere—in your pockets, purse, desk drawer, glove compartment of your car… Quite literally, everywhere. And use them liberally…

If your dry eyes are caused by allergies, then your eye doctor may advise particular types of eye drops to further combat this. These might contain mast cell stabilizers and/or antihistamines. 

Sand, Sun, the Ocean, and the Glory of Outdoor Life

Well, maybe not so much glory for South Floridians with dry eye…

Getting dust and sand in your eyes, salt from that cooling ocean swim, or chlorine from your daily laps of the pool can all make your dry eye worse. Chlorine is especially bad because it strips away the oily film that’s needed for healthy tears. Plus, summer sun means everyone gets the grill out. BBQ smoke is an irritant at the best of times, let alone when it wafts into the face of someone with dry eye syndrome.

Tips for combatting all this summer “fun” include:

• Wear sunglasses: Because sunlight makes your tears evaporate faster. The more they cover your eyes, the better—with wraparounds being the ultimate choice.
• Drink water: And plenty of it. Hydrating from the inside is the foremost way to increase the moisture in your body, which is necessary for your lacrimal glands to make tears.
• Use warm compresses on your eyes: Not only does this feel great, it also helps stimulate oil production for healthy tears. Just soak a face cloth in warm water (not too hot), wring it out, and place over your eyes for a few minutes.
• Use a nasal spray that promotes tear production: Varenicline (Tyrvaya) can help activate the tear production pathway to increase the quality of tears and reduce dry eye symptoms.
• Use goggles when swimming: This can help protect your eyes from chlorine. You might also want to wear them when swimming in the ocean. Although salt water can potentially be advantageous for dry eye sufferers, it really stings when it gets in your eyes… This could make you rub them more, which in turn can make dry eye irritation worse.

Of course, understanding what is causing your dry eyes in the first place is the key to managing dry eyes. Seeking help from an eye doctor is the first step. They’ll be able to determine if your condition is because of an allergy or another reason and provide the relevant treatment.

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For anyone living in Boca Raton or South Florida, the West Boca Eye Center offers outstanding dry eye syndrome treatment.

Find out more and book a consultation at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/services/dry-eyes-allergies

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