The Reason Your Eyes Are Dry and Itchy (It's Not Allergies)

If you are dealing with dry and itchy eyes that aren’t caused by allergies, you’re in good company. It’s a common issue for many people, particularly as they grow older. (Though it is interesting to note that it’s becoming more common in younger people since their eyeballs are glued to computer screens all day long). 

Most often the main reason for your dry and itchy eyes? You’re simply not producing enough tears or enough oil in your tears, says Jennifer Yu, MD, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of Service at the 4-West Clinic at Harborview Medical Center, in an article for Right as Rain by UW Medicine.

"You're constantly producing tears to moisten and lubricate your eyes. And if — for whatever reason — you're not making enough to keep up, your eyes get really dried out, and that can cause that sensation of dryness and itchiness. It can also cause redness, blurring of the vision and overall discomfort,” says Dr. Yu.

Top tips for keeping your eyes healthy 

Yu likes to keep it simple when it comes to maintaining eye health: 

• Always have artificial tears on hand just in case you have a dry and itchy eye flare-up. 

• NEVER sleep in your contact lenses and make sure you’re not wearing them for really long periods of time. When it comes to timing, different kinds of contacts have different recommendations  — so follow your eye doctor's advice about wearing and replacing them.

• If you’re glued to a computer screen throughout the day, close your eyes for five minutes every hour to give your eyeballs a break.

• Incorporate a warm compress for your eyes into your daily routine — this is a great way to pamper your eyes and keep them happy long-term.