Dry eyes from air conditioning

The dry air from air conditioning and heating can affect the health of your eyes. Although air conditioning does create a comfortable room temperature in the summer heat, this often causes dry eyes, which are not only annoying and uncomfortable, but also increase the risk of an eye disease, such as 

• a bacterial, viral or fungal infection
• inflammation, e.g. conjunctivitis, corneal inflammation, inflammation of the eyelid margin
• generally stressed cornea and conjunctiva that react with irritation

Nearly everyone knows that burning, itching or tearing sensation of dry eyes after a long-distance flight, train journey or a long day at the office. The eyes just feel irritated and tired. The cause of this lies, among other things, in dry room air, which promotes early evaporation of the tear film. But it is not just the cool air-conditioning vents that are a problem for the eyes; the dry air from central heating in winter also has this effect.

If you notice you have symptoms of dry eyes, you should do something about it as soon as possible to avoid chronic dry eyes or eye inflammation. In the first instance, lubricating eye drops help to protect the surface of the eye from drying out and give it back the lost humidity.

But there is more you can do. Here are 8 tips for dealing with dry eyes:

• Avoid air-conditioned or strongly heated rooms. Of course, this is not always possible, but try as best you can to avoid dry indoor air.
• Air the room regularly and give your eyes fresh oxygen. Short spells of airing several times a day bring fresh air into the room. Furthermore, a short walk outdoors really does wonders for stressed eyes.
• Blink several times in quick succession to stimulate the production of the tear film. Because if the eyes are kept open for too long, staring at a screen, there is a risk of the tear film rupturing prematurely.
• Drink enough fluids. Around two litres of mineral water, unsweetened teas or diluted fruit juices are the daily guideline to keep your body and mucous membranes well supplied.
• Reduce your salt consumption. The small white crystals promote water accumulation in the tissues. Ready meals or seasonings in particular contain a lot of hidden salt. Instead, it is better to use fresh herbs for cooking. They contain valuable vitamins that are good for the eyes.
• Get a good night's sleep. On average, people need seven to eight hours of sleep. Lack of sleep affects not only your ability to concentrate, but also the health of your eyes.
• Maintain air humidity. Of course, you don't have to freeze in winter, but small bowls of water placed on the heater to humidify the air can help against dry air from the heating system.
• Draughts and the air vents in the car also dry out the eyes. Therefore, never set the air vents pointed at your eyes and avoid draughts as much as possible.

If this does not reduce your symptoms, you should always consult an eye specialist for advice. Because dry eyes can be effectively treated.