This Happens When You Use Too Many Eye Drops

Itching, burning, or tearing up: Dry eyesThey can be very uncomfortable. It’s not your imagination if the problem gets worse with age.

“Dry eyes are a part of the natural aging process, and thus more dry eyes are noticed in people over the age of 65,” Says Matthew HildebrandOD, Optometrist, and Clinical Director at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers of TexasAlso, it was noted that dry eyes are more common in women who have experienced hormonal changes due to pregnancy Menopause and estrogen.”

While your first impulse may be to reach for a bottle of eye drops to relieve the scratchiness, using them too frequently—or using the wrong kind—can make the problem worse.

James KellyDr. Michael D. Clark, an ophthalmologist with the Kelly Vision Center New York City tells Best Life While he agrees that everyone should keep their eye properly hydrated with eye drop, especially in the winter, it is crucial to use proper eye drops and to know when you need to visit a doctor.

What happens if you use too many eyedrops? These eye experts shared their insights with us.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

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It’s possible that your eyes are feeling more scratchy in the winter.

“A number of factors exacerbate dry eye in the winter, including indoor heating systems, low ambient humidity, and generally cold and windy weather conditions,” Kelly says that Kelly noted that “dry eye affects an estimated 23 million people nationwide,” And that “those who spend a lot of time looking at their computer, tablet, or smartphone are at a higher risk.” Dry eyes can also be caused by diabetes, dysfunctional glands and sleep apnea.

“Other causes include antihistamines, decongestants and other medications. Blood pressure medicationsHildebrand adds:

“Typically the first way to start treatment with dry eyes would be to use over-the-counter eye drops, or artificial tears, as I like to call them,” Hildebrand “There are an extensive amount of different brands and types of artificial tears. The best ones to use are preservative-free artificial tears. These are the individual vials that most different brands will carry.”

“If the dry eye is more serious, there are prescription medications to help with dryness such as Restasis, Xiidra, or Cequa,” He explains. “There are the wrong type of eyedrops as well, such as Visine or other ‘get the red out’ type products. These do a great job of removing the redness from the whites of our eyes, but … over time it can cause rebound redness, where if you stop the drop abruptly, it can lead to recurrent redness which can take weeks to clear up.”

Hildebrand says that he prefers preservative free artificial tears, because they are “better for the eyes” long-term. “The preservatives that are inserted in a normal bottle of artificial tears to help preserve the quality of tears can also irritate the eyes if used for extended periods of time, or too frequently.”

“Using eye drops can help or hurt our eyes, depending on what and how we use them,” Hildebrand explains. “Our tear film is made up of three separate layers: inner mucin, aqueous, and outer lipid layer. For a normal tear layer to help protect the eye, all three layers need to be in perfect balance. If we start to use too many eye drops, this can disrupt that balance, which leads to irritation and pain.”

“Depending on the type of eye drops, overusing them may cause increased redness and irritation,” Kelly also adds. “For drops that are intended to decrease redness, overuse of them can lead to a condition known as rebound hyperemia, whereby the eyes become dependent on them and can become even redder when the drops are discontinued. For drops that are intended to lubricate the eyes, overuse can dilute the natural tears and result in increased discomfort.”

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Dry eyes are not a major health problem, but they should be addressed. “If left untreated, severe dry eye may damage the cornea,” Kelly warns. Kelly says that pain that becomes worse, increases blurry vision and redness, as well as discharge, are all signs to see your eye doctor. If your dry eyes aren’t responding to over-the-counter drops, this is a sign that you need to see an eye doctor. “Other medical conditions, including but not limited to thyroid or autoimmune disease” It could be the cause of your dry eyes.

“The best way to find the right balance is to seek a dry eye specialist or optometrist/ophthalmologist to moderate the treatment and track any progression,” Hildebrand recommends.

Best Life is a source of the latest information from top health professionals, researchers, and agencies. However, it is not meant as a replacement for professional guidance. Always consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions about the medication that you are taking.

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