Why Your Eyes Feel Drier in Florida, and What Helps
Florida is humid, so dry eye can seem like a problem for desert states. But many people here spend most of the day indoors with the air conditioning running, drive with the vents aimed at their face, sleep under a ceiling fan, and squint through bright sun and wind at the beach. All of that can leave eyes feeling dry, gritty and tired.
Signs of dry eye
- Burning, stinging or a gritty, sandy feeling
- Watery eyes (the eye overproduces poor-quality tears when it’s irritated)
- Blurry vision that clears when you blink
- Red eyes, or eyes that feel tired by the end of the day
- Contact lenses that feel uncomfortable after a few hours
Why it happens
Air conditioning and fans dry the air right around your eyes and speed up tear evaporation. Screens make us blink less. And many people have blocked oil glands along the eyelids (meibomian gland dysfunction), which makes tears evaporate faster. Some medications, hormone changes and age can play a part too.
Simple things that help
- Point car vents and fans away from your face
- Take screen breaks and blink fully, especially during long computer sessions
- Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to block sun and wind
- Use preservative-free artificial tears as directed
- Try warm compresses on the eyelids to help the oil glands flow
When to see an eye doctor
If your symptoms don’t improve, keep coming back, or affect your contact lens wear or driving, a dry eye evaluation can find out why. At our offices inside Visionworks, our doctors evaluate dry eye and offer treatment, including punctal plugs, which help keep your natural tears on the eye, and amniotic membranes, which help the surface of the eye heal. At our East Lake office we also offer TearCare. Read more about dry eye treatment and amniotic membrane therapy.
Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Saturday at all of our offices inside Visionworks.
Questions from former patients
Why are my eyes dry in Florida if it’s humid?
Much of the day is spent in air conditioning, in cars with vents blowing and under fans, all of which speed up tear evaporation. Screens and bright sun add to it.
Can watery eyes be dry eye?
Yes. When the eye surface is irritated, it can produce extra watery tears that don’t lubricate well, so dry eye often shows up as watery eyes.
What are punctal plugs?
Tiny plugs placed in the tear drainage openings in the eyelids. They help keep your natural tears on the eye longer and can ease dry eye symptoms.