Did you know that dry eyes are more common in winter and spring? This is due to seasonal changes like lower indoor humidity and high winds, which can lead to dry eyes and discomfort.

Many of us turn to the internet as soon as we have symptoms, which is convenient and can be helpful. However, it may be difficult to differentiate misinformation from facts, and you may be misled. This is especially dangerous when it involves your health. As winter approaches, we want to debunk some commonly believed myths about dry eye.

Myth #1: “Can I use baby shampoo to clean my eyelids?”

Many people believe that baby shampoo can be used to clean the eyelids as a way to prevent blepharitis, a common eye condition that makes your eyelids red, swollen, irritated and itchy. Research has shown that baby shampoo isn’t sufficient in reducing the bacteria and inflammation caused by blepharitis. Instead, use products recommended by your eye doctor such as eyelid cleansers or eyelid wipes.

Myth #2: “Is the only symptom of dry eye dryness?”

Dryness is just one symptom of dry eye. Other symptoms include:

• Itchy eyes
• Sore eyes
• Gritty eyes
• Red eyes
• Blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Eyes more watery than normal
• Tears drying up
• Decreased tear production

Dry Eye Disease is also a side effect of other conditions such as Glaucoma, Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Lupus. Symptoms may vary based on the type of dry eye condition you have.

If you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment at Beyond Vision for assessment and to discover treatment options.

Myth #3: “Can I use tea bags to treat my dry eyes?”

Using tea bags to treat dry eye is a popular home remedy because of the heat, however, it is not an effective treatment. We recommend using a heated mask, such as the Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress to treat your dry eyes. Bruder Masks have patented bead technology to retain heat to give it a consistent temperature in order to soften up the clogged oil glands of your eyelids.

Myth #4: “Do warm compresses cause any damage to my eyes?”

Warm compresses are a safe treatment option, unless they are too hot. Always check the temperature before placing the compress on your eyelids. You should also limit the use of a warm compress to twice a day and follow your eye doctor’s recommendations.

Myth 5: “If I use eye drops, will I produce enough tears?”

Yes, you will continue to produce enough tears while using eye drops. Eye drops don’t stop the production of tears. Instead, they lubricate the eyes and help maintain moisture on the outer surface of your eyes.

Myth #6: “Did a particular event or incident cause my dry eyes?”

No, a particular event doesn’t cause dry eyes. If you’re experiencing dry symptoms, you probably had dry eye before, but were asymptomatic. Our team at Beyond Vision can detect early signs of dryness before symptoms, which is why it’s important to visit regularly for a checkup.

Myth 7: “Does dry eye disease only impact older people?”

Dry Eye Syndrome is more common for people over 50 years old, and women experiencing menopause, but Dry Eye Syndrome can affect people at any age. There are multiple factors that affect your likelihood of developing Dry Eye Syndrome including age, living in a dry environment, eye injury, vision correction and spending too much time staring at technology screens.

If you have concerns about your eye health, give our trusted team at Beyond Vision a call or book an appointment using our convenient online scheduler. Beyond Vision has five locations allowing us to give Edmontonians the best eye care close to home.