Dry eyes - surprising causes and treatment

WHAT TO DO: If you get a diagnosis of demodex mites, using a combination of tea tree oil, warm compresses and eyelid massage can help get rid of the mites and reduce inflammation that causes

dry eye. C. Stephen Foster, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and founder of the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution, suggests applying a warm

washcloth over the eyes and using vertical strokes to massage the upper and lower eyelids. MEDICATIONS. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs ranging from antidepressants to

antihistamines to blood pressure medications can cause a reduction in tear production, leaving your eyes dry, red and irritated, according to Christopher Starr, M.D., associate professor of

ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. "You treat one [medical condition] but exacerbate another one," he explains. "When you prescribe medications that have dry

eyes as a side effect, you have to also prescribe treatment for dry eyes." WHAT TO DO: To increase tear production, Starr often prescribes Restasis, which reduces inflammation.

Over-the-counter drops can also bring temporary relief, but if you're using artificial tears more than four times a day, look for preservative-free brands (check the labels). "In

higher doses the preservatives commonly found in drops, benzalkonium chloride in particular, can be a bit toxic to the ocular surface," Starr says. "If you're only using

lubricants a few times a day, then a preserved drop is usually OK." GET THE LATEST TIPS ON PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH — AARP HEALTH NEWSLETTER SCREEN TIME. Whether it's constantly

binge-watching television or spending hours in front of your computer, all that nonstop screen time is making your eyes burn. "When you spend too much time staring at screens, you blink

less and your blink quality is reduced," says Carlson. A normal blink rate is five to eight times a minute; the blink rate drops to twice a minute when you're in front of a

smartphone, computer or tablet. When you blink less, the meibomian glands that help keep the eyes lubricated get blocked, tears evaporate and your eyes feel dry. WHAT TO DO: To increase

blink rate, Carlson suggests doing blinking exercises using the 20/20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from the screen and look at an object 20 feet away. You can even

download screensaver apps like Sprint's Evo that will pop up to remind you to take a blink break. MEDICAL CONDITIONS. The likelihood of developing dry eye increases if you have an

autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea or lupus. In fact, dry eye is often an early indicator of a chronic inflammatory disease called Sjögren's syndrome. The reason,

according to Starr: Autoimmune diseases target the ocular surface, causing inflammation that leads to dry eye.