Dry Eyes After 50: Simple Ways to Find Relief

If your eyes suddenly seem to have turned into the Sahara Desert, getting older may have handed you another little surprise nobody bothered to mention. Lol.

I don’t struggle with dry eyes now, but I certainly remember what they felt like.

Years ago, I wore contacts that I could leave in overnight for up to two weeks at a time. Looking back, I’m not sure why I thought sleeping in contacts for days on end sounded like such a wonderful idea, but convenience won me over.

Almost every morning, I would wake up with dry, uncomfortable eyes and immediately reach for Refresh eye drops. It got to the point where using them was simply part of my morning routine.

Eventually, I stopped wearing contacts altogether. These days, I wear glasses when I’m driving, and thankfully, dry eyes aren’t something I regularly deal with anymore.

But I haven’t forgotten how frustrating they were.

Why Do Our Eyes Get Drier As We Get Older?

Dry eyes can become more common as we age, especially for women going through or past menopause.

Our eyes need a healthy tear film to keep the surface lubricated and comfortable. Changes in tear production and how quickly our tears evaporate can leave our eyes feeling gritty, irritated, tired, or even watery.

Yes, watery.

Apparently, even our eyes can be contrary. Lol. Excessive watering can sometimes happen when irritated, dry eyes respond by producing more tears.

Other things can make dryness worse, too, including dry indoor air, heating and air conditioning, wind, smoke, spending long periods looking at screens, and certain medications.

If you’re having persistent dry-eye symptoms, this is one of those situations where I would involve your eye doctor rather than continually trying one product after another.

There are several causes of dry eye, and what works for one person may not be the right solution for another.

If you’re experiencing eye pain, significant redness, discharge, sensitivity to light, or changes in your vision, don’t assume it’s simply dry eyes. Those symptoms deserve a call to your eye doctor.

A Humidifier May Help If Your House Is Dry

Have you ever noticed that everything feels drier when the heat starts running?

Your skin feels dry. Your lips feel dry. Your hair has enough static electricity to power a small appliance. And your eyes may notice the difference, too.

Dry moving air can encourage tears to evaporate more quickly, so adding moisture to particularly dry indoor air may make your environment more comfortable.

A humidifier isn’t going to fix every cause of dry eye, but it may be worth discussing with your eye doctor if your symptoms seem worse during winter or when your heating or air-conditioning system is running constantly.

If you’re already thinking about adding one to your home, I have a more detailed post on how to choose the right humidifier for your home in winter.

Molekule Glow Humidifier

This Molekule Glow Humidifier is definitely one of the prettier humidifiers I’ve seen. If something is going to sit out in my bedroom or living room every day, I appreciate it when it doesn’t look like a piece of hospital equipment.

It is a higher-end choice, so I wouldn’t buy it solely because your eyes occasionally feel dry. But if you’ve already been looking for a humidifier for your bedroom or another frequently used room, it’s an attractive option.

Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-NOx

The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH2 De-NOx is definitely an investment, but it combines air purification, humidification, and cooling in one machine.

I could see this making more sense for someone who is already shopping for both an air purifier and a humidifier rather than someone looking for a simple dry-eye solution.

I also like that it can be useful throughout the year instead of spending half its life packed away in a closet.

Levoit OasisMist Smart Humidifier

For a more affordable option, take a look at the Levoit OasisMist Smart Humidifier. A humidifier in the bedroom might be particularly helpful if the air gets very dry at night.

Just remember that humidifiers need regular cleaning. Adding moisture to your bedroom is one thing. Starting your own little science experiment inside the water tank is another. Lol.

Warm Compresses Can Be Simple and Soothing

A warm compress is one of those wonderfully simple things that can feel SO good on tired, irritated eyes.

Eye doctors sometimes recommend warm compresses when dry-eye symptoms are associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. The meibomian glands are tiny glands along our eyelids that produce oils that help keep tears from evaporating too quickly.

This is another area where knowing why your eyes are dry matters. If your eye doctor recommends warm compresses, you certainly don’t need an elaborate gadget to get started.

But convenience can make it much easier to do something consistently.

MyHalos Heated Eye Mask

The MyHalos Heated Eye Mask gives you consistent warmth without repeatedly warming a washcloth. I like the idea of being able to put one on, close my eyes, and sit quietly for a few minutes.

Frankly, after spending half my life looking at my computer, I wouldn’t need much convincing. Lol.

Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress

The Bruder Moist Heat Eye Compress is made specifically for moist-heat therapy around the eyes. It’s microwave-activated, so you don’t have to plug it in, charge it, or deal with cords.

This would be an easy option to keep at home if your eye doctor has suggested adding regular warm compresses to your routine.

Aroma Season Heated Eye Mask

The Aroma Season Heated Eye Mask is another reusable option. What I like about an actual eye mask instead of a warm washcloth is simple: it stays put.

I’m much more likely to continue doing something regularly if it doesn’t require balancing a dripping washcloth across my face while trying not to move. Lol.

CorneaCare Rest Warm Compresses

If you don’t want another gadget to clean, heat, or charge, the CorneaCare Rest Warm Compresses are single-use warming eye masks.

I could see these being particularly useful for traveling. Toss a few in your toiletry bag, and you don’t have to worry about finding a microwave or packing another cord.

What About Eye Drops for Dry Eyes?

This is probably what most of us think of first. When my eyes bothered me years ago, reaching for eye drops became part of my morning routine.

But there are many different types of eye drops, and they’re not interchangeable.

Lubricating drops, also called artificial tears, are designed to add moisture and lubrication to dry eyes. Drops marketed mainly for reducing redness may work differently.

That’s something I didn’t think much about years ago. I simply wanted my eyes to FEEL BETTER.

If you’re reaching for drops frequently, ask your eye doctor which type is most appropriate for you.

iVIZIA Lubricant Eye Drops

These iVIZIA Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops are preservative-free lubricating eye drops designed specifically for dry eyes. Preservative-free drops can be particularly useful for some people who need lubricating drops frequently or whose eyes are sensitive to preservatives.

I wouldn’t assume that one bottle is automatically right for everyone, though. If you’re needing drops regularly, this is one of those inexpensive products that’s still worth asking your optometrist or ophthalmologist about.

Your eyes aren’t a good place for trial and error.

Your Computer May Be Making Dry Eyes Feel Worse

I spend a LOT of time looking at a computer screen, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. When we’re concentrating on a computer, phone, tablet, or even a book, we tend to blink less frequently.

Less blinking means the tear film covering the surface of our eyes doesn’t get refreshed as often, which can contribute to dryness.

That’s why I’m not recommending special blue-light glasses as a treatment for dry eyes. Blue-light filtering gets plenty of marketing attention, but it hasn’t been shown to treat dry eye itself.

Instead, the boring advice may actually be more useful.

• Look away from your screen periodically.
• Blink several times intentionally.
• Give your eyes a break.

And pay attention to the air around you. If a ceiling fan, heater, or air-conditioning vent is blowing directly toward your face all day, try repositioning yourself.

Sometimes the smallest change is the easiest place to start.

A Few Free Things You Can Try for Dry Eyes

Before buying anything, pay attention to when your eyes bother you.

• Do they feel dry when you first wake up?
• After several hours on your computer?
• While reading?
• When you’re driving?
• When the heat comes on?
• When you’re sitting underneath a ceiling fan?

That information may help you and your eye doctor figure out what’s contributing to the problem.

If your home is extremely dry, especially during winter, a humidifier may be worth considering.

And if your eye doctor recommends warm compresses, consistency is probably more important than owning the fanciest eye mask on the internet.

Dry Eyes After 50 Aren’t Something You Have to Ignore

One of the funny things about getting older is how easy it becomes to blame everything on age.

Knee hurts? Getting older.
Can’t remember why you walked upstairs? Getting older.
Eyes feel dry? Getting older.

Sometimes age certainly plays a role, but that doesn’t mean we should simply put up with symptoms that are bothering us.

My dry-eye problems improved after I stopped wearing contacts, and thankfully, I don’t deal with them regularly anymore.

But if you’re constantly reaching for eye drops, waking up with gritty eyes, or finding that dryness interferes with reading, driving, wearing contacts, or doing things you enjoy, mention it to your eye doctor.

There may be a simple solution, but first you need to know what’s causing the problem.

Have your eyes gotten drier as you’ve gotten older? Have you found anything that helps? Let me know in the comments because I have a feeling a LOT of us have dealt with this one!

Did you find something helpful in today’s post? Share it with a friend or save it to Pinterest so you can find it again later. That simple click also helps more women over 50 discover our little corner of the internet, and I truly appreciate it.

Are You One Of The GURLS?

Join the Gurls and get my newest posts delivered straight to your inbox. I’ll share everyday outfit ideas, honest fit details, beauty finds, and a little life along the way.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Verse Of The Day

1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.