Dry eyes can be a very common condition, but despite how common it may be, it’s still a physically uncomfortable, and potentially painful condition. People of all ages can experience dry eyes, but it’s important to identify it in your children, as they may not know what’s wrong. Know some common causes and treatments of dry eyes in children and take the necessary steps to protect your kids.

Cause: Electronic Screen Time

Playing with iPhones and iPads, using the computer, or watching television for long periods can cause a case of dry eyes. We subconsciously blink less frequently when we watch a screen. Blinking less frequently poses a problem because the motion spreads moisture over our eyes; the less we blink, the less we moisturize our eyes.

Solution: Frequent breaks

The best way to combat dry eyes during screen time is to set alarms for periodic breaks. These breaks will allow your child to get some time away from the screen, rest their eyes, and allow them to fall back into their natural blinking rhythm.

Cause: Dry Environments

The human eye naturally creates moisture through our tear ducts, and as we mentioned, blinking spreads the moisture all over the eyeball. However, a dry environment can cause dry eyes regardless. A dry environment includes your region’s climate and the inside of your home, or even a specific room.

Solution: Humidifier

The easiest way to introduce more moisture into the air at home is to use a humidifier. These machines will ensure your rooms don’t have dry environments and can protect your child’s eyes after they come home, whether from school or playing outside in dry conditions.

Cause: Allergic Reaction

Allergies can cause all sorts of eye problems, and it can be difficult to identify a specific cause. More pollen in the air or an allergic reaction can cause inflammation in the eyes.

Solution: Precautionary Methods

The solution to an allergic reaction can vary. Therefore, you must speak with your family doctor to find the root cause of the reaction, so that you and your child will know what to avoid in the future. In the meantime, eye care products can help treat the symptoms after exposure, significantly decreasing discomfort.

Take Whatever Steps Necessary

Identifying the issue as soon as possible and implementing the necessary treatments is essential when determining the causes and treatments of dry eyes in children. Your child may not know how to articulate the problem at first. So, knowing their symptoms and what you can do to alleviate them is vital.