Do Air Purifiers Help With Dry Eyes? (Here Are The Facts!)

  • Author: Irene Batres
  • Date: September 26, 2022
  • Time to read: 6 min.
Affiliate Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Dry eyes can be a major, and painful, problem. 

It can be caused by a variety of factors and can lead to other problems like contact lens discomfort and irritation, and even damage to the eyes. 

It can be hard to get relief and even harder to get to the root cause of the problem. 

However, when it comes to air purifiers many companies advertise them for helping dry eyes. 

But, do air purifiers help with dry eyes?

In this post, we will be answering this and many other questions on this topic.

Let’s jump in.. 

Do Air Purifiers Help With Dry Eyes?

Fortunately, air purifiers with a HEPA filter have been scientifically proven to get rid of dust and other outdoor pollutants that cause dry eye syndrome symptoms. Most air purifiers also get rid of indoor pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOC).

If you are experiencing dry eyes, you should consider looking for an air purifier. They have been proven to help improve air quality in your home. 

Can Poor Air Quality Cause Dry Eyes?

Recent studies have found that poor air quality can be a cause of dry eyes. Dry eyes, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a common eye condition. 

The dryness causes the eyes to become irritated and inflamed. And this is a progressive disease and can lead to a more serious condition called keratoconus. 

Dry eyes can be caused by a number of factors, including: 

Outdoor and indoor pollutants such as dust, aerosol sprays, cigarette smoke, and fumes from building materials and cleaning products can trigger the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome. 

If you live in an area with higher levels of these pollutants, your eyes may feel worse because the air is drier.

Can Lack Of Humidity Cause Dry Eyes?

A lack of humidity means the air is dry, and dry air can cause the eyes to feel scratchy, itchy, and irritated. A lack of humidity increases the evaporation rate of tears, so dry eyes are more likely to occur.

Can The Environment Cause Dry Eyes?

Although, dry eyes are a very common eye condition that can be caused by several factors in the environment. 

These factors include the following among others:

Poor air quality: Pollutants such as dust and aerosol sprays can trigger the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

High-heat or low-humidity environments: High heat increases evaporation, which dries out eyes, while a lack of humidity makes it more difficult for your body to produce tears naturally. If you spend time in these kinds of places, consider using air purifiers to help alleviate symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

Windy environments: Wind exacerbates the signs and symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

What Should I Avoid If I Have Dry Eyes?

If you have dry eyes, you want to avoid the following as much as possible:

Windy environments: Wind makes the eyes feel scratchy, itchy, and irritated.

Extreme temperatures: Heat increases evaporation while cold air reduces tear production. Both of these conditions worsen dry eye syndrome symptoms.

Airborne pollutants: These pollutants, such as dust and aerosol sprays, trigger the signs and symptoms of dry eyes.

Certain medicines: Some medicines such as anti-depressants, antihistamines, and a few blood pressure medicines can increase dry eye syndrome symptoms.

Dry air: If there’s a lack of humidity in your home or workplace, you might want to get a humidifier to help with dry eye syndrome symptoms.

Stress: Stress can make the signs and symptoms of dry eyes worse, so you want to try to reduce stress as much as possible if you have this condition.

Treatments for Dry Eye

Dry eyes are annoying. They sting, burn, itch, and are generally uncomfortable. It can be hard to focus on work or even read a book when all you can think about is your eyes. 

So, what is the best way to treat dry eyes?

Here are some various treatment options to help your dry eye quickly:

Eye drops

Eyes drops will help lubricate the eyes and alleviate dry eye syndrome symptoms. You can get over-the-counter drops for this purpose, but it’s important to talk with your doctor first because these drops may not work if you have a severe case of dry eyes.

Steroid eye drops

This is another type of treatment for dry eyes that you can get over-the-counter. These eye drops work by reducing inflammation and making it easier to produce tears naturally.

Artificial tear gel or ointment

These forms of artificial tears require a doctor’s prescription but will help with dry eye syndrome symptoms because they add moisture back into the eyes, relieving dryness, itchiness, and irritation.

Special contact lenses

You can also try wearing special contact lenses to help with dry eyes. These contacts are made of a material that’s more breathable than regular contacts, which makes it easier for your eyes to produce tears naturally.

Medications

You may be put under certain medications to reduce dry eyes. They include cholinergic and cyclosporine.

Surgery

If none of the treatments above work, you might want to consider surgery as an option. One type is called Punctal occlusion, which uses plugs to close the tear ducts that drain tears away from your eyes.

Another type is called tarsorrhaphy, which closes off part of your eyelid to keep it from moving as much and thereby reduce evaporation rates. Both procedures are done under local anesthesia.

Benefits Of Using An Air Purifier For Dry Eyes

Your air purifier gets rid of allergens, pollutants, dust mites, and pet dander in the air to help with dry eyes. Cleaner indoor air can also reduce symptoms of allergies or asthma that may make your dry eye syndrome worse.

Negative Side Effects Of Air Purifiers For Dry Eyes

There are not any side effects of using air purifiers if you have dry eyes. As already discussed, air purifiers improve the air quality in your home or workplace, which can reduce dry eye syndrome symptoms.

So if you are looking to get an air purifier to help alleviate the signs and symptoms of dry eyes, go for it. 

However, you’ll want to look for an air purifier with a HEPA filter as it is among the most effective at removing pollutants in the air.

When To See A Doctor For Dry Eyes

Severe dry eye syndrome can lead to more serious eye problems, including corneal damage or a loss of vision, so you’ll want to see your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Your doctor will recommend treatments that can help with dry eyes, such as eye drops or artificial tears. If yours is a more serious case, you may have to undergo surgery to treat this condition.

You should also see a doctor if you have any other symptoms along with dry eyes, such as redness or pain in the eye area.

Final Thoughts- Is An Air purifier Good For Dry Eyes

Using a good-quality air purifier can help with dry eyes. It purifies the air by getting rid of pollutants and allergens that may worsen your dry eye symptoms.

An air purifier with a HEPA filter is the most effective at removing dust, pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and other particles in the air, which may increase dry eye symptoms.

However, when it comes to dry eyes, there are many different causes. The best way to determine the cause of your dry eyes is to see your eye doctor. 

You can do this by visiting your local eye doctor. 

We hope you were able to learn more about air purifiers and whether or not they can help with dry eyes! 

If you have any further questions or concerns about this topic, do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks for reading!

Looking For Air Purifier Guides?

If you’re looking for more air purifier resources, consider checking out our other post on air purifiers.

Related Posts