Got Tired Eyes? 3 Common Reasons for Tired Eyes

One of the most common complaints I get from my patients that I either see in the office or online in a telehealth visit is, "Why are my eyes so tired?"  And then, the patient usually elaborates with something like this, "I don't know what they're doing, they're just tired. I wake up, and they're tired. I drink my coffee, and they're tired. Why am I so tired all the time?"  Today, I will review three reasons why your eyes are tired.

#1) Your Eyes are Dry

Most Americans are using digital devices constantly.  Whether it's computers, phones, tablets, or even watches.  You are using these electronics for up to eight hours a day. Sometimes you may even use two at a time. You're on the computer and you're on your cellphone all at the same time.  You can't escape these digital devices. The devices were developed to make your lives easier, and now you're glued to them all the time, regardless of the problems they are creating for your eyes.

When you're using a computer or digital device, your blink rate decreases.  There is a decrease of up to three times less blinking while using a digital device.  This is compared to the blink rate during normal conversation or even reading a hardcover book.

When the blink rate decreases, the front surface of your eye is not getting moisturized as it should.  The eyelids contain oil glands, and blinking expresses a little bit of oil and spreads it out over the front surface of our eyes. The oil lubricates your eyes and makes them feel more comfortable.  When you don't blink the watery portion of your tears dries out very quickly into the air. 

Digital devices can make this lack of blinking even worse.  You tend to have more partial or incomplete blinks on these devices.  Incomplete blinks occur when lids aren't coming closed all the way. The lids come down, but they're not closing completely. The end result is even less oil in the tears than you should have. 

That is the reason why your eyes feel tired when you've been on a digital device for long periods of time.   If you would like some tips on how to make your eyes feel less tired when you're using your digital devices, you can download the Digital Eyes Strain Relief guide.

The Digital Eyes Strain Relief guide will walk you through setting up your computer for your best productivity.  It has a gear guide for suggested products to use on your computer and an infographic with specific measurements for setting up your entire workstation. 

#2) Your Eyes are Surrounded by Toxins

If you are anything like me, you probably love wearing makeup.  And, research shows that women use an average of 12 personal care products a day. The number of products used daily would not be a problem, except for the number of toxins included in the ingredient list of each product. 

In the US, the FDA only eliminates 11 ingredients from personal care products. Basically, they do not screen or eliminate toxic chemicals from getting into the products that we put around our eyes and our eyelids all day.  Compare this number to the European Union.  In the EU, they have banned over 1,300 chemicals from their personal care products.

Unfortunately, many toxic chemicals are getting into our personal care products.  And, the skin of the eyelids is four times thinner than the skin on our face.  Thus the ingredients in our creams, lotions, mascaras, and eye shadows are penetrating the skin of your lids very quickly and getting into your bloodstream.

These chemicals affect your systemic health and the delicate structures in the eyelids.  They can cause damage to your eyes which leads to chronic dry eye problems.  These same toxins cause wrinkles and irritation.  Get started eliminating toxins in your beauty routine by reading about the importance of clean makeup products here.  You can also download the guide to eye makeup removers for sensitive eyes here. 

#3) You're Not Practicing a Daily Eye Care Routine

You know how to take care of your body.  You were taught this by your health teacher in 5th grade, your mother, and probably even your grandmother.  You know that for a healthy body, you need to sleep, exercise, eat healthy foods, and drink water every day.

You were also taught, early in life, how to take care of your teeth.  You use a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash every day, twice a day even, to take care of your teeth. 

But, most Americans don't have a routine to take care of their eyes on a daily basis.  And, your vision is your most precious sense. If you lose your teeth, you get dentures.  It's not so easy to replace your eyesight.

So, how do you take care of your eyes?  I advocate using four simple steps to take care of your eyes.  The first step is to HYDRATE them. I like to use an artificial tear to add moisture to the front of the eye.  My current favorite over-the-counter brand is Optase Dry Eye Intense drops.  It's a preservative-free drop in a bottle. I love this because it has some sodium hyaluronate which attracts water to the front surface of your eye, and it's super comfortable.

The second step is to HARMONIZE the front surface of your eye by using a lid and lash cleanser.  Zocular is one of my favorites.  It's a foaming cleanser.  Pump a bit onto your finger.  Then, rub your two fingers together so that you have some on each finger, close your eyes and scrub right at your lash line.  The product kills the bacteria that can get overgrown on our lids and lashes and cause redness and irritation.

The third step is to HEAT the eyelids to melt the oils which could be trapped in the lids.  I advocate using a warm compress mask. There are some called a Bruder mask that you can put in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Then, lay over your eyes for as long it stays warm, about 8 to 12 minutes. You can also get an electronic version of that mask that plugs into a USB port.

The last step of the four simple steps to take care of your eyes is to HEAL the dryness by supporting your body to make a healthy tear film.  Taking a dry eye supplement each day gives your body the building blocks it needs to produce healthy tears.  My favorite is called HydroEye. It contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals to help you maintain a healthy tear film. 

Repeat these four simple steps twice a day, just like brushing your teeth, and your eyes will thank you for it.

CONCLUSION

There are three main reasons that your eyes are tired. Number one is that they're dry because you're not blinking while you're on your digital devices.  Number two is that they're covered in toxins.  Unless you're using a CLEAN makeup routine, you are putting chemicals on your eyelids every day.  Most beauty products have toxic ingredients in them that will cause damage to the delicate structures in your lids over the long term.  And, the third reason your eyes are tired is that you're not following a daily eye care routine.  There are four simple steps you can take daily to ensure healthy eyes and vision.