{"id":36291,"date":"2018-12-27T10:48:10","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T05:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.1mg.com\/articles\/?p=36291"},"modified":"2019-03-25T19:25:17","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T13:55:17","slug":"stop-blaming-your-computer-screen-for-watery-eyes-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1mg.com\/articles\/stop-blaming-your-computer-screen-for-watery-eyes-heres-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop Blaming Your Computer Screen For Watery Eyes. Here\u2019s Why!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Most of us spend hours at a stretch staring at a computer screen. Be it spending almost nine\u00a0<\/span>hours at the office or just relaxing at home after work hours or during weekends, we are stuck to\u00a0<\/span>our computer screen. And when the eyes start watering, we tend to blame computer screen. But\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s high time you should STOP blaming the computer screen only for watery eyes. This is because\u00a0<\/span>right from exposure to <\/span>air pollutants <\/b><\/a>and bright lights to allergies, there are various factors\u00a0<\/span>which can cause watery eyes. Here are some of the common causes of watery eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Causes Watery Eyes?<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the common causes of watery eyes is the excess strain on the eyes which is caused due\u00a0<\/span>to increased screen time, whether it is a TV, computer or mobile phone. In addition to eye strain,\u00a0<\/span>there are several possible reasons that could be responsible for watery eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bright lights: <\/b>Most of us might have experienced watery eyes when exposed to bright lights\u00a0<\/span>including sunlight. This is because, the eyes become sensitive to bright lights (also known as\u00a0<\/span>photophobia), which causes redness, itching, and watery eyes. When the eyes are exposed to\u00a0<\/span>bright lights it produces excess tears which in turn causes watery eyes. To protect your eyes\u00a0<\/span>from sunlight and other bright lights, it is wise to wear sunglasses when traveling outdoors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Air pollutants: <\/b>The eyes are one of the sensitive organs which are prone to irritation from\u00a0<\/span>chemicals, gases, fumes, allergens, and pollutants present in the air. Due to an increase in the\u00a0<\/span>level of indoor and outdoor air pollution, many people do complain of redness and itchy eyes,\u00a0<\/span>especially when the pollutants levels are high. Exposure to these pollutants, in the long run, can\u00a0<\/span>cause chronic discomfort and irritation of the eyes leading to watery eyes[1]. One of the\u00a0<\/span>effective ways to beat indoor air pollution is to <\/span>get an air purifier <\/b><\/a>which keeps the air fresh and\u00a0<\/span>prevents the eyes from the harmful effects of pollutants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conjunctivitis: <\/b>Commonly known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the eyes\u00a0<\/span>either due to bacteria, virus, any foreign material or allergens. As the eyes are inflamed, it leads\u00a0<\/span>to redness and causes watery eyes. Some of the other common symptoms of this condition\u00a0<\/span>include blurry vision, mucus in the eyes and redness of the inner eyelids. Consult a doctor to\u00a0<\/span>know the cause of the inflammation and get it treated. Also, avoid touching the eyes with your\u00a0<\/span>hands as it can further worsen the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allergies: <\/b>The effect of allergens on the eyes is often not taken seriously. Exposure to\u00a0<\/span>common allergens such as pollens, pet hair, mites, fumes, and chemicals can cause the eyes to\u00a0<\/span>become red, itchy and watery. Beware of the allergens including <\/span>indoor air pollutants <\/b><\/a>that can\u00a0<\/span>cause irritation and redness of the eyes and lead to an allergic reaction. Although\u00a0<\/span>over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops are used to subside the allergic reaction, it is wise to consult\u00a0<\/span>a doctor to get treated than try out home remedies or OTC medicines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry eyes: <\/b>Yes! Dry eyes can also cause watery eyes[2]. Constant exposure to bright lights\u00a0<\/span>and screen drains off water from the eyes. This causes the eyes to produce more tears to keep\u00a0<\/span>the eyes moisturized. As a result, dry eyes can lead to an excess tear production which in turns\u00a0<\/span>causes watery eyes. If you spend most of your time on computers, consult your doctor on how\u00a0<\/span>to treat watery eyes and prevent dry eyes syndrome. Additionally, do limit your screen tim<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>whenever possible to reduce the overall effect on the eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blocked tear ducts: <\/b>It is a condition in which the tear ducts which carry away tears is\u00a0<\/span>blocked. Normally, tears drain into the nose through an opening near the nose. If the tear ducts\u00a0<\/span>are not fully open or blocked due to any condition, it causes accumulation of the tears. Excess\u00a0<\/span>accumulation of tears leads it to flow out which causes watery eyes. Do consult your doctor if\u00a0<\/span>you have persistent watery eyes as it could be due to blocked tear ducts which need to be\u00a0<\/span>treated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rheumatoid arthritis: <\/b>An inflammation of the eyes is one of the common symptoms of\u00a0<\/span>rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune condition where the immune system produces\u00a0<\/span>antibodies against the body\u2019s own cells. As a result, different parts of the body are attacked by\u00a0<\/span>the immune cells. In some cases, the eye membrane, which is known as the conjunctiva, gets\u00a0<\/span>inflamed, which causes watery eyes along with redness and itching of the eyes. In some cases,\u00a0<\/span>it can also cause pain in the eyes and discharge from the eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bottom-line: <\/b>Spending hours at a stretch staring at a computer screen might not be the ONLY\u00a0<\/span>reason for watery eyes (although it is a major reason). Right from pollution to rheumatoid\u00a0<\/span>arthritis, watery eyes might require you to consult a doctor to know the exact cause and treat the\u00a0<\/span>underlying condition. However, in some cases, such as watery eyes due to indoor air pollution,\u00a0<\/span>simple changes in your house such as <\/span>investing in an air purifier <\/b><\/a>might do the trick. So stop\u00a0<\/span>blaming only the computer screen for watery eyes and get to the root cause of it to keep your\u00a0<\/span>eyes healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article is sponsored by <\/i><\/b>Honeywell Air Purifiers<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

References:<\/b><\/p>\n

1. Klopfer J. Effects of environmental air pollution on the eye. J Am Optom Assoc. 1989\u00a0<\/span>Oct;60(10):773-8. <\/span>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/2685084<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Golden MI, Fries PL. Dry Eye Syndrome. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2018\u00a0<\/span>Jan. <\/span>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK470411\/<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Schargus M, Geerling G. [Diagnosis and treatment of the watering eye]. HNO. 2017\u00a0<\/span>Jan;65(1):69-84. <\/span>https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/27904918<\/span><\/p>\n

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