Coping With Dry Eye in the Evenings
My eyes are always worse in the evenings. I seem to use up the few tears I do have during the day, leaving my eyes sore and tired at night. They ache and itch and feel irritated. No amount of eyedrops can make them comfortable for more than a few minutes. Sleep is the only thing that truly gives my eyes a reset and helps them feel better for the next day. This makes getting through the evenings difficult.
Focusing on family helps
Sometimes I’ll look at the clock and realize that it’s only 7 p.m, and then I think, “Two or three more hours. Can I make it until then?” I find myself wanting time to pass quickly so that I can just go to bed. But if I do, I feel guilty that I’m bailing on my family so early in the evening. In addition, activities like reading and watching television, things that I would have done previously to unwind, bother my eyes at night.
So what do I do? I try to be as present as I can be with my family. That might include watching just one show with them or reading for a few minutes while in the living room with them. Or I might help my son study for a test or work on homework.
Audiobooks and podcasts are good options
But then I’ll usually take a bath and relax. The water on my face offers my eyes some relief. I’ve also gotten really into listening to podcasts and audiobooks over the past couple of years, so I might put one on to pass the time. This activity doesn’t affect my eyes.
Next-day prep distracts me from chronic dry eye pain
Another thing that I’ll do is prepare for the next day – meal prepping or getting my work or gym clothes together. Activities like these help distract me from how my eyes are feeling. I might also sit on the floor and fold a load of laundry while listening to an audiobook.
Dim lights and yoga ease my chronic dry eye symptoms
Dimming the lights seems to help my eyes as well. When the lights are bright, my eyes are more bothered. Turning down the lights to fold clothes or to watch a TV show makes my eyes more comfortable. Simple comforts like drinking a mug of warm green tea also help distract me from my eyes. I might even get out my yoga mat and close my eyes and stretch before bed.
Sometimes sleep is the only solution
All of these activities help me get through the evenings. But when I’m really struggling, sometimes I just have to go to bed.
Do your eyes feel worse at the end of the day? If so, what things do you do to help?
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