Get Rid of Dry Eyes With an Ultrasonic Humidifier
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What is the Best Home Remedy for Dry Eyes?
Dry air can cause tears to evaporate more quickly, leading to the irritating condition known as “dry eyes”. Today, I’m here to talk about how you can get rid of dry eyes with an ultrasonic humidifier.
If you spend a lot of time with the heat or air conditioner running, you might find that your eyes are much more dry during these times.
And staring at a computer screen for hours on end doesn’t help.
In recent years, I have found that my eyes are more dry than they used to be, which is even more noticeable when looking at screens. (Particularly my laptop screen as I write this post!)
Do your eyes feel dry or strained while you’re working at the computer?
If you’re continuing to work from home this summer or you’re going back to the office, and you spend a lot of time indoors, you might find yourself looking for ways to get rid of dry eyes.
A small, cool mist ultrasonic humidifier can add moisture to the air, which will slow down the evaporation of tears from your eyes.
A small, cool mist ultrasonic humidifier can add moisture to the air, which will slow down the evaporation of tears from your eyes.Click To Tweet
They’re easy to use: Simply add tap water to the fill line and turn it on.
As a bonus, while adding moisture to the air, an ultrasonic humidifier diffuser can even disperse your favorite essential oils into the air for a number of benefits:
- energy
- focus
- headache remedy
- odor elimination
- pleasant aroma
I am not a medical professional, and this information is not intended to replace medical advice.
Should I Diffuse Essential Oils for Dry Eyes?
While some might suggest that essential oils are beneficial for dry eyes, I was a little skeptical. I found this article about essential oils and eye safety written by researcher Robert Tisserand, and I trust that his findings are correct.
To sum it up:
- Never apply undiluted essential oils to the eyes.
- Essential oils are not commonly used to treat eye problems.
- Any product claiming to treat the eyes is a medicine, subject to the drug legislation.
- There is no evidence that applying diluted essential oils to the eyes will benefit any condition.
- While diluted tea tree oil might help get rid of eyelash mites, it should never be placed in the eyes.
So now we know that we shouldn’t put undiluted essential oils into the eyes — but would it be beneficial to diffuse them in an ultrasonic diffuser while using it as a humidifer in the office?
Again, there is no evidence that applying diluted essential oils to the eyes will benefit any condition, which means that diffusing them won’t help get rid of dry eyes either.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t diffuse essential oils while using your diffuser to add humidity to your office space.
The Best Humidifier Diffusers on Amazon
There’s no need to spend a lot of money or buy a big humidifier if you just need something to prevent dry eyes in the office.
A small ultrasonic humidifier diffuser will help prevent dry eyes if you keep it on the desk close to you.
To keep it simple, I’ve found three of the best humidifiers for dry eyes on Amazon.
1. Diffuser + Humidifier + Night Light
This is one of the most budget-friendly options, plus you can use it as a night light (it has seven different color settings!).
This is very similar to the one that I currently use, by the way. It has 4.5 stars and over 25,000 people have rated it.
2. Natural Wood Grain Look
This costs a little more, but is still very budget-friendly. It has a light, wood grain look to complement your office decor. It has 4.5 stars with almost 15,000 ratings.
3. Glass Art Mood Light
Although it only has a little over 50 ratings, this beautiful glass diffuser is also very affordable and has 4.5 stars.
It has seven different color settings, so you can change it to fit your mood, or you can choose the color that best complements your office decor.
You might also enjoy: 9 Essential Reasons to Choose a Cool Mist Humidifier
Additional Tips to Get Rid of Dry Eyes & Eye Strain in the Office
A cool mist diffuser will help add humidity to the air in your office, but if your eyes are extremely dry, you might need a few additional ideas to help alleviate the strain on your eyes.
1. Use re-wetting drops.
If you wear contact lenses, you might find that they are a little uncomfortable when your eyes are dry or strained.
It can help to use re-wetting drops as needed, and maybe even wear glasses for a little while to give your eyes a break.
My contacts used to irritate my eyes when they started to get dry, so I eventually stopped wearing them altogether (except on the rare occasion!).
2. Give your eyes a break.
When your eyes feel strained, look away from the computer for a minute and blink your eyes. If you have a window near your desk, it can help to look out as far as you can see.
Also, you might find it helpful to adjust your computer monitor so it’s about 10-20 degrees (4-5 inches) below your eye level.
3. Rehydrate by drinking water.
When was the last time you drank a glass of water?
You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again: More than half of the human body is made up of water.
I can tell when I’m getting dehydrated because my eyes, lips, and skin start feeling really dry. If your eyes are getting dry, it might be worth upping your water intake and seeing if it helps.
4. Use a warm compress.
For immediate dry eye relief, run hot water over a washcloth, wring out the excess water, and place the washcloth over your eyes for a few minutes.
The steam from the warm washcloth will help soothe your eyes (and you get to grab a few minutes of relaxation!). If you have a little more time, you can try placing cucumber slices over your eyes to help soothe and hydrate them.
5. Check your diet.
Do you have chronically dry eyes? Take a look at your diet.
According to Allaboutvision.com, these are the best foods are superior sources of omega-3 fatty acids and are great for improving dry eyes:
- Salmon
- Halibut
- Sardines
- Herring
- Oysters
- Tuna
- Kale
- Spinach
- Brussels sprouts
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Flaxseed (and flaxseed oil)
- Peanut butter
- Oatmeal
- Walnuts
And you might need to try eliminating a few things, such as coffee (I hate to say it, but coffee can be dehydrating!). Smoking and alcohol are a couple other culprits.
This video will explain some of these dry eye remedies in detail, plus provide some additional ideas for getting rid of dry eyes.
Conclusion
If you work at a computer, you might find that the dry air is causing eye strain. A cool mist ultrasonic humidifier can add moisture to the air, which will help slow down the evaporation of tears from your eyes.
While essential oils aren’t likely to help get rid of dry eyes, there are a number of things you can do in addition to using an ultrasonic humidifier diffuser.
Look away from the computer every so often, and use re-wetting drops if you wear contact lenses. Use a warm compress or cucumber eye mask. Add more of the good to your diet (water and fatty foods), and eliminate anything that is dehydrating.
If you are still experiencing chronically dry eyes or your vision becomes blurry, please consult with a health professional to find out what’s going on.
Read More:
What’s the Best Essential Oil Diffuser for Kids?
Top 9 Essential Oil Diffuser Benefits to Improve Your Health
Diffusing Essential Oils for Colds & Cough