Stay Hydrated for Happy Eyes

Wet eyes aren’t always a sign of crying. The eyes need wetness to stay lubricated and functioning. If you want to have healthy and happy eyes, drink lots of water so you don’t become dehydrated. You’re probably familiar with the fact that dehydration can cause a whole host of health problems. Especially in relation to your kidneys, but dehydration can also cause problems with your eyes and vision as well.

Dehydration occurs when there is not enough fluid in the body. Water is essential for keeping your organs functioning properly. If you’re not drinking enough water or if your body is losing fluids, you will become dehydrated.

When your body begins to lose too much fluid, it will try to preserve the fluid that is still left. This leads to the development of dehydration symptoms such as increased thirst. These symptoms are uncomfortable, but they’re even worse for people with pre-existing conditions. When your eyes are no longer able to produce tears, they can’t stay lubricated. This leads to eye strain, dry eye, and problems with your vision.

Dry Eye

Tears are necessary for keeping your eyes lubricated and providing you with clear vision. They also work to wash away any debris that gets in the eye such as dust, dirt, or eyelashes. And, they help to decrease the risk of developing eye infections. If you have dry eyes, this is usually due to the fact that there is not enough tear production. It can be a result of being dehydrated.

Notice if your eyes are irritated, your vision is blurry, or it feels as though there is something in one. Most likely, you are experiencing symptoms of dry eye. You can use eye drops to help lubricate your eyes and lessen the symptoms of dry eye. You can also use them to wash out your eye if there is debris in it. But the best way to treat dry eyes is to rehydrate your eyes by drinking lots of water.

Eye Strain

One common eye problem caused by dehydration is eye strain. However, eye strain can also be caused by spending too much time focusing on visual tasks. Like using a digital device, such as a computer or tablet, for long periods of time. Symptoms of eye strain include blurred vision, double vision, headaches, and eye fatigue. If your eye strain is occurring due to dehydration, you can rehydrate your eyes by drinking more water. You can also relieve the symptoms by allowing your eyes time to rest. And, blinking or closing your eyes.

Avoiding Dehydration

To ensure your eyes stay happy and healthy, you should avoid dehydration as much as possible.

Staying hydrated requires you to drink plenty of water every day. It is recommended that you drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water or more on a daily basis. Don’t only drink water when you feel thirsty. Having bottled water (store-bought or refilled from home) on hand is a good idea. Carry it with you so you can drink throughout the day. Always have bottled water with you when you are going to spend time outdoors in the heat. Drink water constantly when you are doing any kind of physical activities. Ensure your children are drinking enough water each day. This is especially important in the summer when they play outside.

Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

In addition to making sure you stay hydrated, take other measures to keep your eyes and your vision healthy. The first of which is to make sure you’re getting your eyes examined on a regular basis.

This post originally appeared on Rebuild Your Vision.