Eye tears dry up with exposure to air, whether it comes from fans or otherwise, and this dryness causes burning eyes, and possibly keratitis if it is severe, and it is easy to use artificial tear drops and resume sitting in front of the fans as if nothing had happened, but can't fans be used while keeping eye moisture.

 

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Edited by| Christian Megan

 

Health  section -  CJ journalist

 

World – August,10,2023

 

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Yes, fans can cause dry eyes, even if you are sleeping ; the eye may open a little, or not close completely, allowing air to flow into it, drying it.

The "healthline" website has pointed out that the exposure of the eye to a push coming from the air to it, whatever its source, leads to dry eyes, and therefore some may advise not to sit in front of the fans directly for this.

How does dry air affect the eyes

When the eye is exposed to dry air, or the weather is dry, moisture is automatically withdrawn from it; the tears of the eye consist of three layers, forming a protective barrier, and its thickness varies between 7 - 9 Nm, covering the surface of the cornea.

This barrier protects the eye from infection, provides it with oxygen and nutrients, frees it from harmful elements, and provides the necessary moisture to protect the eye from drying out.

So when eye tears dry up after exposure to dry fan air, a person may feel burning eyes, blurred vision, and his chances of infection may increase, and Contact Lens Wearers are the most susceptible to such problems.

Severe dryness of the eye after the fan is shed on it may lead to "Exposure Keratitis", which is a type of inflammation caused by the lack of tightness of the eye, so when sleeping, the eye does not close completely, but there remains a small outlet, leading to dryness and irritation of the eye, and if dryness is pre-existing, the use of fans may worsen it, causing exposure keratitis .

How to prevent dry eyes due to fans

It depends on how correctly the fans are used, so as not to harm the eye, and from that :

1. buy a rotary fan

Fans are types, and it is preferable to use a rotary fan; as it does not push the air in one direction, but circulates it throughout the room, which reduces the severity of dry eyes, and does not expose them to the air of the fans constantly, and this also protects against dry mouth and nose, neck stiffness, and muscle pain.

2-keep the fan at a distance from you

Do not sit directly in front of the fan from zero distance, but keep it away from you by 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90 cm), as here the air will not harm you as much as if it were close, and you will not lose the coolness provided by the fan, and this, of course, will reduce the severity of dry eyes.

3. Use a water bowl in front of the fan

I have learned that dry air is the tip of the problem, so humidifying it is a suitable option to save the eye from drying out, and this can be done by placing a bowl of water in front of the fan, as it makes the air humid.

Also, during the summer, you can put ice cubes in the water to keep the water cool, and cool the room temperature even more.

4-Sleep Mask

If you use fans during sleep, your eyes may not close tightly in the midst of deep sleep, then it may be advisable to use a sleep mask to prevent air from getting into the eyes.

5-additional tips

Finally, do not sit in front of the fans too much if you do not really need them, and it is also not recommended to turn them on at full speed unless the need requires it, especially during the night, this will keep the eye moist, and prevent it from drying out as much as possible.

 

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