Eye Drops: Is It Possible to Overuse Them?

Eye drops are a big help when your eyes become dry, red and irritated. Because they offer immediate relief from various eye issues and they are readily available in stores and pharmacies, it can be easy to see why there is some worry about overusing this over-the-counter (OTC) medication. In fact, experts agree that prolonged or frequent use of eye drops can worsen your eye problem.

Vienna Eyecare Center, a trusted provider of glasses and contact lenses, shares more information about the risks of overusing eye drops.

Types of Eye Drops

OTC eye drops are used for varying purposes. That is why you can find different types of eye drops being sold in stores. Typically, eye drops can be categorized as artificial tears or medicated eye drops.

Artificial tears are mainly used to maintain moisture. They contain electrolytes or thickening agents, and they can be made with and without preservatives. Eye care experts recommend single-dose, preservative-free eye drops if you are using them frequently.

Medicated eye drops, on the other hand, contain sympathomimetics, which work by vasoconstriction. When blood vessels dilate from irritation, the drops help clamp down the superficial blood vessels, taking away the irritation or redness. This, however, is opposite to how the body naturally repairs such problems.

A subset of medicated eye drops is allergy eye drops. These drops contain antihistamines, and their use for a long time can increase irritation and dryness.

Risks of Overusing Eye Drops

If you feel that you have become too dependent on eye drops, make sure to undergo an eye exam so that your eyes can be properly assessed. Some of the risks of overusing eye drops include:

• Rebounding – As mentioned earlier, eye drops clamp down on blood vessels to stop the irritation. However, this method means that your sclera won’t be getting the oxygen and nutrients needed. So when the effects of the eye drops wear off or when you stop using the drops, your eyes may work harder in delivering oxygen to the blood vessels.
• Concealing more serious problems – Eye drops can only address symptoms such as itchiness and redness. They do not target the cause of these symptoms. So instead of treating the problem at the root, your dependence on eye drops might only be masking more serious problems in your eyes.
• Washing away natural tears – Artificial tears are quite helpful in lubricating your eyes and helping with insufficient tear production. However, overusing these drops can actually wash away your natural tears and the natural moisturizers of your eyes.

Vienna Eyecare Center offers personalized eye care services, ensuring that all your optical needs are met. We also have a range of eyeglasses and contacts made of excellent quality. Call us at (703) 938-7633 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment. We serve customers in Fairfax, Reston, and Tysons Corner, VA.