The holiday season is a time for family, friends, festivities and, increasingly, screens. From streaming movies and online shopping to video games and social media scrolling, our eyes can spend hours glued to digital devices. While this digital downtime keeps us entertained, it also increases the risk of screen time dry eyes, a common form of digital eye strain.
Understanding why your eyes feel dry, gritty or tired during the holidays – and how to protect them – is key to enjoying the season without discomfort.
Why Dry Eyes Spike Over the Holiday Season
Dry eyes tend to worsen during the holiday months due to a combination of lifestyle, environmental and travel-related factors.
More Time on Screens
Streaming, online shopping, gaming, social media and even reading on e-books, tablets or phones means you’re spending even more time staring at screens than usual. Studies show that your blink rate can drop by up to 60% during screen use, causing increased tear evaporation and reduced lubrication of the eye surface. This makes dry eyes from computer or device use a common complaint, particularly if you like to spend time scrolling or gaming.
Travel-Related Triggers
Holiday travel adds another layer of strain. Long-haul flights with dry cabin air can accelerate tear evaporation, leaving eyes feeling dry and uncomfortable. Even shorter trips by train or car can lead to dryness, especially if you are reading or watching a screen for long periods without breaks. Dehydration from travel can also worsen symptoms, highlighting the need for proactive eye care.
Winter Environment Factors
Cold outdoor air and indoor heating create a “perfect storm” for dry eye flare-ups. Indoor heaters, radiators and HVAC systems reduce humidity, while cold winds disrupt the tear film on the eye surface. This combination makes the eyes more prone to irritation, redness and discomfort during the holidays.
Common Signs of Screen-Related Dry Eye
Recognising symptoms early is important so you can act before dryness becomes severe.
Burning or Stinging Sensation
A burning or scratchy feeling is often the first sign of digital eye strain. Reduced blinking and faster tear evaporation from screen use leaves the eyes exposed and prone to irritation.
Heavy or Tired Eyes After Digital Use
Your eyes can feel tired after long hours in front of screens. The strain comes not only from focusing on the device but also from the constant effort to maintain lubrication when blinking less frequently.
Intermittent Blurry Vision That Improves with Blinking
If your vision occasionally becomes blurry but clears after a blink, it may indicate a disrupted tear film. This is common in dry eyes from computer or prolonged tablet use.
Excessive Watering While Gaming or Scrolling
Paradoxically, dryness can trigger watery eyes. Reflex tears are produced in response to irritation but are often insufficient to maintain comfort, leading to both dryness and tearing simultaneously.
Needing Eye Drops Frequently During the Day
Frequent reliance on eye drops signals that your tear film is not maintaining moisture effectively. Preservative-free drops can help restore comfort without further irritation.
Expert Tips to Protect Your Eyes During Holiday Screen Time
Use Preservative-Free Eye Drops Before and After Screen Use
Applying 1 – 2 drops of preservative-free solutions like OPTASE Comfort Drops Drops can help maintain eye hydration and prevent irritation. Using drops proactively before and after long screen sessions is more effective than waiting until dryness becomes uncomfortable.
Follow the 20-20-20 Rule
Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple practice encourages blinking, reduces digital eye strain and gives your tear film time to replenish.
Adjust Your Screen Settings and Lighting
Reduce screen brightness, enable night mode and increase text size when possible. Avoid glare from windows or overhead lights to minimize eye strain and dryness. Ergonomic screen positioning can also make a big difference.
Stay Hydrated and Beware of Alcohol/Caffeine Overload
Dehydration can make dry eye symptoms worse – and let’s face it, holiday routines often include late nights, alcohol and caffeinated drinks – so make sure to drink plenty of water too to help support tear production and reduce dryness.
Use a Humidifier in Rooms Where You Watch TV or Work
A humidifier keeps the air moist, slowing tear film evaporation. It’s especially useful in living rooms, home offices and any room where heaters run constantly.
Safe Eye Care for Holiday Travelers
Travel brings unique challenges, but careful planning can prevent dry eyes from computer or device use during transit.
Keep Drops Easily Accessible During Flights or Road Trips
Cabin air rapidly dries out the eyes. Even short flights can worsen dryness, so keeping preservative-free drops within reach ensures relief whenever needed.
Use Eye Spray
OPTASE Protect Eyelid Cleansing Spray is a gentle yet effective cleansing spray for the hygienic care of eyelids and eyelashes. It contains 99.6% pure hypochlorous acid, providing natural protection to support daily eyelid cleansing.
Take Screen Breaks During Long Travel
When travelling try to give your eyes a break from screens by listening to audiobooks, enjoying the scenery, or just lying back with closed eyes. For children using tablets, encourage breaks to prevent screen time dry eyes and digital eye strain.
Screen Time Tips for Families and Gamers
Set Screen Time Breaks for Kids During Holidays
Build in regular breaks for physical play or daylight exposure. Use dry eye-safe drops as needed to help prevent dryness during extended holiday screen use.
Gamers: Use Drops Before, During and After Sessions
Competitive or long-session gaming can exacerbate dry eyes from computer use. Apply preservative-free drops before starting, during long sessions and after finishing to maintain lubrication. Wipe eyelids gently with OPTASE TTO Wipes if debris or makeup accumulates.
How OPTASE Can Help
OPTASE Comfort Dry Eye Spray or OPTASE MGD Advanced Dry Eye Drops
These preservative-free options are safe for frequent use and provide long-lasting hydration, making them ideal for digital dryness or mild to moderate screen time eye dryness.
OPTASE Moist Heat Mask
The OPTASE Moist Heat Mask is a reusable mask for soothing, effective symptom relief from Dry Eye, Blepharitis, MGD, Chalazion and Styes. This heated eye mask works to loosen the protective oils produced in the eyelids which are important to ensure healthy tear production.
OPTASE TTO Wipes or OPTASE LIFE Products
Gentle eyelid hygiene is essential for sensitive or dry eye-prone users. These wipes and removers clean away debris, makeup, or excess oil without irritating the eye surface.
FAQs About Screen Time and Dry Eyes
Can screen time really cause dry eyes?
Yes. Staring at digital devices reduces blink rate, leading to faster tear evaporation and dry eye symptoms. This is often called digital eye strain.
Should I use drops before or after using screens?
Both. Applying preservative-free drops before screen use helps protect the tear film and using them afterward restores hydration and comfort.
Are certain types of screens worse than others?
Smaller, handheld devices like phones or tablets tend to reduce blink rate more than larger monitors. Glare and brightness also affect how quickly eyes become dry.
Can children get dry eyes from too much tablet or phone time?
Absolutely. Children are prone to reduced blink rates when using tablets, phones, or computers. Encourage regular breaks, outdoor activity and preservative-free drops if needed.
Final Thoughts
The holidays bring joy, family gatherings and often, increased screen time. While entertainment, shopping and travel can put extra strain on the eyes, simple preventive measures like regular hydration, screen breaks, environmental adjustments and preservative-free drops can make a huge difference. OPTASE’s products are designed to support healthy eyes, whether you’re gaming, travelling, or simply scrolling through your favorite holiday content.
CTA: Protect your eyes this holiday season.
Explore OPTASE’s preservative-free eye drops, sprays and heat masks – all designed to support screen-heavy lifestyles with clinically trusted relief.
Links
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9434525/
https://www.eyecenternoco.com/blog/dry-eyes-causes-symptoms-and-solutions/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-dehydration-affect-your-eyes
