Ask any cottager what a day outdoors does to their eyes, and they might blame the usual suspects: wind off the water, campfire smoke, or dust from the gravel road. But for many Canadians, that burning, gritty sensation doesn’t end with cottage season. It has a name: Dry Eye Disease, and it’s estimated to affect roughly one in five people in this country.
Understanding what causes Dry Eye Disease
“Cottage life can involve greater exposure to elements that aggravate Dry Eye Disease,” says Dr. Nour Nofal, a corneal and cataract surgeon who practises in Ontario and Newfoundland and spends half of her time at her cottage in Gravenhurst, Ontario. “Wind, seasonal allergens, smoke from campfires or fireplaces, and low humidity – including dry air from heating a cottage – can worsen tearing, blurry vision, pain, and discomfort.”
Dr. Nofal often compares the eye to a camera. The tear film sits in front of the cornea and provides a significant part of the eye’s focusing power, she explains, so it needs to stay smooth and even for clear, comfortable vision. Dry Eye Disease happens when the eye doesn’t produce enough tears, or when the tears it does produce don’t have the right composition to do that job.
Beyond the cottage, Dr. Nofal says the list of contributing factors is long: aging, hormonal changes, autoimmune conditions, certain medications, and even previous eye surgeries. Screen time plays a role too. “People tend to blink less when concentrating on a screen for long periods, which can affect tear film stability or composition,” she says.
Dry Eye Disease is more common in women than in men – affecting about 25 per cent compared with 18 per cent – and its frequency increases with age. However, many people attribute symptoms such as burning, grittiness, and blurred vision that worsens throughout the day to allergies, screen fatigue, or aging.
Living with everyday symptoms
Martin Bonomo didn’t connect his symptoms with Dry Eye Disease immediately. In the months after a vision procedure, he started noticing that his eyes would tear up unexpectedly, mid-conversation or at the gym. “It was very embarrassing,” he says. “It literally looks like you’re crying.” Long stretches spent staring at a screen made it worse. “I was really worried that this was going to be a forever thing,” he says.
It took time, and Dr. Nofal’s guidance, for him to realize what was happening. Watery eyes may seem surprising in a condition called Dry Eye Disease, but Dr. Nofal explains that tearing can be the eye’s reflex response to dryness. These days, managing the condition is part of Martin’s routine. He washes his eyelids and uses drops in the morning, with a gel at night.
It hasn’t been a quick fix, but Martin has more good days than bad now. “It’s better. It’s not perfect,” he says. “I’m thankful that I have a good team behind me and helping me.”
When it’s time to see an eye doctor
Dr. Nofal encourages anyone with ongoing symptoms not to wait. “Don’t assume persistent symptoms are something you simply have to live with,” she says.
“Meaningful improvement is absolutely realistic,” Dr. Nofal says, “but patients should expect it may take time to find the right approach.” Treatment varies by person and may combine lifestyle changes – such as using a humidifier or adding omega-3s to the diet – with lubricating drops or prescription therapies or in-office procedures. An eye-care professional can recommend an appropriate plan and refine it over time.
If persistent eye irritation is affecting your daily life, whether at the cottage or at home, talk to your optometrist or ophthalmologist about your options. It might be more than just the wind.
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