Will Adding a Bowl of Water to a Room Help With Dry Eyes?

Dry eyes may be a result of internal causes (aging and medications), external causes (dry heat or wind) or a combination of both. Wearing contact lenses may also cause dryness. To remedy eyes, moisture may be added to the eye in the form of artificial tears. Moisture may be added to the environment using a humidifier. A bowl of water in a room is not likely to add a significant amount of moisture to improve symptoms.

Adding Moisture to the Air

• According to the Minnesota Blue Flame Gas Association, there are three common types of humidifiers that add moisture to the air. With an evaporating humidifier, water is evaporated off of a radiator. This is not an effective way to humidify a room. A room humidifier is a portable unit that puts a vapor of water into a room. The third type is a whole house humidifier that disperses water vapor along with heat through the heating system. Adding a bowl of water to a room is most similar to an evaporating system. Placing the water near a fan or radiator will improve evaporation, but using a portable or whole house humidifier will produce better results with a higher level of moisture in the air.

Other Ways to Relieve Dry Eyes

• There are other ways to relieve dry eyes independent of adding humidity to the environment. Using artificial tears or a lubricating eye drop will immediately improve dryness in the eyes. Specialized eye drops like Restasis work to relive dryness by increasing tear production so that the tears lubricate the eyes. Lacrimal plugs may be placed in the tear ducts by an eye doctor to keep tears from quickly draining. Wearing sunglasses while outside can keep wind and environmental factors from further drying the eyes. Drinking an adequate amount of water can keep eyes moisturized as dehydration exacerbates dry eyes.

Humidifier Safety

• The United State Environmental Protection Agency recommends following all manufacturer directions for humidifiers to decrease the growth of bacteria and molds that can be harbored by standing water. Humidifiers should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Using distilled water can help keep a humidifier from getting mineral build up that allows bacteria and mold to grow.