07/16/2026
With hazardous air quality affecting much of Minnesota, you may notice that it is causing eye irritation. There are a few things you can do to help alleviate the discomfort of itchy or "gritty" feeling eyes.
👁️ General eye irritation (stinging, burning, itching, excessive tearing, or a gritty feeling)
• Stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows closed.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes, which can make irritation worse.
• Use preservative-free artificial tears to help flush out irritants.
• A warm, moist washcloth or warm compress placed gently over closed eyes can also help soothe irritation and provide comfort.
💧 Dry eyes (redness, blurred vision, eye fatigue, or ongoing discomfort)
• Wildfire smoke can cause tears to evaporate more quickly and worsen dry eye symptoms.
• Use lubricating eye drops as needed.
• Apply a warm compress or moist heat eye mask for 5–10 minutes to help support the oil glands in your eyelids, improve tear quality, and relieve dry eye symptoms.
• Take breaks from screens and consider using a humidifier indoors if your home air is dry.
🔴 Pink eye (conjunctivitis) (redness and inflammation of the eye's surface)
• Smoke irritation can cause redness, but if you have significant discharge, pain, light sensitivity, or vision changes, contact your eye care provider to determine whether it's an infection or another condition.
• Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes.
If you wear contact lenses and your eyes become irritated, switch to glasses until your symptoms improve.
💙 Need a warm compress? Commercial moist heat eye masks are an easy, reusable option and are available in the Optical Shop at Lakeview Clinic in Waconia. They can be especially helpful for dry eye relief and may also provide soothing comfort for general eye irritation.
If you experience severe eye pain, sudden vision loss, or symptoms that don't improve, seek prompt medical attention. Lakeview Clinic optometrists can evaluate these types of emergent issues which are usually covered by medical insurance.
