Best and Worst Places to Live For Dry Eyes

Best and Worst Places to Live For Dry Eyes

While dry eyes can strike anyone at any time in any location, there are some places that are simply more likely to see victims suffer from dry eye problems than others.  In general, places that are located in very high altitudes or have hot and dry climates are the most likely places to see large numbers of dry eye sufferers.

Fortunately, TheraLife can help your dry eye problems no matter where you live. If you are suffering from chronic dry eyes, read on to learn more.

High Altitude and Dry Eyes

While the coastal areas of the United States often lie at or slightly above sea level, there are many locations throughout the country that are at very high altitudes.  Examples of very high altitude locations in the United States include:

• Leadville, CO—10,152 feet.  At more than 10,000 feet above sea level, Leadville is officially the highest city in the United States.  Some parts of the town around Winter Park climb to more than 12,000 feet.
• Brian Head, UT—9,800 feet.  With the Town Offices elevated more than 9,500 feet, Brian Head is one of the nation’s highest permanent settlements.
• Taos Ski Valley, NM—9,321 feet.  Taos is a popular ski resort that lies well above 9,000 feet above sea level.
• Greer, AZ—8,356 feet.  This unincorporated town, located in the White Mountains of Arizona, is a small city but still populated year-round.

High altitude seems to contribute to dry eyes in two ways.  First, the air pressure decreases as you climb higher, which means that it is harder to get oxygen into your lungs and through your body.  As your body struggles to compensate, all extraneous body functions, including producing tears, tend to decrease.

Second, at high altitude, less atmospheric pressure, the air is drier, less moisture.  Liquids evaporate faster because the boiling point of liquids is lower when atmospheric pressure decrease.  Tear tends to evaporate quickly, and your body has to produce more tears to keep up.

Hot, Dry Climates and Dry Eyes

People who live in hot, dry climates may also experience problems with dry eyes.  The desert communities in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada are good examples of this type of climate, where daytime temperatures can climb to nearly 115º F and where average rainfall is less than 10 inches per year.  The lack of humidity in the air, rather than the temperature itself, is what makes this type of climate so unforgiving to those with dry eyes.

If you suffer from dry eyes and live in a high altitude or hot, desert climate, you must take steps to treat and maintain the tear production in your eyes to avoid possible injury and damage.

TheraLife treats tear production problems at the source, solving dry eye issues for you no matter where you live or under what climatic conditions.  Visit us today to learn how we can help you with your dry eye problems.