The Eyes are that vital organ of us through which we see the world, read, write, express our emotions. This means they need to be looked after very well.
But the awry work schedules, long hours in front of the screen, not blinking sufficiently, previous eye injury, pollution woes and hereditary traits can be a dampener in having healthy eyes. All of this can lead to dry eyes.
How to treat them? Home Remedies For Dry Eyes help tackle the problem effectively. Read on to find out some simple ways to overcome dry eyes.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
The Dry Eye Syndrome means dry eyes that are caused by either low tear production or poor quality of tears.
Causes
- Certain medical conditions
- Certain medications
- Environmental influence
- Allergies
- Ageing
Symptoms that cause dry eyes?
- Feeling of scratching, dryness and pain in both the eyes
- Mucous in and around the eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue in eyes
- Blurred vision
Thinking How to cure dry eyes permanently? Prevention is the best and ideal way. How can it be done? The next section tells you that.
Home Remedies To Fight Dry Eye Syndrome:
Here are some meaningful ways to get dry eye relief. Follow them religiously if you want your eyes to be in the pink of health.
1. Take Vitamin D:
Deficiency of Vit D can be one of the dry eye causes. Include Vitamin D in your diet through foods such as egg yolks, walnuts, fatty fish like salmon or tuna, nuts and seeds, if you want to escape the dry eye problem.
2. Blink More:
Reduce the strain your eyes are prone to by blinking frequently. Keep taking breaks when you are working on a computer, watching TV or using a mobile phone. These will help your eyes gain the much-needed moisture.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) suggests the 20-20-20 rule. It means every 20 minutes, you need to spend 20 seconds looking at something 20ft away. Staring at things close puts more strain on the eyes, so when you look at 20ft. or more, it gives your eyes a break.
3. Drink Fluids:
This is one of the natural treatment for dry eyes. Drink Water or fluids like lime water, coconut water, fresh fruit juices and homemade smoothies to fight the problem of dry eyes.
4. Have Adequate Sleep:
Long study hours and work hours can disrupt sleep which can play havoc with your eyes. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest dry eye causes. That is why sleeping for 6-8 hours a day should be treated as necessary as it helps retain the moisture on the cornea.
5. Warm Compress:
To enhance relaxation, use a warm compress on your eyes. Do it twice or thrice a day. You can even use a baby shampoo or mild shampoo to wash your eyelids. This helps release the oil in the tear glands.
6. Make Changes In Your Environment:
Never forget the power of the environment as that plays a major role in ensuring optimum health of the eyes. It can also become a cause of dry eyes especially when you do cigarette smoking or are caught amid dry winds. Stay indoors when it is windy outside and protect your eyes when skiing or riding a bike. Wear sunglasses when you are outdoors or when the weather is windy.
7. Eat Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
One of the effective ways to reduce dry eye syndrome is by eating foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acid. And what are the foods rich in Omega-3? Fatty fish (such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines), walnuts, chia seeds, soybean oil, palm oil, ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil. The fat in fatty acids reduces inflammation in the body – including eye inflammation – facilitating more tear production. This one is a promising natural treatment for dry eyes.
8. Use Eye Drops Or Ointment:
For those of you who seek faster home remedies for dry eyes, non-prescription products such as eye drops (or artificial tears) can help bring you temporary relief. Some eye drops contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth when a vial is opened. If your eyes react badly to drops containing preservatives, then you can opt for preservative-free eye drops (which usually come in single vials).
And then there are ointments – thicker than eye drops which coat the eyeball and give long-term relief from dryness. The flip side of an ointment is that it can impair your vision while you are using it. The ideal time to apply eye ointment is before bedtime, and the right time to use eyedrops is during the day.
9. Onion Glasses:
These goggle-type devices created originally for cooks help keep eyes from tearing up as you chop onions. Often recommended by eye-care professionals for dry eye relief, they help keep irritating pollutants from your eyes.
10. Humidifiers:
Home heating systems dry out the air inside your home and your eyes too. A humidifier helps add moisture to the air and ease out dry eye symptoms.
When To See A Doctor:
Dry eyes are a temporary phase and can affect anyone at any point in life. If left untreated, it can lead to pain, damage of cornea, even loss of vision.
When you see the following symptoms, immediately consult a doctor:
- Redness and swelling in eyes
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Stiffness, swelling and pain in joints
- Blurred vision
- Dryness in eyes
- Eye injury or infection
Eyes are a very sensitive part of the human body. So, the moment you see any trouble with your eyes, go to an ophthalmologist immediately. In fact, it is good to get your eyes tested every quarter or six months.
FAQs On Dry Eye Syndrome
Here are questions on dry eye, being answered
Can dry eyes cause blindness?
If left untreated, dry eyes can cause damage to the cornea, the clear outer layer covering the eye, including vision loss and blindness.
What is the best treatment for dry eyes?
- A warm, wet cloth. Hold this over your eyes for five minutes to reduce dry eye symptoms.
- Massage your eyelids with a mild soap, such as baby shampoo. Close your eyes, apply the soap with your fingertips, and gently massage your eyelids.
- Omega-3 supplements.
- Castor oil eye drops.
Is dry eye syndrome permanent?
No. Depending on its cause and severity, it may not be completely curable. But in most cases, dry eyes can be managed successfully, usually resulting in noticeably greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and sometimes sharper vision.
What causes dry eye syndrome?
Dry eyes are caused by a lack of adequate tears. Your tears are a complex mixture of water, fatty oils and mucus. This mixture helps make the surface of your eyes smooth and clear, and it helps protect your eyes from infection. For some people, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production.
How did you find these home remedies for dry eyes? Have you ever tried them out or are you reading them for the first time? Tell us which of them you will like to try out. Share this post in your social network too and subscribe to our newsletter.
