Dry eye syndrome is pretty common and is a result of your eyes not getting enough lubrication from your tears. Dry eyes can cause a lot of discomfort, accompanied by several unpleasant signs and symptoms. If you’re suffering from a dry eye syndrome, the cause could be either medical or environmental.
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Symptoms of dry eye syndrome
The most common and unpleasant symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
- Redness
- Dry, scratchy, burning, or stinging sensation in both eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Tired eyes
- Blurred vision
- Stringy mucous in or around the eyes
- Sticky eyelids upon waking up
- Feeling as if there’s something in your eyes
- Difficulty driving, especially at night
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Causes of dry eyes
The most common causes for dry eyes include:
- Allergies
- Contact lenses
- Aging
- Environmental factors like high altitude, smoke, dry air, exposure to wind
- Certain medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorders, vitamin A deficiency, scleroderma, lupus
- Certain medications
- Laser eye surgery
- Damage to tear glands due to inflammation or radiation
- Inadequate blinking while working on a computer or while driving
Home remedies for dry eyes
[DISCLAIMER: Before trying any of these remedies, consult your ophthalmologist for guidance.]
Dry eyes, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications like increased risk for eye infections and even damage to the surface of the eyes. You could try some of these simple home remedies for dry eyes to help with the unpleasant and uncomfortable sensation.
1. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera is alkaline in nature, which helps lubricate your dry eyes, thus helping ease the discomfort. Additionally, it is naturally moisturizing, which helps in keeping your eyes hydrated. Also, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps reduce swelling, inflammation, and redness.
Remedy
- Wash and clean an aloe vera leaf. Slice it open and squeeze out the gel into a clean bowl. Place a bit of gel on a piece of tissues and use it to gently wipe your shut eyelids with it. Let it sit on your closed eyelids for 10 minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for best results.
Tip: NEVER put aloe vera directly into your eyes.
2. Blinking exercise
One of the main reasons for dry eyes is inadequate blinking while working in front of a computer or while focusing on a specific task. Regular blinking helps improve the flow of tears, which in turn help lubricate the eyes by spreading the tears to the sides of the eyes. Additionally, regular blinking helps reduce strain to the eyes, while also boosting blood circulation.
Remedy
- Shut your eyes completely and count to 2. Then, squeeze your eyelids together and count to 2 again. Finally, open your eyes and count to 2. Repeat these steps in order for about 5 times. Do this every hour for a couple of weeks to help with the dry eye syndrome.
3. Castor oil
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Castor oil is another easy home remedy that helps treat dry eyes successfully. It contains ricinoleic acid, which is known to possess anti-inflammatory properties, that help relieve irritation, burning, pain, and itching associated with dry eye syndrome.
Remedy
- For this remedy, you need organic pure, hexane-free castor oil. Take an eye dropper and place one drop into each eye. Repeat this remedy twice a day to keep your eyes moisturized and reduce redness and itching.
4. Coconut oil
Coconut oil is another simple remedy that helps ease the dry eye syndrome. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help lower the discomfort and unpleasantness caused by dry eyes. Additionally, it also helps provide a protective layer over the tear film layers that help reduce evaporation of the tears.
Remedy
- Dip a clean cotton ball in pure, extra virgin coconut oil and place it on your shut eyelids for about 15 minutes. Repeat this remedy as needed, at regular intervals through the day.
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5. Consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
One of the main reasons for dry eyes is a lack of essential fatty acids in your diet. Chief among these are omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower inflammation in the body, while also helping stimulate tear production and boosting the quality of tears.
Remedies
- Consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Some of these foods include fish and fish oils, chia seeds, sesame seeds, walnuts, almonds, and ground flaxseed and flaxseed oil.
- Another option is to ingest omega-3 fatty acids supplements, but only after consulting your physician for the right dosage and frequency.
6. Cucumber
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Cucumber is a natural hydrating and moisturizing agent, which helps lubricate dry eyes.
Remedy
- Cut half a chilled cucumber into slightly thick slices and place them on your eyes. Let the slices stay for 15 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for relief from dry eyes.
7. Humidifier
Dry eyes are usually common in the winter months. This can be eased by using a humidifier in your room and/or office. A humidifier helps ingest some moisture back into the dry air.
Remedies
- If you don’t have a humidifier, place a pan of water in front of your heat vent to help add moisture into the air.
- Another easy way to add moisture to the air is to put plants in your room through transpiration. Plants like Boston fern, peace lily, and areca palm are best suited for this purpose. Not only do they help purify the air, they also absorb any indoor air pollutants as well.
8. Massage
A gently, fingertip massage will not only help prevent dry eyes, it also helps improve the blood circulation to the dry eyes
Remedy
- Put a few drops of extra virgin olive or coconut oil on your clean fingertips and use it to massage your closed eyelids for a couple of minutes. Once done, place your palms over your shut eyelids for a few minutes. No need to rinse your eyelids since it will be absorbed by your skin. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for best results.
9. Rose water
Rose water is another helpful remedy that helps treat dry eye syndrome quite effectively. It’s a natural relaxing agent, which helps tired, strained, and dry eyes. Also, rose water contains vitamin A, a lack of which is one of the main causes for dry eyes.
Remedies
- Use an eye dropper to place pure rose water into your each of your eyes to find relief from dry eyes. Repeat this remedy twice a day for best results.
- Rinse your eyes out with pure rose water a few times a day at regular intervals.
- Soak 2 clean cotton balls in pure rose water and squeeze out the excess. Place them on your closed eyelids, letting it sit for 10 minutes, before rinsing your eyes. Repeat this remedy twice a day for positive results.
10. Warm compress
Another simple remedy to help deal with dry eyes is to use a warm compress. The gentle heat from the compress helps stimulate the blood circulation to the dry areas, while promoting the formation of tears. Apart from providing relief from the symptoms, it also soothes the eye irritation.
Remedy
- Heat some water in a pan but do not boil. Dip a clean, lint-free washcloth in it and wring out the excess. Hold this warm, damp cloth over your shut eyelids for about 10 minutes at a time. Wet the cloth again when it cools down. Repeat this till the water cools down considerably. In the end, rinse your eyes with lukewarm water. Do this twice a day till your symptoms subside.
11. Washing your eyelids frequently
If you’re suffering from a dry eye syndrome, it’s common for you to rub your eyes frequently, to help ease the discomfort. This should be avoided, however, to reduce inflammation. What is to be done instead, is to wash your eyelids a few times a day to help with the discomfort.
Remedy
- Wash your hands with antiseptic soap thoroughly. Now put a few drops of baby shampoo on your fingertips and use this to wash gently massage your closed eyes at the base of your eyelashes. Do this for a couple of minutes, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy twice a day to ease the discomfort.
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Additional tips
- Keep your body hydrated, as dehydration is one of the most common causes for dry eyes.
- Avoid dry environments since dry air tends to irritate and aggravate dry eye syndrome.
- Avoid air that is blowing directly into your eyes. Common culprits include blow dryers, hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners, or fans.
- Avoid stepping out of doors when it’s windy.
- Quit smoking, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Use wraparound sunglasses or any other kind of protective eye gear to block out dry air and/or wind. Never ride a motorcycle without proper protective eyewear.
- Invest in superior quality sunglasses that help block out most of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
- Avoid excess caffeine intake since it can aggravate dry eyes in many cases.
- Avoid acidic and/or spicy foods as they tend to exacerbate dry eye syndrome.
- Stop using contact lenses for a few days if it it’s causing dry eye symptoms.
- Always remember to remove any and all eye makeup before going to sleep.
- Consciously blink frequently to keep your eyes lubricated and moisturized.
- Take frequent breaks from working in front of a computer.
These are all the super effective home remedies for dry eyes you need. For more updates on health tips and fitness secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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