Your eyes can become dry simply due to tiredness, blockage of tears or a number of other medical conditions. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable and painful. Most of the time home remedies and lifestyle changes can cure dry eyes, but if there is an underlying medical condition then your doctor is the best judge to decide the course of action.
However, most of the dry eye conditions are benign and treatment at home can be the best way to begin getting relief.
Dry eye (Keratitis Sicca) is nothing but insufficient lubrication of the eyes. Dry eye syndrome is a chronic condition that may or may not be completely cured depending on the underlying cause, but can certainly be managed well with a variety of approaches and treatments. Most remedies works by restoring lubrication.
Home Remedies for Dry Eyes
Let us first understand how the tears are protected from evaporation in your eyes.
Surface of your eye is covered with an oily film. Below this film is the water layer or tear film.
The oily layer has a complex lipid mixture which protects the tears from evaporation. A class of lipids called OAHFAs are essential for maintaining smooth layer of tears.
According to a study published in the Journal of Lipid Research, Australian researchers have been able to succeed synthesise OAHFAs. Further research is still continuing to understand the impact of the synthesised OAHFAs to stop quick evaporation of tears to stop dry eyes.
How to Treat Your Dry Eyes Naturally
1. Eye Drops/Ointments for Treatment of Dry Eyes
You can use eye drops or ointment to get immediate temporary relief from dry eyes. Make sure that you use non preservative drops. Some of the preservatives may react badly and create more complications.
Ointments provide longer relief as they coat the eyeball. Since the ointments can temporarily impair your vision due to partially opaque coating, it is better to use them during the bedtime before going to sleep.
2. Nutrition and Hydration to Cure Dry Eyes
Nutrition has an impact on your overall health. Your dryness of the eyes can be an indication of some sort of malnutrition. many researches have indicated that Omega 3 fatty acids help production of high quality tears.
So go ahead and take foods containing omega 3. It is good for your heart also. Flaxseed Oil or Ground Flaxseeds are excellent plant based source of Omega-3.
Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel are excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts and Chia seeds also contain Omega-3. So you have a large variety. Choose what suits your tastes and budgets but begin consuming food containing Omega-3 fatty acids.
3. Keep Moisture from your Eyes to Evaporate Which Makes it Dry
You can prevent your eyes from becoming dry by taking certain precautions. The principle is a commonsense approach to retain the moisture in the eyes by avoiding circumstances that makes it dry.
- Use humidifiers in an air conditioned environment. Air conditioning reduces ambient humidity. Keep the humidity between 30-50%.
- Use humidifier during winter time when the inside air is dry due to heating.
- Avoid smoking or passive smoking, both will dry your eyes.
- Don't rub your eyes to prevent bacteria, if any to transfer from your finger or nails to the eyes.
- Avoid sitting in front of computers for too long.
- Reduce salt in your diet
4. Warm Compress to Release Tears to Prevent Dry Eyes
Tears keep your eyes lubricated and moisturized. Sometimes either due to certain activities such as too much computer screen exposure, certain irritants such as smoke and less production of tears due to blockage can make the eyes dry.
A warm compress for 10 minutes can stimulate the blood circulation around the eyes, which in turn release the blocked tears to flow into the eyes and moisturize them.
For those who have dry eyes, a warm compress for 10 minutes twice daily will greatly help in reducing the dry eyes syndrome. You can simply place a warm washcloth on your eyes for 10 minutes during each application. keep your eyes closed during the process.
5. Wash your Eyelids to Stop Dry Eyes
Sometimes the eyelid inflammation blocks the natural flow of oil to the yes. The condition is called blepharitis. You can wash your eyelids frequently during the day to help the oil to flow and stop your eyes becoming dry. You can even use mild soaps to wash the eyelid but don't use harsh soaps.
Simple wash with plain water frequently should serve the purpose.
if none of the above remedies seem to be working, then is a time for seeking help. Your dry eyes may be indicating some other conditions than the simple dry eye syndrome. if you see any injury, redness, swelling, flaking or discharge from the eyes then you must see a doctor. In addition if you have fever, dry mouth to joint stiffness then there may be a bacterial or viral infection. Check it out with a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers
Is it Dangerous to Have Dry Eyes?
Untreated dry eyes certainly can cause more damage to your eyes. In fact, dry eyes can cause permanent and irreversible changes to your vision. First of all under lubricated eyes are more susceptible to infections due to scratches. You can develop sensitivity to light and your vision can become blurred.
Do Dry Eyes Ever Go Away?
A chronic lack of tears in your eyes is called dry eye syndrome and there is no permanent cure for that. You need to manage it by regular medication natural or otherwise. In some cases surgery can put an end to dry eyes by rectifying the drainage ducts at the inner corners of your eyes.
Can Dry Eyes Make You Blind?
The answer is no. It doesn't cause blindness but it certainly cause blurred vision and tons of other miseries. You may get intimidating burning and scratching feeling that can make you very uncomfortable. You may always feel that something scratchy is there in your eyes.
Does Drinking Water Help Dry Eyes?
Yes, drinking more water can indirectly help you to reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. Since dehydration generally increases the scratchy and burning feeling in the eyes, drinking water can reduce that feeling. It won't cure it but it will certainly help in lowering the misery.