• Home Remedies Index
  • Feedback
  • Subscribe
Top 10 Home Remedies
No Result
View All Result
Advertisements
Top 10 Home Remedies
No Result
View All Result

Home » Common Conditions

How to Relieve Dry Eyes Naturally: Keep Your Eyes Lubricated

by Dr. Grace Zhang, MD - Ophthalmologist
November 5, 2019
17

Tears have been given a bad rep by all of us, but little do we know how necessary they are for the health of our eyes. Dry eyes, also known as dry eye syndrome, occurs when your tears are not providing enough lubrication to your eyes. This can be associated with a lot of discomfort.

Tears are an essential component required to maintain ocular health. It nurtures the surface of the eye, keeps it lubricated, and wipes away foreign particles including dirt and infections. These tears are a combined complex of secretions from the glands present in the eyelids.

dry eyes
Upon secretion, the tears are spread over the entire cornea, the transparent front layer of the eyes. The even distribution of tears is ensured by the frequent blinking of the eyelids, while the excess tears are channeled towards the small ducts lying in the inner corners of the eye and are drained behind the nose.

An imbalance in the production and drainage of the remaining tears can cause dryness in your eyes. A very common illness among adults, dry eyes are more prevalent in women and older adults.

Advertisements

Contents

  • How Do Tears Function?
  • What Can Cause Dry Eyes?
  • Signs That Your Eyes Might Be Dry
  • Diagnosis
  • Medical Treatment for Dry Eyes
  • Tips to Reduce Dry Eyes
    • 1. Lifestyle Changes
    • 2. Clean Your Eyelids Frequently
    • 3. Blink More Often
    • 4. Apply a Warm Compress
    • 5. Use Eye Drops Containing Castor Oil
    • 6. Enrich Your Diet with Omega-3s
  • Anecdotal Remedy
    • Rose Water
  • Who’s Likely to Get Dry Eyes?
  • Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Additional Tips
  • End Note

How Do Tears Function?

Tears are produced by the lacrimal gland. Human tears are composed of water, mucus, oil, proteins, vitamins, and electrolytes. These components add to the functional attributes of tears. Blinking helps spread the tears over the surface of your eyelids.

A typical tear film has an outer oily layer of lipids, a middle aqueous layer, and an inner layer of mucus.

  • The outer oily layer prevents the evaporation of tears and smoothens its surface. The oil is secreted by the Meibomian glands.
  • The middle watery layer is what you see most of the time trickling down the eyes. This helps keep the eyes clean and wipe away foreign particles. This layer is contributed by the lacrimal glands present in the eyelids.
  • The inner mucus layer allows the tears to stick to the eyes. It also helps spread the aqueous layer evenly over the surface of the eyes by retaining the moisture. This layer is secreted by the conjunctiva, a tissue encompassing the inner eyelid surface and the white portion of the eyes.

What Can Cause Dry Eyes?

Usually, dry eyes are caused by a lack of adequate tears – not tears for crying, but the tears produced by the tear glands to keep the surface of your eyes smooth and clear as well as to help protect your eyes from infection.

Dry eyes can be caused by both medical and environmental factors. These factors include:

  • Meibomian gland dysfunction
  • Skin diseases in and around the eye
  • Engaging in activities that tend to affect the frequency of blinking such as reading and staring at screens
  • Pregnancy
  • Side effects of certain medications that include nasal decongestants, blood pressure medications, contraceptive pills, antidepressants, and tranquilizers among others
  • Blepharitis, an eye disease which causes the eyelids to turn red and swollen, almost the same as the meibomian gland dysfunction
  • Exposure to adverse climatic conditions such as excessive smoke, wind, or dryness
  • Entropian, a condition where the eyelids tend to turn inside, and ectropion, the reverse condition of an outward turning of the eyelids
  • Eating a diet low in vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids

Signs That Your Eyes Might Be Dry

Some of the common symptoms that appear when your eyes are dry include:

  • Redness in the eyes
  • Eye fatigue
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Poor night vision
  • Sticking together of eyelids when waking up
  • A sensation of having something in the eyes (especially when wearing contact lenses)
  • Difficulty in driving at night
  • Stinging, itching, and a gritty sensation in eyes
  • Blurry vision that resolves after blinking
  • Difficulty in reading or staring on screens

Diagnosis

Your doctor will diagnose your case further by taking a close look at your eyes using a slit lamp. He will look for inflammation in your eyelids and any signs of a plugged Meibomian gland and examine the health of the tears being produced. He will check for signs and symptoms of a dry eye.

Advertisements

Your doctor will inquire about your medical history. This includes your present medical conditions, weather condition you’ve lately been in, diseases you might be suffering from, any medications you are on, and your exposure to pollution, dust, or smoke to ascertain if your dry eyes have been caused by any of these to avoid any future consequences.

He may also analyze the rate of tear production in your eyes using filter paper strips. Once the diagnosis is affirmed, he will treat you in accordance with the underlying cause.

Medical Treatment for Dry Eyes

Once your doctor has identified the cause of your discomfort as dry eyes, he is likely to prescribe the following:

  • Lubricants: Lubricants can help if your eyes are not producing the required amount of tears. These are available as drops, ointments, or gels and can be availed from a local pharmacy store.
  • Eyelid cleaning: Because dry eyes can be a result of poor eyelid hygiene causing inflammation in the oil glands, it is recommended that you keep your eyes clean, apply a warm compress, or clean your eyelids using a mixture of baby shampoo and water.

Aside from these, your ophthalmologist will recommend the following to give your dry eyes a rest so that they can heal on time:

  • Blink your eyes frequently and consciously while using digital devices, laptops, computers, or mobile phones. This will help spread the tears over the eyelids.
  • Give your eyes a break every 20 minutes while working on a screen, reading, or doing similar activities. Focus on a point at a distance of about 20 feet for about 20 seconds.

Tips to Reduce Dry Eyes

You can tend to the dryness in your eyes by instilling some changes in your lifestyle, adopting clean hygienic habits, and following natural strategies.

Advertisements

1. Lifestyle Changes

Implementing changes in your routine activities and environment can help alleviate the adverse effects of your lifestyle on your eyes. These include the following:(1)

  • Limit screen time to a minimum. Avoid extreme use of computers, television, and mobile phones for long time periods. Desktop office work is one of the culprits behind “computer vision syndrome,” an illness similar to dry eyes. Take short breaks in between your work or studies to rest your eyes. Make sure to keep blinking while doing these activities.
  • Wear sunglasses at all times when going out in dry environments, hot, windy weather conditions, and high altitudes.
  • Avoid going out in places with heightened levels of pollution, dust, chemicals, smoke, and smog.(2)
  • Adjust your schedule such that you sleep on time. Staying up for long hours at a stretch can give you dry eyes.
  • Using a humidifier, especially in the winter months, can help prevent dry eyes. The central heating system in your home and office often dries the air out, which can aggravate dry eye symptoms. Hence, try using a humidifier to add some moisture back into the air. This, in turn, will provide moisture for your eyes.
  • You can also add moisture to indoor air by placing plants in your room unless you are allergic. Some of the best plants for this purpose are the areca palm, peace lily, and Boston fern. These plants also help purify the air by absorbing indoor air pollutants.

2. Clean Your Eyelids Frequently

Practicing good hygiene can help keep your eyelids clean, produce tears, and reduce the associated discomfort. People with dry eyes tend to constantly rub their eyes, which should be avoided to reduce inflammation.

To relieve this discomfort and maintain proper eye hygiene, it is recommended that you wash your eyelids a few times a day. Eyelid clearing agents can be used by people wearing makeup to keep their eyes clean and moist and retain their health.(3)

You can use a lid wipes and foam cleansers to keep your eyes clean.(4)

  1. Put a few drops of baby shampoo on your clean fingertips.
  2. With your eyes closed, gently massage your eyelids near the base of your eyelashes.
  3. Rinse the soap completely from your eyelids using lukewarm water.
  4. Do this once or twice a day.

3. Blink More Often

Blinking regularly encourages the spread of tears over the eyelid and helps keep the eyes moist. Blinking more often also promotes blood circulation to the eyes and reduces eyestrain. In fact, each blink brings nutrients to the eyes’ surface structures and helps maintain its health.

Advertisements

blinking exercise for dry eyes
Perform this blinking exercise:

  1. Close your eyes fully and count to 2.
  2. Then, squeeze the eyelids together and again count to 2.
  3. Finally, open your eyes and count to 2.
  4. Do this exercise every hour for 5 times, for a few weeks.

4. Apply a Warm Compress

A very comfortable way of dealing with dry eyes is using a warm compress. The heat from the compress increases blood circulation to the area and promotes the formation of tears.

apply warm compress
A warm compress will also soothe eye irritation and provide relief from the symptoms. A study found that the use of hot towels and eye masks could help manage the symptoms of dry eyes.(5)

Another study supported the use of eye warmer masks to lessen the symptoms of dry eyes. The warming mask is applied to the eyelids twice a day for 10 minutes for a span of 2 weeks.(6)

  1. Soak a clean, lint-free cloth in hot water and wring out the excess water.
  2. Hold this warm, moist cloth over your closed eyelids for up to 10 minutes at a time (not more than that). Be sure to rewet the cloth with warm water when it cools.
  3. Finally, give your eyes a nice rinse with lukewarm water.
  4. Use this treatment at least twice daily until your symptoms subside.

Use an eye mask that is made of gel that can be heated in the microwave. Ensure that it is not too hot before application.

Note: When using a compress for your eyes, make sure the temperature does not exceed 108 °F.

5. Use Eye Drops Containing Castor Oil

Castor oil also helps reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. The ricinoleic acid in the oil works as an anti-inflammatory agent that helps relieve the itching, irritation, burning, and pain associated with the condition. The oil can also help reduce tear evaporation.

castor oil for dry eyes

A study has cited the use of castor oil eye drops to treat Meibomian gland dysfunction as a result of reduced evaporation of tears.(7)

Another study supports the use of Refresh Endura (castor oil with 1% glycerin and 1% polysorbate 80) in restructuring the lipid tear film in patients with dry eyes.(8)

To use castor oil to treat dry eyes:

  1. Buy pure, organic, hexane-free castor oil.
  2. Using an eye dropper, place one drop of it in each eye.
  3. Repeat twice daily to keep your eyes moisturized and to reduce redness.

6. Enrich Your Diet with Omega-3s

Dry eyes can be due to a lack of essential fatty acids in your diet, especially omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help reduce inflammation in the body and also stimulate tear production and high-quality tears.

eat more omega-3 fatty acids rich food

According to a 2014 study published in Clinical Ophthalmology, supplementing your diet with omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants can reduce the symptoms of dry eyes.(9)

Also, these fatty acids are essentially important for your ocular health.

  • Eat more omega-3 fatty acid sources to treat dry eyes.
  • Include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. These include fatty fishes, fish oils, sesame seeds, almonds, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, and walnuts.
  • You can also take omega-3 supplements, after consulting your doctor.

Anecdotal Remedy

The following remedy is neither backed by scientific evidence nor reviewed by our health experts. Nonetheless, a number of general users have reported an improvement in their condition using it.

Rose Water

Rose water is another very effective remedy for dry eyes. It works as a natural relaxer for strained and tired eyes which can lead to poor formation of tears.

rinse eyes with rose water

Plus, rose water houses vitamin A, the vitamin that in low amounts can cause dry eyes.

  • Rinse your eyes with rose water.
  • You may also dip a piece of cotton cloth or a cotton ball in rose water and apply it on your closed eyelids. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. Repeat two to three times a day.
  • Another option is to place sterile pads dipped in rose water on your closed eyelids for about 10 minutes. Do this two to three times a day.

Who’s Likely to Get Dry Eyes?

Certain risk factors can increase your chance of having dry eyes. These include:

  • Being older than 65 (loss of function in the tear glands)
  • Being a woman (due to hormonal changes), especially after menopause.
  • Having chronic allergies
  • Sleeping with your eyes partially open.
  • Wearing contact lenses.
  • Cosmetic surgery, due to the eyelids being opened wide excessively.
  • LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgery where dry eyes last for about 3-4 months and may persist for longer durations of time.
  • Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes

Following the below-mentioned tips can help combat the dryness in your eyes and promote eye health in the long run:

  • Frequent reading and TV watching can dry out your eyes, so it is important to take breaks to regain the lost moisture.
  • Avoid blowing air directly into your eyes when using hair dryers, car heaters, air conditioners, or fans.
  • Avoid dry environments and high temperatures both indoors and outdoors, as dry air can irritate your eyes.
  • Quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Try to stay indoors when it is windy.
  • Wear quality sunglasses that block 100% of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and the drying effect of winds.
  • As coffee is acidic, excessive intake can intensify dry eyes in many cases. So, limit your coffee consumption.
  • Acidic foods can aggravate dry eye symptoms, so avoid such foods until your symptoms are gone completely.

When to See a Doctor

Consult an ophthalmologist if the symptoms persist for a week. Seek medical attention to avoid any complications that may entail a risk of infections, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion, and ulceration.

Additional Tips

  • If you have an eyelid condition such as blepharitis and Meibomian gland dysfunction, get it treated to heal your dry eyes.
  • Discontinue or reduce your use of contact lenses if it is associated with dryness in your eyes.
  • You can also consider acupuncture therapy to deal with dry eye symptoms.
  • If your eyes are dry, avoid wearing makeup, especially eyeliner and mascara, which can act as an irritant.

End Note

Our eyes endow us with visual acuity and act as our gateway to the outside world. Thus, it is imperative to keep them in sound health at all times. It is also paramount to get a medical review for even the slightest discomfort in the eyes.

Dry eyes are a common problem but with no surefire cure. However, with proper hygiene and care, the symptoms can be kept in check.

Also, it is crucial to fend off any eye problems by following preventive measures, making changes in your way of life, and keeping your eyes clean.

Resources:

  1. Yeo S, Tong L. Coping with dry eyes: a qualitative approach. BMC ophthalmology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771005/. Published January 16, 2018.
  2. Kaštelan S, Tomić M, Salopek-Rabatić J, Novak B. Diagnostic procedures and management of dry eye. BioMed research international. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760183/. Published 2013.
  3. Yeo S, Tong L. Coping with dry eyes: a qualitative approach. BMC ophthalmology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771005/. Published January 16, 2018.
  4. Findlay Q, Reid K. Dry eye disease: when to treat and when to refer. Australian prescriber. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6202299/. Published October 2018.
  5. Yeo S, Tong L. Coping with dry eyes: a qualitative approach. BMC ophthalmology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771005/. Published January 16, 2018.
  6. Ezuddin NS, Alawa KA, Galor A. Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Dry Eye in an Aging Population. Drugs & aging. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4519372/. Published July 2015.
  7. Zhang X, M VJ, Qu Y, et al. Dry Eye Management: Targeting the Ocular Surface Microenvironment. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535891/. Published June 29, 2017.
  8. Garrigue J-S, Amrane M, Faure M-O, Holopainen JM, Tong L. Relevance of Lipid-Based Products in the Management of Dry Eye Disease. Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5655476/. Published November 1, 2017.
  9. Oleñik A. Effectiveness and tolerability of dietary supplementation with a combination of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants in the treatment of dry eye symptoms: results of a prospective study. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3888348/. Published 2014.
Advertisements

Comments 17

  1. Deborah Hopper says:
    4 years ago

    I love all the good remedies, there so helpful, Thanks

  2. Ashish says:
    4 years ago

    wonderful article, probably one of best I have read recently.

  3. donald iarussi says:
    4 years ago

    i have had continuous white thick discharge in my eyes for 7 years now. i have had eyelids tightened, re stasis, everything, still not better

  4. Bunmi says:
    4 years ago

    Thanks. Interesting and all natural

  5. Elizabeth says:
    4 years ago

    Great tips, thank you very much.

  6. heisenberg says:
    4 years ago

    Great articles, thank you very much.

  7. Chetan Sharma says:
    4 years ago

    Seems Helpful, Good……….

  8. sunil says:
    4 years ago

    looks very helpfull

  9. Sonu says:
    3 years ago

    Thanks for each and every good and helpful information.hope to hear more good info. further.

  10. S.D. says:
    3 years ago

    Great blog! its very informative.

  11. Ashly says:
    3 years ago

    I just did the blinking exercise and it seems to help – will try for a few weeks 🙂 thank you very much!!

  12. Juliet says:
    3 years ago

    Will definitely try these relatively easy and useful remedies. Am almost sure they will help especially after trying out the Blinking Exercise. Thank you very much!!!

  13. Ruth Walker says:
    3 years ago

    I just did the blinking exercise, and it has helped. My eyes were so bad that I had to go to the eye unit at my local hospital earlier this week. Thank you very much for these excellent tips.

  14. Beth says:
    3 years ago

    I have tried everything and you should know that Omega 3 didn’t help at all- it is Omega 7 plus carotenoids, specifically Sea Buckthorn Berry that has made all the difference. I can now open my eyes without pain. I respectfully suggest to scientists that they publish studies on Omega 7!

  15. James Vargo says:
    3 years ago

    Thank you for these ideas. I presently lubricate my eyelids with castor oil so that in the morning I am able to open my eyelid.

  16. angela says:
    2 years ago

    thank you for all the tips..going to try the blinking

  17. Brenda says:
    2 years ago

    Lots of helpful ideas to try. I’ve been on steroid drops and wetting drops for 2 weeks. Seems like a little improvement. But will definitely try these suggestions.

Recommended

face tingling treatment
Home Remedies

Facial Tingling: Causes, Diagnosis, Natural Treatment

by Mahesh Karandikar, MD - Neurosurgeon
July 11, 2019
0

A sudden tingling sensation overtaking your hands, feet, or face is a fairly common complaint reported by people in the...

Read more
Advertisements
how to sterilize baby bottles
Healthy Living

How to Sterilize Baby Bottles: 5 Safe Methods

by Karen M. Walker, MD, FAAP
April 1, 2019
0

The best way for a new mother to establish a nurturing bond with her baby is through breastfeeding. But sooner...

Read more
Advertisements

Homemade

Oatmeal Mask for Eczema
DIY Homemade

Easy Homemade DIY Oatmeal Mask for Eczema

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
November 10, 2018
1

Soothe your eczema and calm your angry skin with this easy oatmeal, honey and yogurt mask. You can use it...

Read more
DIY hoemmade natural teeth whitener

DIY Homemade Natural Teeth Whitener

January 28, 2019
Advertisements

Trending

mediterranean diet benefits
Healthy Living

Mediterranean Diet 101: Benefits, Drawbacks, Myths and More

by Miriam Christie, MS, RD, LD, ABD
August 21, 2019
0

The Mediterranean diet emerges from the kind of foods eaten in countries situated along the Mediterranean Sea. These include France,...

Read more
Neem Oil for hair and skin
Healthy Living

Neem Oil for Hair and Skin: 9 Benefits and How to Use It

by Robert Signore, DO - Dermatologist
July 2, 2019
0

Neem is often referred to as Indian lilac as it is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, but its medicinal virtues...

Read more
Advertisements

Don't Miss

consume aloe vera

Different Ways to Consume Aloe Vera for its Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

Gone are the days when aloe vera was just a potted plant sitting on your windowsill, jazzing up your home...

honeydew melon for health

Honeydew Melon: Origins, Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

Honeydew melon makes for a sweet-tasting and refreshing treat that can take the sting out of the sweltering summer heat....

fava beans for health

Fava Beans: Nutritional Value, Recipes and Health Benefits

by Holly Klamer, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
July 8, 2019
0

The fava bean, alternatively known as broad bean, is a large, flat, green leguminous vegetable. The earliest record of its...

Apple cider vinegar benefits for women

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits for Women

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
March 28, 2019
12

Apple cider vinegar is used in a whole gamut of home remedies that offer something for everyone. Along with curing...

Advertisements
how to control hair loss
Common Conditions

How to Control Hair Fall

by Top10HomeRemedies Team
August 5, 2019
2

Long, luscious hair is a desire of many! But it seems very few people are lucky enough to have a...

Read more
Advertisements

All the tips mentioned here are strictly informational. This site does not provide medical advice. Consult with your doctor or other health care provider before using any of these tips or treatments. Read more.

 

Categories: Home Remedies | Kitchen Ingredients | Healthy Living | Pets | Common Conditions | Pregnancy | Healthy Foods

 

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and Conditions of Use
  • Unsubscribe

© 2018 Top 10 Home Remedies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home Remedies
  • Kitchen Ingredients
  • DIY Homemade
  • Healthy Foods
  • Healthy Living
  • Pregnancy

© 2018 Top 10 Home Remedies