You wouldn’t know how irritating dry eyes can be unless you’re suffering from them. The burning sensation is so real that it feels like someone has set your eyes on fire. Dry eyes can also be very sensitive to light that it feels like you were born a vampire in a previous life.
Fact is, dry eye disease is not that uncommon; we all suffer from dry eyes every now and then but it differs in levels and longevity. We can suffer from dry eyes when we’re on an airplane due to poor air quality. We can suffer from dry eyes when we’re in a room full of smoke because it obviously irritates the eye.
It’s also common to have dry eyes in winter due to the cold and dry wind. However, for some unlucky folks, dry eye disease can be chronic and it can be intense that they don’t go anywhere without their lubricating eye drops.
So, how can we relieve the symptoms that come along with dry eyes? Is there such a thing as a permanent cure?
There are various home remedies and over-the-counter medications that can help with dry eye disease. There are also many things you can do at home to relieve its symptoms, which will be discussed in this article.
What Causes Dry Eyes?
To treat dry eye disease, you have to understand what caused it. Our bodies are unique and one person might be sensitive to something more than the other person.
Plus, what caused someone to have dry eyes might not be the same as someone else. So what are the common causes of dry eye disease?
1- Allergies
Seasonal allergies can be a great trigger from dry eyes. In this case, an antihistamine eye drop may be perfect to relieve the symptoms. Moreover, steam can be really beneficial in keeping the eyes moist temporarily.
2- Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry eye disease and even night blindness. It is an essential vitamin that promotes healthy eyes and you can get it from various foods, such as carrots, eggs, peppers, spinach, and others.
This is why people automatically think that carrots are good for your eyes; it’s because carrots are full of vitamin A. Moreover, you can also get your vitamin A from supplements and multivitamins, which would improve your condition after a while.
3- Weather Conditions
People who live in areas with low humidity are more likely to suffer from dry eyes than people who live in high-humidity areas. Moreover, dry weather also contributes to chronic dry eye disease. In this case, it would be a good idea to purchase a quality humidifier to moisten the air and improve its quality.
4- Contact Lenses
Yes, contact lenses may look better on you and you don’t want to hide your eyes under big glasses. However, the long-term use of contact lenses may cause chronic dry eyes. Remember, contacts obstruct oxygen to the eye and your eyes need to breathe a little.
5- Use Of Electronics
How many hours per day do you spend scrolling on your phone? How many hours do you set before a computer? When you’re taking a break from your computer, you’re scrolling through social media platforms- we see you!
Our eyes need a break and we’re putting so much pressure on them. This is mainly because we rarely blink when we are staring at the screen!
6- Smoking
Imagine you’re holding a cigarette and some of the fumes go right up in your eyes. Not only that, but sometimes, you tend to scratch your eyes without washing your hands and all of that cigarette residue goes into your eyes. Smoking or being exposed to smoking significantly increases your chances of having dry eyes.
How To Relieve Dry Eyes?
1- Be Mindful Of Your Diet
Consuming foods that are high in fatty acids and rich in Omega 3 will noticeably relieve symptoms of dry eyes. Fatty foods like salmon, almonds, walnuts, avocado, eggs, oils, and others will promote healthy eyes.
2- Prevention Is Key
Try your best to wear sunglasses when you’re out and about. Sunglasses are not just a fashion statement, but they also protect your eyes from the sun and wind. Moreover, it’s a good idea to discuss with your eye doctor about wearing glasses when using your computer or reading. You won’t believe the difference it makes!
3- Warm Compresses
All you need is a CLEAN washcloth and warm water to significantly moisten your eyes. Not only that, but warm compresses also eases the head tension that comes along with strained eyes
4- Steam Is Your BFF
Steam is a great lubricant for dry eyes. It can also relieve some of that nasty itch that comes along with dry eyes. This is because it properly cleanses the eyes without irritating them.
You can do this while you’re in the shower or you can invest in a quality humidifier. A bonus tip: Add some herbs into your humidifier!
5- Make Peace With Your Eye-drop
Eye drops help lubricate your eyes and retain the moisture of your tear duct. Remember to always use them, but use them wisely! Do not purchase an eye drop that gets rid of the redness, because usually, they tend to irritate the eye in the long run.
You should opt for lubricating eye drops. Moreover, you should refrain from antihistamine eye drops unless your eye doctor recommends it.
6- Stay Hydrated
Your eyes need the water just as much as your body does. Don’t expect your eyes to be lubricated if your body is dehydrated and your liver is screaming for more water. Most likely, our eyes are the windows to our health; if your eyes are dry, it could be because they need you to drink more water.