I’ve seen many commercials for dry eye products that promote relief for dry eyes. My sister has chronic dry eye (or dry eye syndrome) and she has a hard time finding relief from this problem. I always wondered if there was an easier way to remedy dry eyes without becoming dependent on eye drops.

What are dry eyes?

At first, I didn’t understand why my sister’s issue with dry eyes was such a big deal. Now I know the importance. Tear film lubricates your eyes, helping you to maintain clear vision while reducing your risk of eye infection. Also, tears work to wash away foreign debris. If there aren’t enough tears being produced, your eyes may become irritated and your vision diminished. If there is an imbalance in the composition of tears, dry eye can develop and the symptoms may be very painful.

Dry Eye Symptoms

Dry eye usually affects both eyes. Signs and symptoms of dry eyes include:
• Eye pain and redness
• A gritty, scratchy, stinging or burning sensation in your eyes
• Feeling of a foreign substance in your eyes (may feel like sand)
• Increased eye irritation from smoke or wind
• Mucus (stringy) in or around your eyes
• Light sensitivity
• Eye fatigue after reading for a short time
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Blurred vision—worse at the end of the day or after focusing for a long time on something close

Dry Eye causes

Simple causes of dry eyes include—contact lenses, lack of sleep and excessive reading.

An imbalance in the composition of tears
Tears are composed of water, protein, electrolytes and other substances that fight off bacteria. There are three layers of tear film—oil, water and mucus. If the one layer isn’t functioning properly, then dry eye can occur.

Diminished tear production
Over the course of the natural aging process, tear production tends to diminish. Your eyes become dry and irritated because you’re not able to produce enough tears (medically referred to as keratoconjunctivitis sicca).

Both men and women can develop dry eyes at any age. However, dry eyes are more prevalent in women, especially those who are going through or have already gone through menopause.

Problems with eyelid function
Blinking your eyelids, helps spread tears across the eye and get rid of surface irritants. If your eyelids aren’t functioning properly to spread tears, this problem may result in dry eye.

Side effects from medications
Common medicines that may cause dry eye include:
• Birth control pills
• Sleeping aides
• Antihistamines
• Diuretics
• Morphine or other opiate-derived pain medications
• Certain antidepressants
• Some acne treatments

Environmental factors
Any task that requires a lot of visual focus—playing a video game, driving, starting at a computer—can lower your blink rate and may increase your risk for dry eyes.

Climate factors—wind, sun, dry climate, hot air blowing from a vent and high altitude—can all dry out your eyes.

Home remedies for dry eyes

Try the following home remedies for alleviating the pain of dry eyes:

• Blink often and take a break from the computer or television if you’ve been staring at a screen for a long period of time.
• Add a humidifier or indoor plants to your home and or office to help add humidity into the air.
• Avoid wearing contact lenses because they dry out your eyes and prevent natural tears from moving across your eyes.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin A (sardines, salmon, eggs) at least once a day to improve tear production.
• Omega-3 fatty acids such as those in fish oil and flaxseed help keep your eyes lubricated.
• Keep your eyes shielded or move them away from hot vents or cold breezes.
• Drinking lots of water will keep your eyes as well as your entire body moisturized.
• Your eyes need to rest. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and if possible to rest your eyes or take a short nap during the day.
• Protect your eyes with sunglasses. When swimming wear goggles to keep dirt and chemicals out of your eyes. Stay away from smoke and smokers.
• Dip 2 cotton balls in rose water and place them over your eyes.
• Use a warm compress—soak a washcloth in hot water and place it over your eyes for 10 minutes, twice daily.
• Place slices of fresh cucumbers on each eyelid. Cucumbers help to relax the eyes and to stimulate moisture.

—Nolan

Do you have any home remedies? Comment and tell us about them!

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