Dry eye is a chronic condition that develops when you don’t produce enough tears, or your tears evaporate or drain away too quickly. The result can be symptoms like irritation, stinging, burning, and redness, and complications like vision issues, infection, and tissue damage.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292078d6dd-be70-49ab-8d63-e630ee02a456e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e91ce0df-1f82-4e12-a47c-5faf758bc601 Over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications can help, and self-care habits can make a difference, too. Proceed with caution with home remedies, though. Esen K. Akpek, MD , a professor of ophthalmology and rheumatology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, advises consulting your doctor before you try any home remedies for dry eye.
1. Eyelid Hygiene Eyelid Hygiene A warm compress followed by a gentle eyelid massage and careful eyelid cleaning can help dry eye. Try the following three-step method, remembering to wash your hands before you start.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293490704e-df5a-4e7d-b965-0f63a86bc6f6 Check with your healthcare provider to make sure you’re doing this safely. “There are patients who apply heat several times a day, because it makes their eyes feel better. They may think the more, the better. But too much heat can negatively impact the biomechanics of the cornea and cause vision issues,” says Dr. Akpek. It can also damage sensitive skin around the eyes if overused. Warm Compress Apply a warm compress or heat mask to the eyes for 10 minutes. This may help your eyes feel less irritated by encouraging your eyelid glands to produce the oils needed to keep your tear composition healthy.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294cba3ebb-baa2-4e92-af71-eff662646181 Eyelid Massage Immediately after applying a warm compress or heat mask, massage your eyelids gently to push oil out of the glands. Follow these steps:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a8de3924-caef-48f2-9e12-bfd36a5064bb Close your eyes. Massage along the length of your eyelids toward your ear, massaging the upper lid down and the lower lid up. Continue for 30 seconds and repeat 5 to 10 times. Eyelid Cleaning After massaging the eyelids, wash them as follows:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a8de3924-caef-48f2-9e12-bfd36a5064bb Clean the edges of your eyelids with eyelid-cleaning wipes or cotton wool soaked in warm water.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cabb9c4d-ff03-4a44-b883-92e0d9991ce0 Use a gentle side-to-side motion to remove any debris from the eyelid edges and eyelashes, starting by your nose and moving outward.
2. Hydration Hydration Hydration and a varied diet are crucial for all aspects of your well-being, and eye health is no exception. Water makes up a significant portion of tears along with the oils that prevent dry eye. Your eyes may feel better if you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water daily, alongside other home remedies.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c5d8e786-6798-4af1-bdd5-d8175dbdd307 Some research suggests that, while you need water for your overall health, good hydration does not necessarily improve dry eye or reduce your risk of developing the condition.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290d4cc7f2-64b6-4103-a618-85e7a574116c
3. Nutrition Nutrition Your eyes need vitamins and other nutrients to stay healthy. Foods that provide these nutrients can help keep your eyes healthy and may help you manage or prevent dry eye. Try including the following nutrients in your diet:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291d2fedf5-9b1f-4950-a2a5-d3447c4e0511 Omega-3 fatty acids , present in oily fish like salmon Vitamin A , found in beef liver, sweet potato, carrots, and other foodse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957dd0772-55e4-4231-802c-1e05ec4904a1 Vitamin C , present in bell peppers, citrus fruits, broccoli, and other plant foodse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762946ec3b6e-41d0-43c4-a1ed-f92393265987 Curcumin , found in turmeric Vitamin E , found in wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oilse60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aafb9193-a13e-41f1-842b-025479ed30e6 Antioxidants and other substances in foods and drinks like green tea may also be beneficial.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291d2fedf5-9b1f-4950-a2a5-d3447c4e0511 The best way to get nutrients is through diet, but you can also ask your doctor about supplements.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292c374223-8120-45a0-815c-76a3b3059c90
4. Environment Environment Environmental factors such as smoke or air or wind blowing in your face can worsen dry eye.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762995eaa530-2718-4129-a9c3-1e0bf10a1455 The dry air on an airplane or in the environment at high altitudes or in a desert can exacerbate your symptoms. So can extensive screen time, which can strain your eyes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762920d96a6d-e81a-4dd7-9f76-d9d87e639d57e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762951776a93-f3cf-4140-a256-fae567da880a To minimize these factors, try the following tips. Use a humidifier when levels of moisture in the air drop below 25 percent.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957481b8a-9d67-468a-9e3b-0e6e2bd42af7 Stay away from air drafts and smoky atmospheres. Limit your use of a hair dryer. Direct your car heater away from your face. Wear wraparound glasses or sunglasses to protect your eyes when you’re outside. When using a computer screen, take regular breaks, adjust screen brightness, blink frequently, and follow the 20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
5. Artificial Tears and Lubricants Artificial Tears and Lubricants Some over-the-counter products can be used to lubricate your eyes and reduce irritation, such as:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762984311755-3dbd-4bd5-b56c-ab9a5b13b42c Artificial tears: These are drops you can put in your eyes as often as you need. Use these if you are reading, using a screen, or doing other vision-intensive activities.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629096268e9-6ea6-4f65-a40a-81796db6b325 Gel drops: These offer longer-lasting relief but are more viscous than drops, so they can cause temporary visual blurriness. They may be better to use when you’re relaxing, exercising, or sleeping. Ointments: These are the thickest lubricants and can stop your eyes from drying out while you sleep.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762940fab16b-f3b7-403b-b338-1737fc1479d2 Some artificial tears contain preservatives that can worsen dry eye if you use them a lot. If you use artificial tears more than six times a day or are sensitive to preservatives, ask your pharmacist about preservative-free options.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294aa31edd-07f8-413f-b5f8-dc6c0780eb98 Eye drops that promise red eye relief may make symptoms worse and are best avoided.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629096268e9-6ea6-4f65-a40a-81796db6b325
6. Medications Review Medications Review Various drugs can cause dry eye, according to John Hovanesian, MD , an ophthalmologist at Harvard Eye Associates in Laguna Hills, California. These medications include: Antihistamines Beta-blockers Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) Antacids and anti-ulcer drugs Diuretics If you’re using medications for other conditions, ask your doctor to review your prescription. They may be able to change your drugs or your dosage.
7. Medical Care Medical Care If dry eye is affecting your daily life, or if your symptoms are worsening despite using home remedies and over-the-counter treatments, you may need to see a doctor. Symptoms to look out for include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297768820e-726e-46dc-bf87-58de31483166 Stinging, burning, scratchiness, or redness in your eye Feeling like there’s something in your eye Stringy mucus Sensitivity to light Difficulty wearing contact lenses Problems with nighttime driving Watery eyes Blurred vision Eye fatigue Medical treatment for dry eyes depends on the severity and the cause. Options include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292b801c74-a4eb-4efc-9894-294cb07fa317 Prescription eye drops, such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra) Punctal plugs, which slow the rate at which tears drain from your eyes Eyelid massage with medical-grade devices and other treatments for professional usee60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ddfa93be-988b-47cd-a4e3-f5c5783a64cb Surgery, in some cases Some research suggests scleral contact lenses might help if you have dry eye, although more studies are needed.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762994692631-c03d-40e5-b1e6-5c6746e1b94d Scleral contacts can be less irritating than traditional contact lenses because they sit on the white of the eye — called the sclera — rather than the cornea. They can also help protect the eye and keep it hydrated.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c3a54d87-9e89-4525-9d03-2f89e30576b5
8. Social Support Social Support Dry eye can affect your quality of life. It can impact your mental health and leave you feeling isolated. Connecting with others may help you manage or live better with dry eye. You might: Go to the Dry Eye Foundation webpage to find resources such as Zoom groups, social media groups, forums, and YouTube videos and stories. Contact the Dry Eye Foundation’s helpline directly at 800-484-0244 or book a call with them online for a longer chat. Ask your doctor or ophthalmologist about local support groups. The Takeaway Dry eye is a chronic condition that happens when your eyes aren’t properly lubricated, leading to irritation and other issues. Self-care practices such as applying a warm compress, using a humidifier, and applying artificial tears may relieve symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider if your symptoms are becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Dry EyeMayo Clinic: Relief for Dry Eyes a Welcome SightDry Eye Foundation: You Are Not AloneAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology: What Is Dry Eye? Symptoms, Causes, and TreatmentNational Eye Institute: Dry Eye
Read the full article here
Leave a comment
