Have you experienced a burning sensation in your eyes? Do your eyes feel scratchy and dry? Do you constantly suffer with blurred vision or fatigued eyes? If the answer is YES to all of these questions, then you might be experiencing dry eyes and this dry eyes treatment guide is just the thing you need.
What is dry eye?
Your eyes do not produce enough lubricant to nourish the eye i.e., tears. Tears are vital for eye health and without adequate production you may be at risk of eye infections or your health and vision may be compromised. Tears wash away germs and dirt and provide a protective layer to the cornea to keep it safe from environmental factors.
Dry eyes can be caused by many factors such as ageing, medications, allergies, and environmental factors. These environmental factors include things that cause increased tear evaportation such as smoke or wind. It can also be caused by behavioral factors such as not blinking (often caused by staring at a screen or reading).
Listed below are some natural dry eyes treatment to help alleviate dry eyes and provide some much-needed comfort:
1- Wash eyelids frequently:
Individuals who suffer from dry eyes experience irritation, which leads to constant rubbing of eyes and inflammation. To help reduce inflammation, wash your eyelids two to three times a day. You can do this by using a clean cloth and wetting it with warm water, then simply press the cloth over your eyes for five minutes. When doing this make sure to clean out any debris from your eyelashes.
2- Use coconut oil and castor oil:
Use a drop or two of coconut or castor oil on a daily basis to reduce burning and itching of eyes. Both coconut and castor oils have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that provide instant relief and lubrication to dry and itchy eyes. You can do this by either leaving two or three drops of the oil on your eyes or by soaking a cotton ball with the oil and leaving it over your eyelids for ten to fifteen minutes.
3- Vitamin rich diet:
Vitamin deficiency has been closely associated with dry eye syndrome. Research suggests that deficiency of Vitamin A, B12 and D has been closely associated with the development of the condition. To combat this, add foods rich in Vitamin D and Vitamin A into your diet, such as egg yolk, orange juice, broccoli and butter. According to a 2009 study using Vitamin A eye drops are actually just as effective as prescription eye drops when it comes to treating dry eyes.
4- Eat Omega-3 rich foods:
Omega -3’s are fatty acids that the body is not able to produce on its own and has to source through food. Omega-3 helps to increase the production of the lubricating layer of your eyes. Food that is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, chia seeds, soybeans. It is reccomended that adults eat fish twice a week to get these incredibly helpful nutrients, but this can also be substituted with fish oil in this case. If none of these options are available to you, you can also always take omega -3 suppliments but it is reccomended you talk to a doctor first, as taking it in excess can have harmful side effects.
4- Hot compress:
Take a clean cloth and soak it in warm water, wring the excess water and place the cloth on your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes. Not only will this add more moisture to your eyes it will also relieve any muscle pain or spasms. Your tear glands also produce a fair amount of oil which can irritate your eyes if there is too much as it will clump up, but a hot compress will help this excess oil drain away. This method is proven to increase the thickness of your tear film, relieving dry eyes. Just make sure to use warm water, not hot, as it could hurt your eyes as the skin around your eyes is very sensitive.
5- Wear sunglasses:
Air pollution and environmental factors has made the use of sunglasses critical as dust and wind causes the tears in the eye to dry and cause eye irritation. This can be especially useful if you wear them while running or doing excercise as that is when your eyes are most exposed to the wind. This is the simplest dry eyes treatment since all you have to do is wear sunglasses every time you step outside your house!
Check out the above tips for dry eye treatment.if they persist, you can go for further consultation. You can book an appointment with a top eye specialist in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your health concerns.
