Dry eyes are a common
condition of the eye. It occurs when the eye produces an inadequate amount of
tears or they evaporate too quickly.
Tears
are important because they keep the eye lubricated and free of dry spots, which
can potentially lead to eye damage.
A
lot of individuals suffer from dry eyes because of the rapid changes in
weather, the devices we use on a daily basis, and other medical conditions.
The eyes are an essential part of the body. They can be used to see, read, notice and search. Moreover, they also serve as a window to our soul.
Due to their importance, it is extremely important to take care of them. However, dry eyes (1) are a common problem that many people encounter.
This
can lead to irritation, soreness, and a lot of discomforts. In this blog, we
will look at some of the most effective simple home remedies for dry eyes.
Causes of dry eyes
If
you are wondering what causes dry eyes then the cause can be determined by a
doctor by performing an examination and tests. Some of the dry eye symptoms
include sore, irritated eyes, especially after using the computer or reading.
Another symptom of dry eyes is a foreign object sensation.
This
means that you may feel like there is something in your eye. Dry eyes cause
sometimes burning, itching, and watering and it may be worse when you go
from a warm environment to a cool one.
Simple Home Remedies for Dry Eyes
1.
Honey:
It
should be known that natural or organic honey has antiseptic and
anti-inflammatory properties that are perfectly suited for dry eye treatment.
Honey can also prevent infection in the eyes while also enhancing lubrication.
Ingredients:Â
- ½ cup of boiling water which has cooled down
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- Soft cotton pads
Preparation:Â
- Take the cup of water and add the honey (2) to it.Â
- Ensure that the solution has been properly mixed.Â
- Once done, proceed to soak the cotton pads into the same and then place them over your eyes.Â
- Keep them for five minutes.
How often:Â
- This dry eye drops treatment should be done at least two to three times per day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can a little bit of lemon while creating this simple home remedy for dry eyes.
2.
Green tea extract:
Green tea contains a special compound known as EGCG or Epigallocatechin gallate, which makes it an ideal prescription for eye drops for dry eyes.Â
EGCG tends to act as a natural antioxidant as
well as an anti-inflammatory agent, which helps in preventing all kinds of eye
infections.
Ingredients:Â
- 1 green tea bag
- 1 cup of hot water
- Soft cotton pads.
Preparation:Â
- Proceed to place the green tea bag into the cup of hot water.Â
- Allow the bag to get soaked in the water for at least ten minutes.Â
- Once the solution cools down, drop the cotton pads into the solution and then place them on your eyelids.Â
- Allow the pads to sit for five minutes and then remove them.
How often:Â
- This heat treatment for dry eyes should be done at least a few times every day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- In case you don’t have green tea bags, you can simply use green tea leaves instead.
3.
Warm compress:
There’s
no denying that the moist heat from a warm compress can help in dry eyes
treatment at home. The warm compress will loosen any oil that is clogging
the eye glands, thereby providing an overall satisfied feeling.
Ingredients:Â
- A bowl of warm waterÂ
- Clean white washcloth.
Preparation:Â
- Take the bowl of warm water and soak the washcloth in the same.Â
- Extract any extra water from the cloth and put the cloth on your eyelids.Â
- Gently press the cloth around your eyelids, so that any clogged oil can be eliminated.
How often:Â
- Performing this dry eyes medication process once a day would be enough.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- When performing this simple home remedy for dry eyes, make sure to use a cotton cloth.
4.
Yoghurt:
Yogurt is rich in vitamin B (3) and D, which is why consuming yogurt can prove to be highly beneficial for treating your dry eyes.Â
Yogurt can also help in promoting heart health and improve your
digestive system prowess over time.
Ingredients:Â
- 1 cup of simple and plain yogurt.
Preparation:Â
- In case you’re wondering how to cure dry eyes permanently, simply consume the yogurt.
How often:Â
- Twice a day – once in the morning and once in the afternoon.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- You can add some sliced fruits with your cup of plain yogurt for the treatment of dry eyes.
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5.
Fennel seeds:
Fennel seeds contain a special organic compound called anethole, while also having flavonoids and phenolics.Â
All of these aforementioned compounds have anti-inflammatory benefits to the
human body as well as soothing benefits for your dry eyes remedy.
Ingredients:Â
- 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
- 1 cup of boiled water
- Some soft cotton pads.
Preparation:Â
- Take the cup of boiling water and then add the fennel seeds to the same.Â
- Allow the seeds to get soaked in the water for at least ten minutes.Â
- Once the water has cooled off, dip the cotton pads into the solution and then place the same onto your eyelids.
- Allow the cotton pads to sit at least for ten minutes.
How often:Â
- This treatment for best eye drops for dry eyes should be carried out at least twice per day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- When performing this home remedy for eye irritation, make sure to use fresh fennel seeds (4) instead of dried, older ones.
6.
Chamomile tea extract:
This
chamomile tea extract is ideally known for its relaxing properties. Such a
characteristic makes chamomile tea extract one of the best Indian home
remedies for dry eyes. You can expect this tea extract to lubricate and
soothe your dry eyes.
Ingredients:Â
- 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile tea extract
- 1 cup of hot water
- Some cotton pads.
Preparation:Â
- Take the cup of hot water and add the chamomile extract to it.Â
- Let the same soak for at least fifteen minutes.Â
- Once the temperature of the solution cools off, dip two cotton pads into the solution and place them on your eyelids.Â
- Leave the cotton pads for the next ten minutes and then remove them. Wash your eyes with cold water later on.
How often:Â
- This dry eye remedy must be performed at least thrice per day.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- When carrying out this dry eyes home remedy, make sure to use fresh chamomile tea extracts for the best results.
7.
Cucumber
Are you facing irritated eyes? Then cucumber might be the correct solution for you. It should be remembered that cucumber is very rich when it comes to water content and the presence of vitamin A.Â
Hence, they are one of the easiest
ways to soothe your dry eyes. The presence of vitamin A helps in maintaining a
strong vision while the presence of vitamin K keeps your bones healthy.
Ingredients:Â
- 1 piece of cucumber.
Preparation:Â
- Proceed to cut the cucumber into thin round slices.Â
- Then take two slices and place each of them onto each of your eyes.Â
- Then relax for the next ten minutes.Â
- Once done, simply wash your eyes with cold water.
How often:Â
- This remedy for dry eyes at night should be done at least three times every day – once in the morning, afternoon and night.
Suggestions (if any):Â
- Using cucumber can help you eliminate tears in your eyes.Â
- Hence, you must use fresh cucumbers for your home remedy.
Types of dry eyes
Dry
eye is a common condition that is characterized by eyes that do not produce
enough tears to feel comfortable and protected. This lack of tears in the dry
eye can also cause other problems such as redness,
irritation, and itchiness as
well.
There
are two types of dry eyes,
1. Sjogren’s syndrome:Â
- This is a condition (5) in which the body’s immune system begins to attack and destroy the glands that produce tears in the eye.
2. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS):Â
- It is caused by a deficiency of mucus in the eye.
KCS
is usually caused by the immune system and is directly related to Sjogren's
syndrome. Treatments may include punctual plugs, artificial tears, and in more
severe cases, surgery.
Dry eyes symptoms
Dry eyes can be a pretty complicated problem to solve,
especially since the symptoms can be very difficult to interpret.
Here are the most common eye dryness symptoms we should
understand,
The commonly found symptom of dry eyes is the feeling of
having something in the eye.
This feeling of having something in your eye is called a
"gritty" feeling because it feels like it's something dry and sandy
in your eye. It can be pretty irritating, as it's hard to ignore.
Other symptoms of dry eyes include stinging, burning or irritation,
redness that doesn't go away, and swelling of the eyelid.
Another interesting symptom of dry eyes is the difficulty in
putting on mascara or contact lenses. If you have dry eyes, you will find that
you have to squeeze the tube of mascara a lot harder to get a normal amount of
product on the brush.
There are more symptoms of dry eyes, but these are the main
ones that are likely to be seen.
Dry eyes at night
If
you are waking up with dry eyes in the morning then you should be drinking more
water throughout the day.
Also,
try cutting down on caffeine. Both of these things will help you avoid the
dryness that you are feeling in the morning.
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Chronic dry eye
Chronic
dry eye syndrome is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears
to keep the eyes moist. The eyes may feel pain, itching, and burning, and
vision may be blurry.
Medication, punctual
plugs,
and tear duct flushing may be able to
relieve symptoms.
This
condition is defined as chronic when it lasts for more than 3 months and is
thought to be a permanent condition in most cases.
Symptoms of chronic dry eye
They
are,
- Eye discomfort
- Blurry visionÂ
- Dryness.
Chronic dry eyes tend to be
a lifelong condition but they can often be managed with over-the-counter eye
drops and artificial tears.
Eye blinking
Blinking
is the main mechanism that keeps our eyes wet. When we blink less, the eyes are
not well-lubricated and they feel dry.
Poor
blinking eyes can be caused by some medical conditions, such as severe sinus infections, diabetes, or glaucoma.
It
can also be caused by some drugs including antihistamines and beta-blockers. In
some cases, people blink less when they are reading,
watching TV, or using a computer,
especially if they are stressed or tired.
Blinking
is part of the mechanism that keeps the eyes comfortable. So if you want to
reduce eye dryness, make sure you blink more often.
Dry eyes medical term
Dry
eyes are a condition where there are fewer tears as well as moisture in the
eye. This is caused by the eyelids not blinking enough, which leads to less
moisture and tears.
Some
of the dry eyes symptoms are redness,
itchiness, irritation, and watering.
Certain lifestyle factors can be the reason for this, such as using your
computer or phone screen for long periods, working in an environment with low
humidity and temperature, and being stressed out. If you have dry eyes then try
using artificial tears (6) and performing
a gentle massage on your eyes. If this doesn't work, consult with your doctor
to see if you need treatment.
FAQ
1. What is dry eyes?
Ans: Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears. The tear film that covers the front of the eye and the inside of the eyelid helps to keep the eye comfortable and healthy by providing several important functions.Â
When tears evaporate too quickly, the surface of the eye becomes dry
and uncomfortable. There are many reasons for dry eyes, including environmental, dry eyes symptoms headaches,
and health factors.
2. Can dry eyes cause
blurry vision?
Ans:Â Blurry vision or double
vision, or "seeing stars" are all symptoms of various eye conditions.
Small changes in your vision, especially if you only see it in one eye, are
usually not a sign of serious eye disease.
Dry
eyes can indeed cause blurry vision, so give your eyes a rest by doing this
exercise. Every noon, when your eyes are most dried out, close your eyes tight,
wait a few minutes and open them. This exercise will give your eyes rest and
help you see clearly.
3. Can dry eyes cause
blindness?
Ans: Yes, it can.Â
People who suffer from dry eyes are more likely to develop inflammation in
their eyes, which can lead to scarring and may eventually cause blindness. (7) But fortunately, dry eye
can be prevented with the use of proper eye care products.
For
example, choosing the right kind of contact lens can help keep your eyes from
drying out, as well as wearing sunglasses and hats when you are out in the sun.
4. Is equate Dry Eye Relief safe?
Ans: Yes, equate Dry Eye
Relief is safe. It is a popular eye drop and it contains two main ingredients:
Â
Triclosan and Benzalkonium Chloride fight bacteria and
inflammation and can provide temporary relief from eye dryness and irritation.
These ingredients are safe for use.
Equate
Dry Eye Relief is manufactured by equate, a reputable company. The product
itself is safe to use, but you should always consult with your doctor before
using any eye product or medicine.
5. Why is dry eye medication so expensive?
Ans: Dry eye treatments
are usually expensive because they are usually not covered by insurance, so a
lot of people get them for free from their eye doctors.
The
people who pay for it themselves spend anywhere from $50 to $200 for their
treatment, depending on what they need.
If
you do use them, try to get samples from your eye doctor and buy them from a
less expensive place.
Final Note
A dry eye is a condition that is a result of a lack of
moisture in the eyes. This can be caused by several factors, including extreme
weather, as well as certain medications.
It's not uncommon for people to have problems with dry eyes
because of the many hours of screen time many of us have each day.Â
Dry eyes can be incredibly irritating and uncomfortable,
which is why you should always consult a doctor to determine the cause.
However, there are some simple home remedies for dry eyes that many people use
to help relieve their discomfort. Check out the list to learn more.
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