Effective Dry Eye Remedies to Soothe Your Discomfort
There’s nothing fun about eye discomfort. Try not to rub or scratch your eyes; you’ll only make matters worse. Dry eye syndrome is estimated to impact upwards of twenty percent of Americans, especially during peak seasons like spring and summer. Those itchy, dry eyes make just about everything, even sleeping, uncomfortable. However, fear not because these are some of our best dry eye remedies that are sure to ease any discomfort you have in no time at all.
1. Apply Warm Compresses
This is especially helpful during winter months when dry, cold conditions and things like indoor heating may be exacerbating your situation. Your tears consist of a combination of oil, water, and mucus, and all three are necessary for your eyes to stay healthy.
To ease irritation, wet a washcloth with warm water, wring it, and gently place it over your closed eyes. Be sure to keep the cloth warm, and you’ll have the bonus of reducing inflammation.
2. Drops or Ointments
Drops and ointments are some of the most common dry eye remedies. There are a wide variety of products out there on the market. There are eye drops which may bring relief, but do be aware that some of these products can contain preservatives that have a small chance of actually irritating your eyes, instead of bringing relief.
If your eyes react negatively to eye drops with preservatives or if you need eye drops more than four times per day, you may want to consider an ointment. These offer greater relief but may impair your vision due to its texture, so be aware.
3. Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is essential for all parts of your body, but especially for your eyes which rely on moisture to be healthy. Remember the rule of drinking 8-10 glasses of liquids per day, avoiding alcohol, and these daily requirements will help you avoid dry eye pain.
4. Blink More
This may seem too obvious, but what happens particularly often nowadays is that we stare at our phones or computer screens for too long. Not blinking causes your eyes to dry out. So just turn your head from the screen and take a break to catch up to blink.
Think of it like breathing. A good rule to follow is the 20/20/20 rule – for every twenty minutes of computer usage, focus on something in the distance of twenty feet for twenty seconds.
5. Air Filters and Humidifiers
Indoor air can often be arid. This is because both air conditioners and heaters remove moisture from the air as they are working to cool the air down or working to heat it up. By simply putting a humidifier near your heater during the winter or air conditioner during the summer, you could fix this problem. Likewise, air filters clean dust and other particulates that may also dry out and damage your eyes making this one of the simplest dry eye remedies.
The Best Dry Eye Remedies for Your Health
Dry eye syndrome doesn’t have to get you down. With these natural dry eye remedies, you’ll be on your way to feeling better in no time at all. One way, of course, to prevent it is by having an annual comprehensive eye care exam to see if you need eye treatment for any conditions. Here are some of the things you need to do before your first visit so you can make the most out of your trip to your eye specialist to live well and to see clearly.
