For most people, having dry eyes doesn't sound very serious. But it's surprising to realize how serious having dry eyes can be. Dry eyes imply that the glands producing tears in your eyes are not functioning well. Tears contain a combination of antibodies (to prevent infection), oils (for lubrication), mucus, proteins, and water (to provide moisture).
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
- Blurred vision
- Burning in eyes
- Pain
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Sensitivity to light
Causes of Dry Eyes
- A deficiency in tear production.
- Side effects of certain medicines, like as tranquilizers, decongestants, antihistamines, and birth control pills.
- Cigarette smoking.
- Drinking alcohol.
- Aging.
- Environmental factors, like pollution, harsh winds, air conditioning.
- Other factors, like allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and menopause etc.
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Home Remedies for Dry Eyes
- Use Artificial Tears: Buy artifical tear OTC. These look like real tears and can be used several times a day. They give a soothing effect to the eyes. However, some artificial tears contain preservatives which may be harmful to the eyes. So use artificial tears that are natural and preservative-free or "nonpreserved.
- Try Warm Compresses: A warm compress can a play a beautiful role of unclogging the oil producing glands in your eyelids. This will definite soothe dry eyes. Take a cloth and wet it in warm water, squeeze out the water, and then place it over your eyes for few minutes. You should do this several times a day. Infact this is the first thing that you should do after you first wake up in the morning.
- Massage afte a compress: Use a finger tip covered with the cloth. Gently apply pressure through sweeping motions from the nose area across the eyelid toward the ear. It will provide great relief in dry eye.
- Use a Humidifier: See that there is no dry air in your room. If the air in your house does not have moisture (which can happen when an indoor heating system is in use), this can be a cause of dry eyes. Use humidifiers in your room. This will keep your eyes from drying out when you're sleeping.
- Keep Air Away From Your Eyes: When inside the car, make sure the air vents are turned away from your face. Blasts of air will only make dry eyes worse. Blasts of air can come from the heater or air conditioner and even hair dryer.
- Use fans in low speed: Even fans, both ceiling fans and oscillating fans, can worsen dry eyes. So use them on a lower setting.
- Blink Your Dry Eyes: Take breaks while working in front of the computer or while reading. Blink several times to spread tears over the surface of your eyes.
Do's and Dont's of Dry Eyes
- Donot use medicated eye drops as they can treat only the red ness of the eyes.
- Wear singlasses while going out as the rays of the sun and wing and dust cause dry eyes.
- Include foods rice in vitamin A like as eggs, salmon, sardines, and proper nutritional supplements to improve tear production and prevent dryness.
