Home Remedies for Dry Eyes

Home Remedies for Dry Eyes

Persistent dryness, scratchiness, red eyes and a burning sensation are common symptoms of dry eyes. These symptoms alone may prompt your eye doctor to diagnose dry eye syndrome.
As shown here, dry eyes can become red and irritated.
Dry eyes can become red and irritated, causing a feeling of scratchiness.
But sometimes your eye doctor may want to measure the amount of tears in your eyes. A thin strip of filter paper placed under the lower eyelid, called a Schirmer test, is one way to measure tear production.
Another symptom of dry eyes is a "foreign body sensation," which is a feeling that something is in your eye.
And it may seem odd, but dry eye syndrome also can cause watery eyes. This is because dryness on the eye's surface sometimes will overstimulate production of the watery component of your tears as a protective mechanism.

1.Hydration

 Dehydration can be a major cause of dry eyes. Water acts like back-up for all the metabolic activities in the body. Thus, consuming at least 8 to 10 glasses of water is recommended for a patient suffering from dry eyes. An adequate consumption of water helps to recover from dry eye syndrome.

2.Eye Hygiene

 People with dry eyes tend to constantly rub their eyes. This can cause inflammation, while forcing dust and microbes to enter the eyes. Therefore, eye hygiene should be maintained and rubbing should be avoided as much as possible.

3.Warm Water

 Soak a towel in warm water, remove excess water, and cover the upper face for 15-20 minutes. This would maintain the moisture in the eyes.

4.Flaxseed oil

 Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and is helpful in treating dry eyes. It can be consumed directly or with fruits and drinks.

5.Bilberry

You may have already heard that bilberry, a shrub closely related to the blueberry, is great for overall eye health and retinal diseases like macular degeneration. Well, it’s also particularly beneficial for dry, itchy eyes. Extracts from the bilberry fruit help to improve blood circulation, oxygen supply and tear gland function. Additionally, bilberries contain vitamin P and citrin, both of which help to decrease swelling and inflammation in the body; a common dry eye trigger. You can try bilberry supplements or tea made from bilberry leaves. However, be careful not to over indulge. Ingest no more than 220 mg of bilberry per day.

6.Mint

Next time you’re tempted to rub those itchy, stinging eyes, try a spearmint eyewash instead. Simply boil about 10-12 leaves of spearmint in some water. Wait until the solution cools (at least 20 minutes!) and then use a clean face cloth to apply the wash to your eyes. Menthol, the active ingredient in mint, actually stimulates tear production and will leave your eyes feeling energized and refreshed. Plus, it smells amazing! Win-win!

7.Tumeric

Sometimes known as curcumin, turmeric is an asian spice that is protective against a number of diseases (including dry eye!).
Here is a Tumeric recipe that you can try:
Warm up some almond milk, sprinkle a tsp of turmeric, ½ tsp cinnamon and 1/8 tsp cloves. Finish with a dollop of raw honey. Whisk together and voila, an inventive (and delicious) way to incorporate turmeric into your diet!

8.Cold Milk or Rose Water

 Dip a piece of cotton either in rose water or cold milk and apply it on your closed eyes. Leave it on for about 10 minutes. This will allow the eyes to relax, thereby reducing strain.