Eyes are a very sensitive part of our body so we have to take a proper care of our eyes. But sometimes we face dry eyes. So now you must be thinking that what are dry eyes? And how to cure dry eyes permanently? Well, dry eyes can affect the surface of your cornea which is covered with tears. It happens when you don’t have enough tears or when they dry out quickly. Sometimes it can be temporary issues which are caused by tiredness, dehydration or excessive screen use. Dry eye is common in older people whose age is more than 50 years old. However, it can occur at any age. Now, we are going to tell you about the cure for dry eyes permanently with the help of home remedies, medical procedures and nutritious food.

What Is Dry Eye?

Dry eye is a chronic condition which affects the tear film and ocular surface. There are three layers of tears that cover, moist, clear and protect the surface of the eyes from the dust and germs. The three layers are oil, water and mucus. When any of these layers are not in balance, then it can be irritated and the surface of the eyes can be dry. If you don’t have smooth and stable tears, then it can cause you to not see clearly and comfortably. Not having proper tear film can cause symptoms which are not comfortable, like your eyes can burn, itch, watering or your vision might be blurred.

Types of Dry Eye Disease

There are three types of dry eyes:

Aqueous Deficient Dry Eyes: It happens when the lacrimal glands of your eyes are not able to produce enough aqueous tears. These tears make the watery layer of the tear film.
Evaporative Dry Eyes: When the tears evaporate quickly then it can lead to evaporative dry eyes. It is most common because of meibomian gland dysfunction.
Mixed dry Eyes: Some of the people have aqueous tear deficiency and tear instability. It means their eyes are not able to produce tears and the tear film is also unstable.

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

If you are having dry eyes, then you are already experiencing something in your eyes that is not coming out. It can feel the sensation of scratchy, gritty or sandy. So, here are some symptoms of dry eyes:

Blurry vision
Burning
Not able to wear contact lenses
Feeling sensitive to light
Feeling like something is in your eyes
Fluctuating vision
Itching
Mucus that comes out of your eye (eye discharge)
Redness
Stinging sensation
Watery eyes

Causes of Dry Eyes

The causes of dry eyes are:

When eyes don’t produce enough tears
When tears evaporate too quickly
Both of these happen together
As age increases, the production of tears decreases.
During the menopause, the hormone has change which can lead to dry eyes.

Apart from these causes, dry eyes can occur on its own, and if you are facing any medical problem. So, dry eyes are a sign of:

Blepharitis
Sjogren’s syndrome
Thyroid eye disease

10 Simple Home Remedies to Cure Dry Eyes

To cure dry eyes, there are some simple home remedies:

Wash the Eyelids and Lashes

For healthy tears, you have to gently wash your eyelids and lashes each and every day. It helps to unlock oil glands and reduce irritation. You should use warm or mild water and a cleanser like eyelid cleansers or doctor recommended wipes. You should softly scrub the upper and lower parts of the lash lines. Removing the makeup or dust with the help of a wipe, it prevents the tear film from polluting and irritating your eyes. After this, you can damp the warm washcloth in your closed eyes for a few minutes to loosen oil and to moisturize the area.

Apply Warm Compresses

You should apply warm compresses; it is the simplest and soothing remedy for dry eyes. It helps to open the meibomian glands with your eyelids. It releases the oily layer that keeps tears from drying. For a warm compress, you should wet a clean cloth with warm water. After that, close your eyes and place the cloth on your eyelids for 4 to 8 minutes. The warmth feel relax and also it helpss to moisturize your eyes by stimulating the tear film. You can do that before going to bed or in the morning to relieve the dryness and blurry vision.

Gently Massage the Eyelids

After the warm compress, you should gently massage your eyelid. It helps to remove the oils from meibomian glands and improve the quality of tears. With a clean finger, you should rub the eyelids in a circular motion. It helps to flow the natural oils and reduce the gritty feeling. If you move your finger faster than it can cause irritation, so be gentle with that. You have to massage your lids once or twice times daily and then you will notice that your eyes have less dryness and more tear stability.

The 20-20-20 Rule

Constantly seeing the screen can weaken your tear film. Continuously using the computer can dry your eyes, so you should blink your eyes frequently times. You should give rest to your eyes and use the 20-20-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, you should see something else that is 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds. This is a simple thing which helps to rest your eyes and blink to wet the surface again. If you work on a computer or read for a very long time, then set the timer to remind you. During the break time, you have to take a rest, so you should close your eyes for some time and roll them. These things really are very helpful to reduce the dryness.

Blink More Frequently

Sometimes, when we are concentrating on the screen for a long time we forget to blink. So, you have to do efforts or force yourself to blink your eyes fully and frequently. You can do the exercise for blinking. You have to close your eyes for 2 seconds and open them. After that, close them again and then gently squeeze your eyelids for 2 seconds and open them again. This exercise helps to relax, maintain the tear film and keep the eyes moist. You should blink your eyes regularly, especially during screen use, to prevent dry patches on your cornea.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking water is not only good for the skin but also for the eyes. Water in the eyeballs helps like a lubricant, softening that area and supporting the lacrimal glands. Water helps your eyes to produce tears, focus and everything which eyes do. When your eyes are dehydrated, they can’t remove the dust or stay lubricated which lead it to dryness and redness. So, you have to target to drink approx 8 glasses of water per day. This gives benefits to your whole body and eyes too.

Limit Alcohol and Caffeine

Taking the alcohol and caffeine can cause the eyes to dehydrate. They can worsen the dry eyes. It’s not like you have to leave your morning coffee or occasional wine. But you have to consume them in a limited way. You should also balance the caffeine with water like if you drink coffee, then you should take it with water. You have to notice whether your eyes are hydrated or dry. Limit the dehydrated drinks to keep your eyes hydrated and moisturized.

Quit or Avoid Smoking

Smoking has a very high impact on the eyes. The smoke of cigarettes have thousands of chemicals that irritate the eyes. Smokers have a higher chance of having a dry eyes. Due to smoking, the lipid layer of the eyes can be broken, which can lead to evaporation and can irritate your eyes. Quitting smoking is good for your health, but it also improves your eyes and reduce the dryness. If you don’t smoke, also try to avoid staying in a smoking environment because it can also impact your eyes. So, by staying away from that area or smoking, you can protect your eyes to be dry and redness.

Get Enough Sleep

Not getting enough sleep can also have an impact on your eyes which can lead to dryness. You need to get a maximum of 7 to 8 hours of sleep at night. But if you are facing any problem or having trouble in sleeping, then you should:

Do exercise in the morning.
Sleep in a quiet and dark room. You should take blackout curtains which block the outside lights.
Set a reminder and go to bed. Before going to bed, keep the phone, laptop or any blue light device away.

Change the Environment

The bad environment, like low humidity, high winds, dust, air conditioning, heat and smoke can impact temporary dryness in the eyes. So, here are few ways to cure dry eyes:

You can use a humidifier. If you use a cool-mist humidifier, then it is best for the pets or children. Warm mist humidifiers are best for cold weather. Use a humidifier in a dry room so it can reduce dryness and ease the eyes from the dryness.
Place the water near the heater or from where the heat is coming. It helps to increase the moisture.
Using the air conditioner for a long time can have a bad impact on your eyes.
You should use HVAC and HEPA filters. It helps to block the pollutants.
Closed the windows during the high winds and when the air is polluted.
Wear sunglasses when you go outside to protect your eyes.

Medical Dry Eye Treatment

There are so many medicines, medical conditions, and surgeries that can cause dry eyes. But there are also some drops, ointments, gels and many things by which you can treat your dry eyes.

Medication

Taking some medications can increase the risk of dry eyes, such as those that are used to treat:

Antihistamines
Asthma medicine
Allergies
Birth control pills
Blood pressure
Depression
Glaucoma
Menopause
Pain

Medical Conditions

Many medical conditions can also lead to dry eyes, like:

Autoimmune disease
Endocrine disorders
Eye disease

Surgeries

Some of the eye surgeries can lead to it, like:

Cataract surgery
Cornea surgery
LASIK

Use the Right Eye Drops

If your eyes feel like scratchy, then using artificial tears or lubricating eye drops helps to give relief quickly, but choosing the right drop is important. For dry eye, preservative-free lubricating drops are often best. They avoid to add chemicals which can irritate your eyes. Especially if you need to apply drops multiple times a day. Steer clear of “redness relief” drops, it often contain vasoconstrictors that can worsen the irritation if you use it over. Popular brands include:

Refresh Optive Advanced Preservative-Free: It helps to hydrate and protect your eyes from irritation.
Systane Ultra Preservative-Free: This provides long lasting relief for normal to severe dry eyes.

Lubricating Gels and Ointments

You can use lubricating gel or ointments at night in your eyes for long lasting moisturization and relief. They temporarily blur the vision, so you should use them at bedtime. Examples include:

Genteal Tears Gel: Great for overnight hydration.
Refresh PM Ointment: It protects and moisturizes your dry eyes during sleep.

Natural Eye Drops for Dry Eyes

If you want a natural remedy for eye problems, there are some homeopathic and herbal eye drops with plant based ingredients. Like:

Similasan Dry Eye Relief: It is a homeopathic drop with natural active ingredients, also you have to consult with your doctor before use.
Ocusoft Retaine MGD: This helps to provide moisturization without preservatives for sensitive eyes.

Prescription Medications

If the use of drops isn’t working, then doctors can prescribe anti-inflammatory eye drops. The medicines help to improve natural tear production. The use of steroid eye drops and omega-3 supplements also helps reduce inflammation and enhance tear quality. The medications are:

Cyclosporine
Lifitegrast

Punctal Plugs

For dry eye, ophthalmologists can use the devices called punctal plugs to block the tear drainage ducts. This is a procedure that involves placing tiny plugs in the tear ducts to prevent tears from draining too quickly. It helps to retain the natural tears on the surface of the eye for a longer time. It keeps the eyes moist and comfortable without surgery. Punctal plugs can provide a semi permanent solution.

Note: Before taking any drops, gel or ointment, you should consult the doctor.

Foods And Nutrients That Support Eye Health

A good diet plays an important role in maintaining your eyes. Some foods and nutrients help to improve tear quality.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 oils help to improve the function of the meibomian gland. It naturally helps to reduce the symptoms of dry eyes by reducing the inflammation and healthy fats. You can find the omega-3 fatty acids in:

Chia seeds
Flaxseeds
Palm and soybean oil
Walnuts

Antioxidants

Taking a proper diet and having antioxidants in the foods like vitamins A, B, C, D and E are good and healthy for dry eyes. They help to protect the eyes from oxidative stress and improve the quality of tears. There are also some other vitamin which is good for eye health, such as;

Lutein
Niacin
Riboflavin
Thiamine
Vitamin A, B, C, D and E
Zeaxanthin

To cure dry eyes permanently, you have to take a proper and balanced diet. You should eat the food which is rich in vitamin like:

Almonds
Carrots
Dairy
Fish
Grapes
Mushrooms
Nuts
Spinach
Kiwis

Zinc

Zinc helps to support the production of melanin, which may support overall eye health. There are some foods that are the best source of zinc, such as:

Beans
Beef
Lentils
Poultry

Having these nutrient-rich foods in your diet can increase the eye health and reduce the dry eyes.

When should I see an Ophthalmologist?

After trying everything at home and still feeling dryness or redness in the eyes? Then, you should visit the doctor, the dry eyes specialist. But before visiting, you must have these symptoms like:

Dryness, redness and pain in the eyes.
Having a problem with lights, vision is not clear and swelling in the eyes.
Are not able to use contact lenses as you used to.
Constantly tearing or irritation in the eyes during work, reading or driving.

Conclusion

In today’s life, to cure dry eyes requires a long term plan that keeps our eyes comfortable, rather than a temporary fix. Home remedies, medical treatment and eating a good diet can help to manage the symptoms. It helps to cure dry eyes and protect the eye area. There is no permanent cure for dry eyes, but you can manage and improve it by taking care of yourself. If you are feeling any sensation in your eyes like itching, burning or having redness then you should not ignore them. Getting a proper treatment is the most important thing for a long lasting relief.

Note: This blog is for informational purposes only. So, before taking any drops, gels or ointments to cure dry eyes permanently, you should consult the doctor.

How to Treat Dry Eyes: Home Remedies, Eye Drops & Medical Care