Dry eye syndrome is a chronic and common condition. People with dry eye syndrome often have to go through bloodshot eyes, burning in eye, eye pain, gritty eyes, itchy eyes, and even blurred vision. Though it may not be completely curable when it gets very severe, dry eyes can be managed successfully in most cases. Proper care and treatments can make a big difference and bring much greater eye comfort, fewer dry eye symptoms, and sometimes a clearer vision. Here are some treatments to relieve dry eye conditions.
- Artificial tears and ointments
Dry eyes happen when inadequate tears are produced or tears evaporate too fast. In that case, eyes can get infected and the eye surface may get damaged if the condition is ignored and eyes are left untreated. The most common treatment, which is also usually the most recommended option by doctors is artificial tear drops. The drops mimic our real tears and can help get our eyes moisturized. There are lots of over-the-counter brands available at the drugstore. It is better to choose artificial tears without preservative, especially when you need to apply the drops more than four times a day. Preservative-free artificial tears are the best choice as they have fewer additives and are less likely to irritate your eyes. Another thing to remember is to choose the right drops for you. No one product works for everyone, so you might have to try a few to figure out the one that’s right for you. If you have chronic dry eye, you need to use the drops even when your eyes feel fine, or they won’t stay wet enough. If your eyes dry out while you sleep, you can use a thick product, like an ointment, at night. You might also think about sleeping with airtight goggles on. They’ll create a mini “moisture chamber” for your eyes.
- Warm compress
Warm compresses and eyelid scrubs help by providing a thicker, more stable layer of lubricant. This is especially helpful if you have inflammation of the eyelids or problems with the glands in your eyelid that make the lubricant. The heat warms up the oil in the glands, making it flow more easily. In the meanwhile, the massaging action helps draw the oil out of the glands. The cleansing action decreases the number of bacteria that break down the oil. Apply a warm wet washcloth to the area for 30 seconds up to 4 minutes. Do this twice a day when you have symptoms and once a day to keep the problem from coming back. Making this a habit before any eye problems arise can even act as a preventive measure.
- Geta humidifier
Being in a dry environment can make your natural tear film evaporate too quickly. Adding moisture to your environment might help, and one way to do this is to place a humidifier in your room. A humidifier puts more moisture in the air. With more moisture in the air, tears evaporate more slowly, keeping your eyes more comfortable. One thing to notice is that both furnaces and air conditioners decrease humidity in the air and might dry out your eyes. You may need to avoid this by decreasing the speed of ceiling fans and/or oscillating fans.
The above treatments can help you get relief from dry eye symptoms. As a matter of fact, you may need to put in much more efforts if you are a female since females are more likely to develop dry eyes than males. For example, females need to remove their eye makeups if they are wearing any. But, proper eye care goes for both men and women. Dry eyes do not go away by itself. You need to put in efforts to get relief from dry eyes.
Posted on May 5, 2023