Simple Home Remedies for Dry Eyes|Best Policy for Prevention

Simple home remedies for dry eyes, Dry eye is a common condition affecting the eye related to multiple factors; extrinsic factors as environmental or intrinsic factors, and may be associated with other diseases and syndromes. It can cause ocular symptoms like redness, irritation, discomfort, headache, and visual symptoms.

It may also lead to complications such as recurrent eye infection, damage of eye surface causing corneal abrasion, corneal ulcer, and defective vision. So, it is important to know how to care with your eyes to prevent and improve dry eye symptoms. There are various simple home remedies for dry eyes that are effective for that condition. Here, we let you know the most important simple home remedies for dry eyes. 

What is Dry eye?

Before we can provide you with effective Simple home remedies for dry eyes, you must know what dry eye is. Dry eye syndrome or dry eye condition is a group of disorders affecting the ocular tear film due to decreasing quantity or quality of tears, represented with ocular symptoms and /or visual disorders and may be associated with pathological changes of the ocular surface.

What are the etiology & the risk factors?

-Etiology

Understanding the main etiologies of the dry eye is very important. So, you can then know why the Simple home remedies for dry eyes mentioned later are needed for the dry eye condition. A patient with dry eyes has either a problem related to the quantity or the quality of tears. 

1. Problem-related to the quantity of tear:

Tears are produced by the lacrimal gland in the upper eyelid (secreting watery tears) and several glands in the conjunctiva and eyelids margins (which secrete oily and mucous tears). tears are washed across the eye with each blinking toward the puncta of the upper and lower eyelids then through the canaliculi of the lacrimal sac and then into the lacrimal sac. Lastly, the tears are drained from the nasolacrimal duct to the inside of the nose and down the throat. Disorders that cause decreased tear production or Increased evaporation can affect the quantity of tear film and develop dry eye. 

1.Decreased tear Production

Many factors and conditions can affect the production of tears causing diminished tear amount including

• Primary factors: Aging and Congenital disorders e,g. Alacrima

• Secondary factors to :

• Medical conditions and diseases e.g. Sjogren's syndrome, allergic disorders of the eye, vitamin A deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, Lymphoma, and HIV

• Diminished corneal reflex (Corneal nerve desensitivity) caused by using contact lens use, nerve damage, laser surgery, and radiation.

• Medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapy, and antihypertensive drugs.

2. Increased evaporation

Excessive evaporation can also lead to decreased amount of tears and so, can cause dry eyes. It can be due to either extrinsic or intrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors include Vitamin A deficiency, certain medications, and environmental conditions like winds and dry climate. Intrinsic factors include conditions related to the eyelid and deficiency of oily secretions of tears.

1. Problem-related to the quality of tear:

The tear film covering the eye surface is formed of three layers: 

1. An outer oily layer secreted by oily glands in both eyelids

2. A middle watery layer secreted by the lacrimal gland

3. An inner mucous layer secreted by the conjunctiva

Each layer provides protection and nourishment to the surface of the eye. The oily layer can prevent evaporation of the watery layer, and the mucous layer allows spreading the tears equally over the eye surface. Any disorder affecting any of the three layers of the tear film can lead to dry eyes as it causes increased evaporation or disturbs the spreading of tears over the eye surface.

-Risk factors:

Before mentioning the simple home remedies for dry eyes It is also important to know the risk factors for dry eyes. According to the level of evidence, Risk factors of dry eye can be classified into risk factors with high, moderate, and low evidence levels.

1. Risk factors with a high evidence level:

• Age: older than 50 years old

• Gender: Female 

• Vitamin A deficiency

• Hepatitis C

• Connective Collagen disease

• Androgen deficiency

• Antihistamines

• Postmenopausal estrogen therapy

• Stem cell transplantation

• Corneal refractive surgery

• Irradiation

1. Risk factors with a moderate evidence level:

• Low air humidity

• Patient having Diabetes mellitus

• Patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Ovarian dysfunction

• Sarcoidosis

• Medications: beta-blockers, diuretics, tricyclic antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

• Chemotherapy

• Cataract surgery with a large incision

• Keratoplasty

1. Risk factors with a low evidence level:

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Menopause

• Pregnancy

• Acne

• Gout

• Botulinum toxin injection

• Drugs: Anticholinergic, anxiolytics & antipsychotics

• Oral contraceptives

Simple home remedies for dry eyes:

1. Rest of eyes

It is essential not only for dry eye persons but also for everyone to avoid staying reading or looking for a computer, smartphone, and television for a long time as this can cause rapid evaporation of tears. There is a good rule (20-20-20 rule) that can be followed which means that you rest your eyes every 20 minutes looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds or more. This is one of the easy simple home remedies for dry eyes that you can be done without effort. 

1. Sleeping well

Those with a history of insufficient sleeping have an increased incidence of developing dry eyes. So, you need to get enough regular sleeping daily. According to studies, the adult person needs to sleep for 7-8 hours every night.

1. Washing of eyelid

Washing your eyelids and eyelashes carefully will help your eyes for improving the oily secretions from the eyelids and accordingly improving the quality of tears. You can wash your eyes with warm water and baby shampoo or a preservative-free eyelid cleanser. You should repeat the washing in the morning and at night. Don't forget to remove the makeup or creams before washing to get a better result.

1. Frequent blinking

Looking at a computer or smartphone for too long without taking a rest will affect the rate of eye blinking. So, you should try to improve the rate of eye blinking when you stay a long time using the computer or the smartphone. You can follow a guided rule (20/20 rule) as you close the eyes every 20 minutes for 20 seconds or more. 

1. Good hydration

Every system of the human body, including your eyes, needs enough water to be healthy. You should drink enough water to keep your eyes moist and healthy. You need to drink about 8-10 glasses of water daily to protect your eyes from dryness. keep in mind good hydration is one of the most important simple home remedies for dry eyes. 

1. Healthy diet

One of the Simple home remedies for dry eyes is the healthy diet needed for dry eyes which should be supplemented by omega 3 and vitamins. 

1. Diet rich Omega-3 fatty acids 

Omega-3 fatty acids are found to be essential for the health of the eyes as they prevent and improve symptoms of dry eyes by improving the quantity and the quality of tears. You can increase the level of Omega-3 fatty acids in your body by  eating foods rich in fatty acid including:

• Fish (tuna, sardines, salmon, and mackerel)

• Eggs supplemented with omega-3 

• Walnuts

• Palm oil

• Flaxseed oil

• Soybean oil

• Chia seeds

1. Diet rich in vitamin A, B12, and D

The deficiency of these vitamins can cause symptoms of dry eye as they are essential for eye health. These vitamins are available in many foods including meat, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. 

Other essential vitamins needed for eye health include:

• Vitamin B1(Thiamine)

• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

• Vitamins B6 and B9

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin E

• Lutein and Zeaxanthin

1. Smoking cessation

According to many studies, cigarette smoke involves thousands of chemicals that can change the components of the tear film affecting the quality of the tears. So, smoking is associated with a high risk of dry eye. So, You must stop smoking if you are a smoker.

1. Getting away from alcohol

According to many studies, alcohol is associated with a high incidence of dry eye symptoms as it can affect the quality of tear film. So you must avoid drinking alcohol.

1. Changing and modification of the environment

Environmental factors such as dust, smoke, winds, heat, low humidity, and dry air can cause irritation and dryness of the eye.  You should stay away from these factors as possible as you can or modify these factors by:

• Using a humidifier in dry low humidified weather

• Using filters to clear  the air from dust, pollutants, and smoke

• Keeping the windows of the build closed 

1. Wearing sunglasses

When you’re out of your home, especially during winds,   it is recommended for you to wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from drying out and debris. It is one of the simple home remedies for dry eyes as you can get it easily.

1. Warm Compresses

It is recommended to use a warm compress on your eyes followed by washing your eyelids with warm water and baby shampoo. Warm compress helps to release oil secretion from eyelids’ glands improving the quality of the tears and symptoms of dry eye.

Our dewtreats for you today are that as the dry eye is a common condition that affects the eye causing symptoms and complications that affect the quality of life, it is important to prevent this condition from occurrence. This can be done easily by following the simple home remedies for dry eyes mentioned before as they are simple, easy, effective, and needing no great effort. 

By: Dr. Shimaa