At Home Remedies To Help Alleviate Dry Eye Symptoms

by Admin
July 23, 2021

Do you constantly feel like you have something in your eye? Or are your eyes constantly irritated even though you do not suffer from allergies? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you may be experiencing the uncomfortable symptoms that come with dry eye syndrome. Dry eye is an inflammatory disorder of tears and the ocular surface, often resulting in symptoms of dryness and overall discomfort. Although chronic dry eye cannot be cured, its symptoms can be managed. Your eye doctor will perform a dry eye test to examine the root cause of your dry eye so they can begin developing a treatment plan customized to you. Your optometrist will most likely provide you with a prescription for artificial eye drops or suggest other treatment options that require professional intervention. However, there are several ways you can help combat these symptoms at home without the need for a prescription or surgical treatment options.

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Home Remedies That Will Help Alleviate Your Dry Eye Symptoms

Adopting lifestyle changes or seeking simple at-home remedies is a great start to help treat the symptoms of dry eye syndrome. However, if your condition continues or begins to worsen, visit your optometrist immediately. They will be able to identify the root cause of your dry eye syndrome and offer advanced treatment options to help you see comfortably again. Here are a few at-home remedies you can try to help alleviate your irritating symptoms:

Blinking Exercises

Did you know that blinking exercises can help clear your vision, moisten your eye, and lessen eye strain? When we are awake, most of us only blink halfway, not allowing adequate moisture to spread over the surface of the eye. If you take full, slow blinks, the meibomian glands located in your eyelids will secrete more oil to help lubricate the surface of your eye as well as keep the surface moist for longer. Slow down and take a few minutes out of your busy day to concentrate on fully blinking your eyes. This can be easily done while you are at your desk, watching TV, or at mealtimes.

Eye Massages

Self-massage can be a successful way to soothe tired, irritated eyes. Taking five minutes out of your day to massage your eyelids and the lash line can help increase blood circulation and release muscle tension, all of which are symptoms of dry eye syndrome. Follow these steps to accurately massage your eyes:

Apply gentle heat to your eyes using warm water or a warm compress
With your eyes closed:

Massage the eye socket bones down to the bridge of the nose.
Gently press on pressure points under the brow bone and at temples; c. Press on the inner creases of the eye near the tear ducts, hold for 5 seconds
Lightly massage eyelids back and forth, up to 15-20 times.

Gently move your eyelashes back and forth very gently using a washcloth or eye wipe

Eat A Balanced Diet

Vitamin A and D deficiencies are linked to dry eye syndrome. By incorporating foods into your diet that are rich in fatty acids and that contain vitamin A and D, you will be helping to reduce inflammation in your body that could be causing your dry eye symptoms. This will allow for increased tear production and higher-quality tears. Here are some examples of healthy foods that you can incorporate into your diet:

Sweet potatoes
Salmon
Black-eyed peas
Carrots
Egg yolks
Soybeans

Your Trusted Dry Eye Clinic In Calgary

Dry eyes can disrupt your everyday life and cause significant discomfort. It can make it a little harder to be productive at work, diminish your time spent with family and friends, and just make seeing an uncomfortable task. Adopting some lifestyle changes and incorporating massage and blinking exercises into your routine could temporarily relieve your symptoms. If your symptoms persist or worsen, visit your eye doctor right away as the root cause of your dry eye could be associated with other serious health concerns such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Whether you've been living with dry eye symptoms for some time and are looking for a more effective treatment option than home remedies, or you are at the beginning of your dry eye care journey, it is always a good idea to consult your optometrist. At Sunridge Eye Clinic, our eye specialists take the time to accurately assess the severity of dryness and prescribe the most appropriate treatment options. Contact our team today to book your comprehensive eye exam and dry eye test by calling (403) 280-7518 or by filling out our online contact form.

FAQs

What other treatment options are there to alleviate dry eye symptoms?
At Sunridge Eye Clinic, we provide the most personalized and comprehensive dry eye treatment solutions in Calgary that include:

Artificial tears
Prescription eye-drops (such as Restasis)
Steroid eye-drops
Punctal plugs
Warm compresses

2. Is dry eye syndrome curable?
Unfortunately, dry eye syndrome is not curable. However, its symptoms can be managed through several treatment options to allow you to see without any irritation.

3. What are some common dry eye symptoms?
Common dry eye symptoms include: