Have you been suffering from dry or scratchy feeling in your eyes that feels like something is stuck inside? Or have a burning and itching sensation accompanied by redness and blurring of your vision?
Are you often bothered by too much exposure to bright lights that sometimes result in headaches? You may be suffering from what is called Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) or also called Keratitis Sicca, Xerophthalmia and Keratoconjuctivitis in medical terms.
This condition that you are experiencing is due to your tear glands that are unable to produce enough tears to give moisture to your eyes.
Home Remedies for Dry Eye Syndrome
There is no cure for Dry Eye Syndrome, but there is simple home care management that can be done to relieve the symptoms.
Humidifier
Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome are aggravated during cold and winter seasons when the cold temperature dries up the moisture in the eyes. Frequent staying in air conditioned rooms during summer and warm months of the year also worsen the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome.
This is because air-conditioning units decrease the humidity in the air. Humidifiers will help provide enough moisture in the air preventing drying up of your eyes.
Air Filter
Another factor that can worsen Dry Eye Syndrome is the presence of excessive dust in the air, so fitting the room with good air filtering system will do your eyes a lot of help.
Hot Compress
Warm compresses may be done twice or thrice daily for 10 to 15 minutes, this helps warm up the oil from the oil glands making them free flowing.
Eyelid Scrub and Massage
To do eyelid scrub / massage use baby shampoos with no tear formula so as not to irritate your eyes. Do this by getting a small amount of the baby shampoo and apply to both eyes and massage for at least 30 seconds to one minute.
The scrubbing / massaging action will stimulate the oil glands to produce more tears. The shampoo will also ensure proper cleaning of the eyes that will help prevent eye infections.
Avoid Exposure to Moving Air
Exposure from moving air may come from ceiling and swinging fans and during long travel with open vehicles; the moving air will aggravate your Dry Eye Syndrome.
Enough Eye Rest Periods
If you are watching television, reading or using the computer, have enough breaks to allow the eyes to have rest periods every 30 minutes. Perform eye exercises like blinking and closing every 5 to 10 minutes.
Medical Treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome
There is actually no treatment and cure for Dry Eye Syndrome, but there are solutions that can be used to provide artificial eye moisture.
Eye Drops and Gels
You can buy artificial lubricating solutions from your pharmacy, they could be in eye drops or gel form. This will provide the artificial moisture for the surface of your eyes, which can be applied for three to four times daily. There is actually no over dose for this solution and there is no best product, what you can do is to try several brands and see what works best for you.
Eye Ointments
Lubricating eye ointments are thicker in consistency and lasts relatively longer, that is why it is preferred by more individuals. Although some may find it uncomfortable to use as they can cause a little blurring of vision. It is therefore recommended to use eye ointment at night to provide overnight lubrication.
Regular Eye Check Up
It is still best to have a regular eye check up from your Ophthalmologist to ensure that proper care is given and to prevent complications. If you have allergies it makes you prone to seasonal Dry Eye Syndrome, so prescribed medications may be given to you.
