If your eyes are turning super sensitive to wind or heat, and get itchy and irritated easily, there is a high probability that you have developed a syndrome called the dry eye.

Dry eye usually occurs when your tear glands run out of tears or when your tears evaporate quickly. This is followed by a burning or stinging sensation in the eyes. If you have developed dry eyes, this article lists simple home remedies that may relieve the discomforting symptoms. These natural treatments help manage dry eyes by replenishing the moisture in your eyes and restoring their functioning. Keep read to find out how to treat dry eyes naturally.

Dry eye is a condition in which an individual is unable to produce enough tears to lubricate or nourish the eyes. This condition is also referred to as dry eye syndrome or keratoconjunctivitis.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

The common causes that lead to the drying of your eyes are:

• ‌Constant exposure to wind or dry air
• ‌Dysfunctional tear glands
• ‌Allergies
• ‌Previous eye surgery
• ‌Use of medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, contraceptive pills, or antidepressants
• ‌Aging
• ‌Not blinking for a long time
• ‌Long-term use of contact lens
• ‌Staring at the computer screen for too long
• ‌A deficiency in vitamins A and D
• ‌Hormonal therapy and pregnancy
• ‌Medical conditions like hypothyroidism, allergies, arthritis, and immune system disorders.

Symptoms Of Dry Eyes

The most common dry eye symptoms include:

• ‌A stinging and burning sensation in your eyes
• ‌Pain in the eyes
• ‌Eyes become irritated and red
• ‌Unusual tearing of the eyes
• ‌Blurry vision
• ‌Eyes feel dry and sandy
• ‌Dry eyes are not only exasperating but can also interfere with your day to day life. Hence, it is best to get rid of this problem at the earliest. Given below is a list of home remedies that can help you treat dry eye and its symptoms safely.

Prevention From Dry Eyes

Besides using eye drops or ointment, there are several simple ways to help prevent dry eyes. These include:

Avoid places with a lot of air movement

This means limiting your exposure to fans and hair dryers, and by wearing wraparound sunglasses when outside on windy days to protect your eyes from drying out.

Turn on a humidifier in the wintertime

Home heating systems can cause the air in your home to dry out, and dry out your eyes. But using a humidifier can help the air stay moist. If you don’t have a humidifier, you can put a pan of water on your radiator to add water into the air.

Rest your eyes

Frequent reading, TV watching, and computer use can dry out your eyes, so it’s important to take breaks so your eyes can regain some of their moisture.

Stay away from cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoke can irritate dry eyes and increase one’s risk of developing dry eyes in the first place.

Use warm compresses then wash your eyelids

Placing a warm compress on your eyes then washing your eyelids with baby shampoo helps to release some of the oil in your eyelids’ glands, this improves the quality of your tears. Be sure you completely rinse soap from your eyes when finished to avoid irritating them.

Try an omega-3 fatty acid supplement

Some people report dry eye relief after adding omega-3 fatty acids to their diet. These can be found naturally in foods like oily fish and flax seeds, but can also be purchased in liquid or pill supplement form.