Painful dry eyes could be an indication of a more severe condition that could lead to vision loss. Once you have the go-ahead from the doctor to try home remedies, you can use some of those listed below.
When dealing with a remedy for any condition, you always have to think about the cause. If you address the cause, then you can treat the disease. Anything else will act as a band-aid to the problem. In some cases, the best bet lies in medical interventions.
What causes painful dry eyes?
Painful eyes feel tired, tender, and gritty, often owing to conjunctivitis. Sometimes, the soreness could be a result of allergic reactions or infections. Other causes include exposure to the sun, rubbing the eyes, the use of contact lenses, eye dryness, incorrect glasses, and irritants.
Painful eyes exhibit as dryness, redness, pain, watering, and blurred vision, among other symptoms.
Dry eyes also go by the name dry eye syndrome and can cause redness in the eyes. Dry eyes make it harder for you to enjoy some quality time with loved ones as well as be productive at work. Millions of adults get dry eye diagnoses each year.
If you are suffering from the same, a few changes to your lifestyle accompanied by some home remedies can help. If you experience a worsening of the condition, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.
Dry eyes occur when your eyes lack enough lubrication. Causes of this include medical conditions, drugs, environmental factors, and eye strain. You are more at risk of dry eyes if you are aged 65 going up, female, a contact lens user, and a smoker.
Also, if you spend a lot of time on the screen and have some vitamin deficiencies and autoimmune conditions. Chronic diseases and environmental factors can contribute to reduced lubrication.
Home remedies for painful dry eyes
1. Attar
This special oil comes from rose petals and is rich in vitamins A, and C. Attar bears anti-inflammatory ingredients that work in soothing the pain in your eyes. Additionally, this oil is good for your skin.
2. Baking soda
This compound has a myriad of uses, among them baking and cleaning surfaces. It is thus not a surprise that it can offer you some comfort during this time. It works in alleviating allergy symptoms, and you can also use it to clean your face.
For this, you will need half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a cup of boiled water. Ensure that the solution is cool and dip a cotton bud into i. Use this to clean the outside of your eyes, such as the lashes, lids, and edges as you move from one side to the other. Use a clean bud for each dip into the solution.
3. Calamansi
If you want an effective alternative to eye drops, Calamansi is the way to go. It also goes by the name calamondin and contains citrus, which alleviates eye pain. You can trust this in cleaning and protecting the eyes. Note that the juice can sting your eyes owing to the citrus effect.
For this, you will need two drops of calamansi juice, which you will mix with four drops of warm water. Drop one drop into the affected eye and roll the eye around for a while. After this, use plain water to rinse out the juice. You can do this once a day. Any more than this can irritate the eye significantly.
4. Cilantro
You probably use this herb a lot in your food to bring out the flavors. Well, that is not the only thing that it can address. It also works in alleviating itchiness in the eyes. To derive these benefits, you will need to boil fresh seeds and leaves of this plant. Allow the liquid to cool before straining it and using it as a face wash. It has powerful cleansing properties, and you should experience some relief after using it.
5. Epsom salt
This ingredient, which has anti-inflammatory properties, also goes by the name magnesium sulfate. You can use it to soothe your eyes. You will need a teaspoon of the salt and a cup of hot water, as well as some cotton cloths.
Start by adding the salt to the hot water and incorporating the two until the salt dissolves. Wait until the solution cools before dipping a cotton cloth into the same. Wring out the excess water and place the cloth on the affected eye.
Leave it there for at least five minutes before rinsing your face with some cold water. Salt can have a drying effect on the skin, and you will need to follow through with intense moisturizing. You can use this once or twice a day for maximum benefits.
6. Fenugreek
Here is another herb that can work wonders for the stinging sensations in your eyes. Boil its leaves and seeds to produce a solution which you can use as a facewash. Where your eyes feel painful or dry, you can use the leaves as a temporary face mask. They will work in alleviating the pain.
7. Guava leaves
These also work as an excellent face mask. However, before placing them on your eyes, ensure that you clean them adequately. Alternatively, you can make a solution out of the leaves, which can work in alleviating the soreness in your eyes. They have anti-microbial properties and can reduce the pain and swelling around the eyes. For this, you will need five guava leaves, a glass of water, and a clean cotton cloth.
Start by boiling the leaves and creating a solution. Proceed to wet the cloth and place the boiled leaves in between it. Doing this will create a hot compress that you can then use on the affected eye for ten minutes or so.
8. Turmeric
This spice has tons of uses, both in the beauty and food industries. The presence of curcumin extends its uses to alleviating burning in eyes. It owes to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the same.
For this, you will need half a teaspoon of turmeric, a glass of water, and a dropper. Proceed to heat the water until it warms up before adding the powder to it. Mix the two well and administer a drop of the solution to the affected eye. You can use this solution in your eyes twice a day.
9. Warm water rinses
Using lukewarm water to rinse your eyes will work in removing irritants from the eyes. In so doing, you can avoid the occurrence of dryness and inflammation in the eyes. You can add a warm compress to this routine.
10. Baby shampoo
You can use baby shampoo to clean your eyes for more effective results. Start by mixing some shampoo with warm water before dipping a cotton swab into the solution. Use the swab to clean the base of the lashes and the outer parts of the eyelids. This method works in unclogging any blocked oil glands and thus prevents inflammation of the eyes.
11. General hygiene
Your eyes collect a lot of dirt over time, and they require cleaning as much as other body parts. When washing your eyes, you should use mild products such as baby shampoos and warm water. Make a solution of this and use it to dampen a clean cloth. Use the cloth on the upper and lower eyelids, ensuring that you do not touch the tear film. Doing so would only irritate your eyes, giving you another problem.
After cleaning the eyes, rinse them and use a damp towel as a compress over them. It will work in adding moisture to the eyes, preventing them from feeling dry.
12. Resting
The more you focus on a screen or book, the less you blink. Your eyes hydrate through blinking, and without adequate shutting of the eyelids, the eyes can become painful dry. Also, if you do not blink completely, you put your eyes at risk of drying. The key to this is taking a break now and then.
If you frequently use your computer, you can use the 20-20-20 rule, as stated earlier. Alternatively, you can take a break from work and shut your eyes. That allows the eyes to hydrate and keeps dryness at bay.
13. Blink more
On average, people blink ten to twenty times each minute. For some people, it could be less owing to their concentration on a screen or surface. This light works in straining and drying the eyes, causing redness and irritation. How can you know if you blink enough? You could ask someone to watch you while you work and give you a count.
Where you do not blink enough, you will need to practice the shutting and opening of your eyelids. Start by closing your eyes as you would for two seconds. Do this again, but this time, squeeze the lids together for two seconds. Open your eyes. If you do this every twenty minutes twenty times a day, your eyes will learn the routine. And it will be harder for you to blink less over time.
14. Eat right
We had covered the essence of adding fatty acids to your diet earlier, and we will touch on this again. These work in promoting the production of tears which hydrate the eyes. Examples of foods rich in fatty acids include flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and fatty fish like tuna. Incorporate these into your diet.
15. Eat more vitamins
How much exposure to the sun do you get on average? Studies show that deficiencies in Vitamin D contribute significantly to the development of dry eye. Other vitamins, such as B12, C, E, B6, B9, Lutein, and A, are also essential. It helps to work on your diet such that you eat more vitamins. You can talk to your doctor about the need for supplements in your diet.
16. Drink less alcohol
Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body, and this can affect your eyes. It is thus best that you limit your consumption of the same. Even better, you can remove it in entirety to help ease the painful dry eye. If the condition does not improve, then you will know that alcohol is not a contributor.
17. Smoke less
Smoking releases thousands of chemicals into the atmosphere, and these can irritate the eyes. Also, smoking changes the composition of your tears, such that you are more likely to have painful dry eyes. If you are a frequent smoker, you should try quitting or reducing the cigarettes you smoke each day. People who do not smoke can benefit from avoiding environments with a lot of smoke.
18. Hydrate
We had earlier covered the importance of drinking water. It is especially important when dealing with dry eyes. Hydration works in lubricating the eyes such that they produce enough tears. Also, the moisture aids the eyes in flushing out debris and thus clears the vision. Ideally, you should drink eight to ten glasses of water each day.
19. Sleep more
How much sleep are you getting each night? Now might be the time you rethink your sleep schedule. The less you sleep, the drier your eyes become owing to strain. That means that if you already have dry eyes, you could make the situation worse by not sleeping enough. Adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night. You can make sure you get this by changing your night routine and creating a set pattern.
20. Using eye drops
Redness in eyes, as well as discomfort, are common symptoms when one has dry eyes. Many people opt to use eye drops in their eyes as they hope to alleviate that gritty feeling. However, not all eye drops work in soothing the dryness. Others contain preservatives, which can cause adverse reactions.
Talk to your doctor about which drops you can use. Artificial tears are an excellent example of what might work in your case. Note that the use of eye drops should be moderate, else you could end up developing dependence for them.
21. Gels and ointment applications
While eye drops may work, their results are not long-lasting. That’s why some people opt to use gels and ointments in their eyes for extended relief. Gels and ointments have much thicker formulas, and they can interfere with your vision. Upon the advice of your doctor, you can use these before heading to bed.
Also, note that the thickness of these substances can make them block glands, thus making your eyes drier. They can also lead to clogging and could mask the cause of the dryness. Make sure that you get a go-ahead from your doctor before using these. In some cases, you could find that you do not need them at all.
22. Environmental change
Sometimes, the dryness in your eyes points to the state of your environment. Your eyes are susceptible to changes in the environment, such as high winds and high heat. You should thus think of ways you can avoid such irritants.
Where this is not possible, you can invest in a humidifier for those hot and dry days. Also, switch off the air conditioning, where you can, as this could exacerbate eye dryness.
23. Wear sunglasses
Where the dryness makes you more sensitive to light, you should invest in some sunglasses. Wraparound glasses are often the best for photophobia. However, your doctor will advise you as to the best option in your case.
