Who said crying is? In fact, in this case, it is helpful. If your tear ducts are working, you may be safe from dry eye or dry eye syndrome. It can make you feel a burning sensation in your eyes, in addition to being red, itchy, and sometimes even painful. The fix for dry eyes can sometimes be simple, and you can even do it at home.
However, sometimes the symptoms may persist and signal something more than just dry eye. That’s when it’s better to get them checked by an Eye specialist in Lahore or Eye specialist in Karachi to make sure it’s nothing serious.
Do-it-yourself remedies
Keep your eyes clean
Just like skin needs a routine cleaning, so do your eyes. Wash your eyes with warm water, both eyelids and eyelashes thoroughly. Use a mild or baby shampoo to cleanse the outer side of your eyes. Once done, wash it with lukewarm water and dry them with a towel.
Take screen-free breaks
It’s no secret that rays from the television, computer, or smartphone screen can damage your eyes. Constant use of them can reduce your blinking, hence causing dry eyes. Whether you’re at work or home, take some time off from the screen. Rest your eyes a bit or look at something far away.
Blink more often
Blinking is something we may often ignore, but it is something essential to our eye health. In this digital age, being in front of a screen is inevitable, and it can decrease your blink rate. Try to be conscious of your blinking during screen usage. According to health experts, practice closing your eyes for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of screen use.
Up your water intake
We can’t stress enough the importance of drinking water. Your whole body needs to function well, including your eyes. Drinking water keeps your eyes hydrated. Keep a target of 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.
Purify air at home
Keep the air inside your house pure by using humidifiers or purifiers. These filter the air in your home from dust particles which may irritate your eyes and cause dry eyes. The pure air will not only help you breathe better, but it will also keep your eyes healthy.
Eat more fatty acids!
Fatty acids can be in the form of supplements. You can also add them to your food regime by adding more Omega-4 rich foods. Fatty fish can increase Omega-3 in your body and improve the function of your tear glands. Other Omega-3 rich foods include:
- Flax seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Walnuts
- Cod Liver Oil
- Eggs
- Spinach
Use eye drops
You can use over-the-counter eye drops to keep your eyes moist. An eye specialist can guide you on which drops you should use. Preservative-free eye drops are also available and a better option. However, most eye drops contain preservatives that might not be good for your eyes.
Is it time to see a doctor?
If your symptoms remain persistent, it is better to see your eye specialist. Dry eye can lead to the lack of a tear lid, which in turn can damage your cornea, the outer layer of the eye. It can lead to headaches, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer, and many other ocular diseases which may even require surgery.
