Home remedies for dry eyes are a quick and easy natural alternative to brand-name eye drops from the pharmacy. Here’s how to make your own dry eyes remedies at home with a wide range of organic ingredients.
Root causes of dry eyes can range from biological and medicinal to environmental conditions. Certain medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, or blood pressure medication, alongside insufficient blinking or seasonal allergies, can all leave you in need of effective dry eye remedies. Many choose to use standard remedies such as non-prescription artificial tears for dry eyes from the pharmacy.
However, some of these over-the-counter options contain preservatives, which have been known to cause occasional irritation. If you prefer the natural route, we’ve got you covered. In this article, Utopia will show how easy it is to use all-natural home remedies for dry eyes that really work.
Utopia’s Tip: Dry Skin Remedies: 9 Ways to Soothe Dry Skin Naturally
Home Remedies for Dry Eyes: Quick Relief Methods
Looking for natural dry eye remedies without the preservatives? Here are seven all-natural home remedies for dry eyes that require close to no effort to prepare.
- Just stop and wink: It’s no wonder that if you stare at a computer screen for hours your eyes start to feel dry. Winking is how we keep our eyes naturally moist. Probably one of the simplest dry eyes remedies out there does just this. To remoisten your eyes, simply deliberately blink several times in a row.
- Cucumbers: No collection of dry eyes remedies would be complete without the classic cucumber slice method. Place one slice of cucumber on each of your closed eyes and relax for about 20 minutes.
- Potatoes: The high water content in potatoes allows you to use them in the same way as cucumbers. For this dry eye remedy, it’s best to use raw potato slices.
- Black tea: The antioxidants found in black tea keep your eyes moist while the tannins work to soothe your eyes. Brew your tea first and when finished, place one moist tea bag on each eye. Make sure that they’ve cooled off a bit before use.
- Massage: Massage your eyelids gently in a circular motion. This helps to spread lacrimal fluid over your eyes which helps keeps your eyes moist and healthy.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil provides moisture and also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Melt some (organic!) coconut oil between your fingers and rub it gently into your eye.
- Water: Soak a cloth in pure, clean water and lay it over your eyes.
Note: If your eyes have remained irritated or dry for several days or longer, this could be a sign of illness. If this is the case, please seek medical attention.
Preventing Dry Eyes
To avoid dry eyes in the first place, you can take the following preventive health measures to keep your eyes properly moisturized:
- Drink enough water, and according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, this adds up to around 15 cups for men and 11 cups for women.
- Get enough sleep (six to eight hours depending on age, physique, and daily activity) so that your eyes can heal. (Read on: Ways to Fall Asleep: Tips and Tricks)
- Avoid drafts from sitting too close to air conditioners or driving with the window open. You should also try to avoid aiming fans directly at your face. In your home, avoid drafts and you’ll also help save electricity.
- When looking at a screen for longer periods of time or when driving a car, be sure to blink several times every two to three minutes. This will help keep the surface of your eyes adequately moisturized. Give your eyes a ten-minute break at least once an hour. Is possible, get outside and take in some fresh air.
- When close to an open fire or grill, you should be careful to limit the amount of smoke that gets into your eyes.
- If you wear contact lenses, give your eyes a break and switch over to glasses from time to time.
- Make sure the relative humidity level in your home is over 40%. You can put a damp cloth on the radiator or put a bowl of water on the woodstove if the air feels too dry.
- A 2005 study involving more than 32,000 women concluded that the risk of DES (dry eye syndrome) can be significantly reduced with a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids.
This article was translated from German to English by Evan Binford. You can view the original here: Trockene Augen: Tipps und welche Hausmittel helfen.
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