How to Treat Dry Eyes: Home Remedies for Instant Relief

Do your eyes feel tired, dry and worn out, especially at the end of the day? It could be a sign of dry eye syndrome. (1)

Normal tear production is a natural defense mechanism to protect the eyes from dirt, irritants, and infections; as well, to prevent dry eyes.

These tears are a mix of water, fatty oil, and mucus that create a thin protective film on the surface of your eyes and keep them lubricated.

Dry eyes can occur for many reasons. Dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, is a condition in which the tear glands fail to produce enough tears or the tear glands produce tears of poor quality that are insufficient to lubricate the eyes. (1)

Causes of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be triggered by a number of environmental or medical factors. Some of the common causes of dry eyes are listed below. (1)

Medical factors:

• Aging, as there is a decrease in tear production as you get older
• Medical conditions, such as blepharitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, diabetes, scleroderma and thyroid disorders
• Medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, diuretics, and hormone replacements
• Eye surgeries like LASIK
• Tear gland damage, due to inflammation or radiation
• Hormonal changes in women, such as during menopause, pregnancy or while using contraceptive pills
• An imbalance in the tear composition

Environmental factors:

• Exposure to hot or windy climates
• Allergic reactions during pollen season
• Regular use of contact lenses
• Not blinking enough while concentrating on something, such as working on the computer or driving
• Indoor heating during the winter, which makes the air drier

Symptoms of Dry Eyes

• Scratchy, burning or stinging sensations
• Redness and swelling in the eyes
• Thick mucus in and around the eyes
• A gritty feeling in the eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Blurred vision
• Eye fatigue
• Watery eyes, which is the body’s response to irritated eyes

Preventing Dry Eyes

While medical causes would need your doctor’s intervention, you can certainly take care of the environmental factors that can cause dry eyes. (2)

• Avoid direct exposure to blowing air, such as from hair dryers, fans, air conditioners, and heaters.
• Use a humidifier at home during dry seasons.
• Wear protective eyewear or sunglasses to shield your eyes from the wind and sun.
• Take periodic eye breaks by closing your eyes for a few minutes or blinking rapidly to spread the tears over the surface of your eyes.
• Keep your computer screen below eye level. This way you will not need to open your eyes wide and in turn slow the evaporation of tears.
• Take care of your eyes when you are in areas with high altitudes, desert areas or during plane flights. Close your eyes frequently to minimize tear evaporation.
• Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke, as both can aggravate dry eyes.
• If needed, use artificial tears or other eye drops to keep your eyes lubricated.

Home Treatment for Dry Eyes

A number of home remedies can provide relief from the symptoms of dry eyes and also treat the condition completely.

Here are the seven remedies you can try to treat dry eyes by yourself.

Method 1: Castor Oil

Castor oil has been used since ancient times to heal various health conditions. It is an active compound in FDA approved eye drops used to treat dry eyes. (3)

It is rich in fatty acids and has antimicrobial properties that can treat and keep eye infections at bay. It has also proven to be beneficial in treating cataracts and glaucoma.

Make sure to use only hexane-free, cold-pressed castor oil. You don’t want to compromise with the quality, especially when it is going inside your peepers.

Single-Step Treatment: Put a drop of castor oil in each eye

• If using castor oil for the first time, start by applying 1 or 2 drops on your upper eyelids at bedtime. The oil will easily seep into the eyes. Continue doing so for 4 to 5 days.
• Once you get comfortable, put 1 drop of castor oil in each eye before going to sleep.
• Roll your eyes to spread the oil evenly over the surface of your eyes. You may feel a slight burning sensation, but it should wear off after a few minutes.
• You may also have blurry vision when you wake up, but that too will clear up soon.
• The castor oil remedy will give you relief in dry eye symptoms after the very first night. Continue to use it once every day to get rid of dry eyes in 7 to 10 days.

Method 2: Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the handiest ingredient that can cure a number of skin problems. It has also proven useful in curing bouts of dry eyes. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation due to dry eyes.

A 2015 study done on rabbits suggests that virgin coconut oil is safe to use a rewetting agent for human eyes. (4)

You can use it regularly to prevent your eyes from drying out or getting infected. It is also beneficial in the treatment of pink eye or conjunctivitis.

Single-Step Treatment: Place oil-soaked cotton balls over your eyelids

• Soak 2 cotton balls in virgin coconut oil.
• Place them over your eyelids for 15 minutes.
• Repeat 3 or 4 times a day for 1 week.

Alternatively, if you are comfortable putting the oil directly in your eyes, put 2 drops of coconut oil in each eye. Keep your eyes closed for 5 minutes, then open them up. They will feel cloudy initially, but it should clear up after blinking a few times.

Repeat 2 times a day for 1 week to relieve dry eyes. Continue using it 3 or 4 times a week to prevent dry eyes.

Method 3: Warm Compress

A warm compress is very comforting and can relieve dry eyes. If you happen to suffer from dry eyes due to clogged oil glands (also known as meibomian glands), a warm compress can unplug the glands and restore the tears to normal consistency. (5)

A warm compress also provides relief in eye sty.

Single-Step Treatment: Apply a warm compress over your eyes

• Dip a clean cloth in warm water and wring out the excess water.
• Place the warm, wet cloth over your closed eye until the heat dissipates. Rewet the cloth with warm water when it turns cool.
• Do this for 15 minutes on each eye.
• A warm compress will provide immediate relief from pain and itching related to dry eyes. Continue to do it 3 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks to treat dry eyes.

Method 4: Blinking Exercise

If you are a dry eye sufferer, doing an easy blinking exercise, along with other home remedies, can help treat dry eyes. Every time you blink, you coat your eyes with a fresh layer of tear and thus clean and moisturize the eye surface. (5)

Follow the steps below to perform the blinking exercise:

Step 1. Squeeze your eyes shut for 3 to 5 seconds

• Shut your eyes normally, then squeeze them for 3-5 seconds.

Step 2. Open your eyes and relax

• Open your eyes slowly and relax the eye muscles. Keep them open for another 3-5 seconds. Repeat this process 6 or 7 times throughout the day to improve your eye condition and treat dry eyes in 2 to 3 weeks.
• You can set alarms on your phone to remind you to do it regularly.

Method 5: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil and Flaxseed Oil)

Both fish oil and flaxseed oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids necessary to optimize your health. When taken as a daily oral supplement, along with other lubricating techniques, fish oil and flaxseed oil can effectively cure dry eyes. (6)

Single-Step Treatment: Take fish oil and flaxseed oil supplements daily

• Take 1,000 mg each of fish oil and flaxseed oil twice every day.
• Taking omega-3 rich supplements will help get rid of dry eyes in 1 month.

Method 6: Rose Water

While it may not cure the condition, rose water is a popular folk remedy and can relieve sore and dry eyes by moisturizing them. Do not put it directly into your eyes, as it can burn and cause more irritation to your already inflamed eyes.

Single-Step Treatment: Place rose water-soaked cotton balls on your closed eyelids

• Soak 2 cotton balls well in rose water.
• Place 1 cotton ball over each closed eyelid and let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Repeat 3 or 4 times every day, along with other remedies, to reduce the irritation of dry eyes.

Method 7: Lubricating Eye Drops (Commercial Product)

Commercially available lubricating eye drops, or artificial tears can be used to treat temporary dry eyes that occur due to environmental factors. (7) Be sure to use only preservative-free eye drops for dry eyes.

It’s best to consult your doctor before using over-the-counter eye drops. If you wear contact lenses, make certain any over-the-counter eye drops are compatible with contact lenses.

Single-Step Treatment: Use the eye drops every night

• Put 2 drops in each eye before bedtime and keep your eyes closed for 5 minutes.
• Do this every night to keep your dry eyes well moisturized until your condition improves.

Tips to get relief from dry eyes

• You can also try an apple cider vinegar remedy for dry eyes. Mix together 2 teaspoons of honey, 5 teaspoons of water and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Apply it on your eyelids and around your eyes every night for 20 minutes. Wash it off with warm water.

Resources:

1. Golden MI. Dry Eye Syndrome. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470411/. Published October 27, 2018.
2. Dry Eyes. NHS Choices. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dry-eyes/.
3. Lollett IV, Galor A. Dry eye syndrome: developments and lifitegrast in perspective. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774475/. Published January 15, 2018.
4. Mutalib HA, Kaur S, Ghazali AR, Chinn Hooi N, Safie NH. A pilot study: the efficacy of virgin coconut oil as ocular rewetting agent on rabbit eyes. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4352907/. Published 2015.
5. Zhang X, M VJ, Qu Y, et al. Dry Eye Management: Targeting the Ocular Surface Microenvironment. International journal of molecular sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535891/. Published June 29, 2017.
6. Javadi M-A, Feizi S. Dry eye syndrome. Journal of ophthalmic & vision research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306104/. Published July 2011.
7. Findlay Q, Reid K. Dry eye disease: when to treat and when to refer. Australian prescriber. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6202299/. Published October 2018.

Summary of How to Treat Dry Eyes

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