Remedies For Dry Eye Syndrome

Whether you have allergies or simply suffer from the change in weather as the seasons transition, having dry eyes can leave you scratching and rubbing excessively when there is in fact a way to treat this concern. Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes consistently lack enough lubrication, so this goes beyond the seasonal allergy. Some people simply do not produce enough tears while for others, the environmental factors may be the cause. Either way, there are treatments and home remedies that may help you to prevent further suffering from dry eye syndrome.

Causes

• Dry, windy or dusty environment
• Aging
• Menopause
• Medications (birth control pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, etc.)
• Not blinking often enough (this can occur when people stare at a computer screen too long or read for long periods at a time)
• Air conditioned room
• Related health conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Wearing contact lenses for long periods of time

Symptoms

• Scratchiness
• Burning sensation
• General dryness
• The feeling that something is “floating” around in your eye
• Red and watery eyes (dryness may sometimes cause the overproduction of tears)
• Eyelids stick together when you wake up
• Double vision
• Sensitivity to light

You may experience one or many of these symptoms, but in order to truly be diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, a doctor will have to do so. He or she may often conduct a Schirmer test, where they place a thin sheet in your lower lid to measure the amount of tear production. Once an eye doctor has properly diagnosed you, you are able to then properly treat the condition.

Treatments

A prescribed treatment is often dependent upon the underlying cause of a particular case of dry eye syndrome. Otherwise the condition, itself, may not be cured, although the symptoms can be addressed. One common prescription is that of “artificial tears.” These are lubricating eye drops that treat the feelings of burning, itching and scratchiness.

Similarly, there are prescription drops that actually help you to produce your own tears. They work by targeting the inflammation that is associated with your dry eye syndrome. A common brand of this type of medication is Restasis.

Another tear production treatment is actually a physical insert that goes in the bottom lid in order to continuously produce tears throughout the day. One brand of this treatment is called Lacrisert. For even more sever cases, there is a permanent insert, which is called the lacrimal plug, that keeps your tears from drying up as quickly

While some people may use products like Visine or other anti-redness drops, these may actually not treat the source of the problem. Although they treat the sign of redness, unless they have an additional lubrication component, products like this will not treat the dryness.

Keep in mind that there are certain guidelines with all of these tear production options if you currently wear contact lenses. For example, some instructions say to wait 15 minutes after inserting lenses, while others may advise not to use certain products in conjunctions with contact lenses at all.

Home Remedies

Many of the previous eye lubrication treatments may be short-term, so in order to relieve the true causes of dry eye syndrome in the first place, you want to make sure that you speak with your eye doctor so that he or she can prescribe something that is more long term. They may also suggest certain behavioral changes or home remedies that my help you get through the symptoms.

One obvious physical barrier that is effective is eyewear. Especially if you work in a windy and/or dusty environment, your employer should really provide you with proper eye protection to prevent the condition in the first place. If you are in a different non-work environment, make sure to find your own goggles or glasses that are fitted properly to your face shape, so to not allow any debris inside the frame. The right gear will often contain some type of seal or gripping element to ensure this.

Some indoor tools to try, if your indoor environment is the culprit, are air purifiers or humidifiers. Especially if the air in your home or workplace causes your symptoms to flare up, you want to treat these locations in order to prevent symptoms from occurring.

If your work requires you to stare at a computer screen all day, make sure that it is eye level. If you have a Human Resources person, ask them to conduct an ergonomics screening to make sure that you are properly positioned.

Natural supplements, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, may also help you with feelings of dryness and help promote self-lubrication. Taking this, both in supplement form and by diet, have been shown to increase tear production. Similarly, drinking more water can help with this as dehydration can actually make symptoms of dry eye syndrome worse.

Adopting some of these prescribed and suggested home remedies may get you on the path of relieving some of your worst symptoms of dry eye syndrome. There is no need to suffer through or to downplay the symptoms. Make sure that no matter if you decide to go with some of these suggestions or try over-the-counter remedies, you consult with an eye professional first.