Do You Have Dry Eyes? Here Are Some Instant Treatments!
It doesn’t matter whether you work in front of a computer for hours, play in the playground, cook food in the kitchen, or watch a movie in a theatre, it hurts when eyes itch because of dryness. We can consider this feeling as a fact that can’t be denied.
Have you ever wondered what makes our eyes dry so much? According to an American Optometric Association, it mostly happens when eyes can’t properly lubricate themselves.
Before getting into the solution, we must first know why our eyes get dry?
What Are the Potential Causes of Dry Eyes
Here are some causes that depict the real reason behind your dry eyes:
- Natural Aging Process: When we get older, we often end up having fatigues. And when moisture ends, eyes itch and become dehydrated.
- Drugs: There are many drugs that can be the reason behind the causes of your dry eyes. If you have taken antihistamines in the past, then try to take an alternative. Besides, if you have taken any other drug, please consult a doctor.
- Disease: There are some diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome, collagen vascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, which directly affect your natural ability to make tears.
- Imbalanced Tear Film: Our eye tear film has 3 layers within it - water, mucus, and oil. Imbalance in any of these films can result in dry eyes.
Here Are Some Instant Treatments
- Artificial Tears
One of the famous professors at the Ohio State University, Jennifer Fogt, says “Don’t mix artificial tears into those drops that are used for getting the redness out of your eyes. They are vasoconstrictors. Vasoconstrictors usually narrow down the blood vessels of eyes to make them less red. Thus, such drops may make your eyes drier.”
Artificial tears can work as a supplementing moisture for those who are not getting tears naturally. You should try preservative-free artificial tears because they have fewer additives as compared to the preservative ones. The more additives are there, the more your eyes may irritate.
- Warm Your Eyes
A well-known optometrist, Corinne Casey says, “If there’s a problem with oil production, you may get dry eyes.” Meibomian glands of your eyes are responsible for the oily layer of your tears. These glands are present under the eyelids. A professional eye surgeon, Beeran Meghpara, suggests that making a warm compress with a washcloth and laying for a few minutes may heat up your eyelids. This practice may result in the production of oil into your tear film. Dr Beeran says "We should use this method everyday because it prevents many eye-related issues.
- Take Breaks
If you’re focusing on something for an extended period, you may develop dry eyes. People often end up spending time in front of their computer or mobile screen. Many medical studies have found that we tend to blink less when we concentrate on an object for long hours, such as computer screens. When we blink less, our eyes get sore.
You can try the 20-20-20 rule to fix this problem. Just gaze on something for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes. You can also set a reminder to stay alert.
When Should You Worry About it?
If you’re using any of the above methods for a short period, there’s no need to visit doctor’s cabin. If you are experiencing itchy dry eyes even after trying all the above methods, then there’s a concern. Continuous use of artificial tears isn’t as healthy as people think. Sometimes it gets tough to identify the main cause for dry eyes. Thus, to reach the root of the problem, you should visit a doctor.
