Dryness in your eyes can be a real health concern, plaguing you with burning, stinging and even sandy sensations. Luckily, there are a few tried and tested, doctor-recommended remedies that can help reduce and eliminate dry-eyed syndrome (DES) and enable you to see more clearly.
Prescription Drops: Sold under the brand name Restasis, prescription drops are beneficial if your wellbeing has been affected by chronic DES. In 2010, a study published in the Korean Journal of Ophthalmology showed that prescription drops reduced and even eliminated the majority of patients’ dry-eye symptoms after three months’ use. This is because prescription drops contain the drug cyclosporine, which can help increase your natural tear production. All you need to do is apply a drop in each eye twice a day, as directed by your doctor. As long as you listen to your GP, you should be fine to use these drops indefinitely.
Omega-3s: If you don’t like drops, omega-3 fatty acids reduce the inflammation that contributes to DES. In 2005, investigators at Harvard Medical School, writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that having high levels of omega-3s in your diet reduces your risk of DES by 34%. Moreover, a 2010 study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas showed that you can produce more tears if you take a daily omega-3 fish-oil supplement (containing 450 milligrams of the fatty acid EPA and 300 milligrams of DHA) alongside 1,000 milligrams of flaxseed oil. You should take omega-3 supplements with food, as they can cause stomach upset, but it’s far better to add a few servings of fatty fish, such as salmon, to your weekly diet.
Warm Compresses: If drops can’t seem to tackle your dryness, there may be a problem with your tears. The good Lord gave you tears to lubricate your eyes, and they’re not just made of water; tears also contain an oily substance produced by glands along the eyelids. Stephen Pflugfelder, an ophthalmologist in Houston, explains, ‘If cells in the glands harden and plug the opening, it can keep the oil from getting into the tear film. Without that oil, the water in tears evaporates too quickly, leaving eyes feeling dry.’ However, if you place warm compress on your eyes, this helps liquefy plugs so the oil can flow into tears. Try doing this for up to 10 minutes once a day as needed.
Eyelid Washes: According to Christopher Gelston, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine, in Aurora, ‘People with blepharitis tend to overproduce oil, which can block the glands and cause tears to evaporate too rapidly.’ This means that using an over-the-counter eye wash can help you if you do have flaking along the lids. These washes contain mild cleansing agents, which not only dissolve oil and remove flakes but also eliminate irritants and allergens that can exacerbate the problem. Rinse or massage the eye wash over your lash line at night, using the application cup if provided. However, if your symptoms haven’t cleared up after a few days, you may need to consult your doctor.
Ophthalmic Inserts: If all else fails, you can ask an eye wellness expert about ophthalmic inserts. Also known as Lacrisert inserts, this treatment is only by available prescription, and comprises of tiny cellulose beads that you place in the pocket of each lower eyelid. Pflugfelder comments, ‘They dissolve slowly and mix with your tears to provide ongoing lubrication throughout the day.’ As with drops you get on prescription, inserts should be safe for long-term use as long as you follow your doctor’s instructions, which will typically involve inserting a bead once or twice a day.
