Do you find your eyes drying frequently, be it from staring at the computer screen too long or prolonged wearing of contact lens?
And what would be your first reaction? Rub it.
Well, don’t. While it can relieve stress if you do it (seriously), you might get an infection due to the germs on your fingers, or worse, it could lead to a distorted vision.
Here are how you can treat your dry eyes – the correct way.
Artificial tear drops and ointments
This is a no-brainer but people often do not do this and would end up rubbing their eyes profusely. That is extremely bad as it can cause damage to your eyes especially if you are wearing contact lens. Put a drop or two in each eye if you feel any discomfort. If you’re wearing contact lens, there are some drops which can be used while you’re wearing contacts. So have a bottle of eyedrop in your bag!
Omega-3s
Some of us have dry eyes due to the lack of nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce inflammation that can contribute to dry-eye-syndrome. Simple just add a few services of fatty fish such as salmon to your weekly diet or simply take omega-3 supplements which can be found in Watsons, Guardians and Unity stores.
Warm Compresses
Why use artificial tears when you can use your own tears? No, I am not asking you to cut onions or watch a sad Korean drama (you can’t do that during work, can you?). Simply place a warm, wet washcloth over your eyelids for up to 10 minutes when needed. Do not do this with your contacts in your eyes, though.
Aloe Vera
The gel or the liquid inside the leaf of the Aloe Vera can be applied to the eyelids. Do not put it directly into your eyes; just leave it your eyelids. Sounds so smoothing, doesn’t it?
Cucumber
You’ve often seen people doing that in TV, but do you know that it actually works? Cucumber is the best choice when it comes to providing cool relief for your eyes. Simply cut fresh chilled cucumber into thin slices and place them on your eyes. It uses the same logic by creating your own tears to wet your eyeballs.
Blinking Exercise
To reduce strain to dry eyes, maximum moisture must be supplied to the eyes. Blinking will help moisten the eye and also spread the tears to the sides of the eyes (which is why you’ll see people blinking profusely before crying). Just don’t overdo it, especially if you’re in public.
Lavender Oil
A few drops of lavender oil can be mixed with one cup of warm water to make a solution. Dip a cloth into the solution and apply them on over your eyelids. Try not to get the solution into your eyes as it could sting.
Tea bags
Simply place the tea bags on your closed eyelids for 5 to 7 minutes. Not only does it make you feel good, it smells good, too (unless you are a coffee person lah)
Get your eyes checked by a doctor
Now, all these home remedies are for people who have dry eyes occasionally, especially after a long day of work. If your dry eyes symptoms persist, it’s best to consult a doctor.
