6 Dry Eye Syndrome Self-Care Tips Doctors Swear by To Ease Irritation Fast
Plus see which drugstore drops eye doctors recommend
Dry, itchy eyes are more than just a nuisance—they can blur your vision and make driving, reading and even just watching TV uncomfortable. For many, mild dry eyes are a minor annoyance and resolve without treatment. But for those with chronic dry eyes, known as dry eye syndrome, finding relief can seem like a Herculean task. We spoke with eye doctors to learn more about dry eye syndrome self-care, the home remedies that help and over-the-counter and prescription eye drops worth trying.
Dry eyes vs. dry eye syndrome
Acute bouts of dry eye can be triggered by everything from seasonal allergies to cold, dry air to lots of screentime. But regardless of the cause, if your symptoms occur frequently or impact your quality of life, “you need to worry about dry eye syndrome, which is a chronic condition,” says Jovi Boparai, MD, an ophthalmic surgeon and the co-founder and CEO of CorneaCare.
This occurs when the eyes don’t produce enough tears or they evaporate too quickly to properly lubricate the surface of the eye. The difference between dry eyes and dry eye syndrome? “Having dry eyes is like saying you’re thirsty, whereas having dry eye syndrome is more like suffering from dehydration,” explains Rahul T. Pandit, MD, an ophthalmologist at Houston Methodist and associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Woman's World Answers
Thirst can be treated by drinking a few glasses of water, but dehydration requires more intensive care. Similarly, dry eye syndrome requires a multi-faceted self-care strategy (more on that below).
11 dry eye symptoms
Common symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:
- Redness
- Pain
- Irritation
- Excessive dryness
- Crusting of the eyelashes
- “Stringy” eye discharge
- Feeling like there’s something stuck in your eye
- Blurred vision
- Inflamed eyelids
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
Surprisingly, water eyes can actually be a symptom of dry eye syndrome. “When the body senses the eyes are dry, it produces what are called ‘reflex’ tears, causing the eyes to become watery,” Dr. Boparai explains. “Unfortunately, these reflex tears aren’t sufficient to lubricate the eyes and end up running down the cheeks.”
Dry eye syndrome self-care tips
Since dry eye syndrome is chronic, it often requires a lifetime of self-care treatment. Dr. Boparai says symptoms typically wax and wane, but never subside completely. Thankfully, these home remedies help treat dry eye, reduce eyelid inflammation and ease discomfort.
Wipe your eyelids
“The most common cause of dry eyes is meibomian gland dysfunction,” says Dr. Boparai. “These tiny oil glands in the eyelids secrete oil onto the eye’s surface to protect the tear film. When they don’t work well, the oil can back up and cause the glands to clog. Without the oily layer, your tear film gets compromised and your tears evaporate too quickly, leading to dry eye symptoms.”
Dr. Boparai advises using wipes to clean your eyelids and eyelashes each morning after waking. One to try: OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Original Eyelid Cleanser. Prefer a DIY fix? The American Academy of Ophthalmology says placing a few drops of baby shampoo on a wet washcloth can effectively cleanse your eyelids.
Bonus: If you opt for tea tree oil-infused wipes, such as Optase TTO Eyelid Cleansing Wipes, you’ll also help clear away microscopic demodex mites that can trigger or worsen dry eye.
Apply a warm compress
Doing so for about five to 10 minutes at night is a smart dry eye syndrome self-care strategyl. “Warm compresses help open up the [meibomian] glands and support a better balance of oil production for tears,” explains Vicky Wong, OD, an optometrist at Keplr Vision.
And research backs this up. A Brown University study review found the most effective fix to melt waxy build-up was a “moist heat” microwavable mask, used for about 10 minutes daily. Tip: Gently massage eyelids toward the lash line for a moment after warming to nudge out trapped oils.
Slip on shades
If you have chronic dry eyes, you’ve probably noticed that wind and sun exposure make symptoms worse. But “wearing proper sunglasses with ultraviolet (UV) protection and lens polarization help protect your eyes from exposure and glare,” Dr. Wong says. UV protection blocks the sun’s rays, while polarization dampens the light your eyes are exposed to. “Wearing wraparound frames can further protect your eyes from experiencing dryness,” she adds.
And to curb your risk of a dry eye syndrome flare-up triggered by breezes, air conditioning or heat blowing, Dr. Pandit recommends driving with the windows up and pointing the air vents inside your car away from your body. He also suggests turning off overhead fans at night and using an oscillating or box fan instead.
Follow the 20-20-20 rule
“Studies have found that we blink around 20 times a minute,” Dr. Wong says. “But when working in front of a computer, that number decreases to about only five times a minute. This is important, because blinking helps squeeze out the tears from the meibomian glands along our eyelids.”
And while stepping away from electronics for a bit is your best bet, it’s not always possible. Instead, “I always advise a 20-20-20 schedule for breaks,” Dr. Wong says. “Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break by looking out a window or at an object about 20 feet away.”
This reduces the strain on your eyes and encourages you to blink, increasing tear production. Proof it works: A study in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye found that the 20-20-20 self-care strategy effectively eases dry eye syndrome and associated symptoms.
Boost your omega-3s
Dr. Wong says Inflammation can be a root cause of dry eye syndrome and/or exacerbate symptoms. Eating anti-inflammatory foods, especially those with omega-3 fatty acids, is a simple dry eye syndrome self-care strategy. “Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce inflammation associated with dry eyes,” she explains.
To get the benefits, work more fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel into your diet. Not a seafood lover? Nuts, pasture-raised eggs and chia seeds are also good sources of omega-3s.
If you prefer a supplement, a report in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found daily omega-3s calm eyelid inflammation, improve tear quality and help eyes stay hydrated. And since fish get their omega-3s from microalgae, algae-based supplements let you skip the middleman. A British review found they’re absorbed just as efficiently as fish oil, without mercury worries or fishy burps. Choose algae supplements containing both DHA and EPA, the key omega-3s shown to ease dry eye syndrome.
Run a humidifier
Most eye doctors suggest keeping indoor humidity levels between 45 to 60 percent to ease dry eye. But you don’t have to worry about increasing the humidity of your entire home. Instead, Dr. Bopal recommends running a humidifier in the places you spend the most time, like your bedroom and office. “More moisture in the air means more moisture for the eyes,” he explains.
A study in the Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology found that increasing relative humidity inside the home by just 10 percent reduced the occurrence of dry eye syndrome. And another study in Optometry and Vision Science found that using a desktop humidifier improved tear quality and relieved dry eye symptoms.
The best eye drops for dry eye syndrome self-care
You can increase the efficacy of these home treatments with quality eye drops, or artificial tears. “Different patients respond better to different ingredients, so you might need to try a few types before you find one that works for you,” Dr. Boparai says.
The experts we spoke to recommend using preservative-free eyedrops. It’s also smart to look for eye drops containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl-cellulose. HA lubricates the eyes and prevents tear evaporation, while carboxymethyl-cellulose protects against eye irritation.
“I typically recommend Blink and Oasis eye drops for my patients,” says Dr. Wong. “[Both brands] contain low or non-existent preservatives and lack benzalkonium chloride (BAK), which is a known ocular surface irritant.”
Ask about prescription eye drops
If OTC drops aren’t cutting it, ask your doctor if prescription drops such as Restasis, Vevye or Xiidra are right for you. Though they can take some time to work, they may be able to provide more complete relief if your symptoms haven’t responded well to home remedies and drugstore drops.
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