How to treat dry eyes and reduce dry eye syndrome symptoms
As a former contact lens wearer (I had laser eye surgery earlier this year), I suffered from dry eyes. Days spent staring at a computer, combined with contact lenses, often left my eyes feeling a little irritated (and even a tiny bit sleepy, if I had to be honest).
And it’s not only contact lens wearers who suffer from dry eye syndrome symptoms. It’s actually pretty common (and commonly not dealt with), so here are some tips to help you relieve, treat, and even prevent dry eyes...
RELATED: 7 makeup tips for sensitive eyes
1. Drink lots of water
Dehydration is one of the more common dry eye causes. The good news is, learning how to stay hydrated can help, as it means that your eyes will have the moisture they need to stay lubricated. Aim to drink about 8-10 glasses of water a day for best results.
2. Utilise the power of heat
Heat can help stimulate your glands to produce more oil, meaning your natural tears won’t evaporate as quickly. It can also help unblock your tear ducts, so that you can produce more tears to lubricate your eyes. Try using a warm wash cloth over your eyes for about 10 minutes to relieve dry eye symptoms – it feels like a hot water bottle on your eyes!
RELATED: Do you get regular eye checks?
3. Don’t be afraid to use drops
Dry eye drops (or artificial tears as they’re sometimes called) are a brilliant way to help lubricate your eyes when in need. Just be aware of what you’re buying, as not all eye drops are formulated to treat dry eyes (some are designed to reduce redness). Ask your pharmacist or doctor which ones may be the best ones for you.
4) Take vitamins
Flaxseed oil and fish oil contain important fatty acids that can help prevent and treat dry eyes and those pesky symptoms of burning, itching, redness, and stinging. bh recommends Swisse Ultiboost Odourless High Strength Wild Fish Oil and Blackmores Odourless Fish Oil Mini Caps.
RELATED: Tips for healthy eyes and ears
5) Blink!
It may sound a little ridiculous, but you’d be surprised how often you actually forget to blink. If you’re concentrating on something for a long time (like a book, the TV or your computer), you’re not blinking as much as you should, meaning that you aren’t lubricating your eyes. So make sure you keep an…err…eye on your blinking habits.
Do you suffer from dry eyes? How do you treat dry eye symptoms?
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122 Member Comments
If my eyes get dry, I drink plenty of water and rest. Keep away from the computer then.
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Nice tips! :) I always get dry eyes especially after walking outdoors for a long time with the strong wind blowing in the dry weather. It always make my eyes so red and tired and sensitive. Will definitely try out these tips and hope they help!
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I got dry eyes driving on the freeway last night and one of my contact lenses popped right out!! I was driving with one eye vision until I could pull over and put a new contact lense in - it was super busy on the freeway too with the holiday traffic from easter, school holidays and anzac long weekend. So this made me think of that spray stuff that you can squirt into the eyes with the eyes closed. Gotta get some!!
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dry gel for me at night. helps with the morning dryness.
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I got dry eyes the other day, and went to the optometrist because they were hurting so much! He advised the hot steam cloth technique and using eye drops. It went away on its own but I have to remember to keep them lubricated as I also wear contact lenses.
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I use eye drops, especially since I get hay fever and this is how I treat it
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I'll get dry eyes when driving or looking at a screen for long periods of time. Blinking rapidly for 5-10 seconds or so helps, but I've been keen to try out that mist you can spray on closed eyes. I hate eyedrops :-P
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Ah thankyou! I get dry eyes from time to time and never know what would help it
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I have dry eyes associated with arthritis and my doctor recommended Optifresh tears. I find them very effective and as they come in a box of 1 use vials very handy to slip a couple in my handbag. I keep the box in the fridge - the drops feel great cold when my eyes are hot and dry.
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Some helpful advice. I don't suffer from dry eyes but they are very sensitive to strong smells
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I suffer from dry eyes and have done for years. I do use eye drops as it does help with the dry feeling. I also go to the optometrist and get regular checks, as I have to wear glasses, for reading and using the computer.
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For about a week my eyes kept watering towards the end of the day and I just thought it was my new mascara /makeup getting in my eyes and irratating them. Went to the chemist and he said staring at a computer/ lack of blinking I had dry eye. I thought yeah right, but he gave me some eye drops. He was right. I am just more mindful now.
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I have very sensitive eyes, they water so easily
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Dry eyes are the worst. Especially if you work in front of a computer all day. Eye drops are the best, I think I used to use Murine (?)
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Interesting didn't think of the vitamins
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I prefer to use optrex actimist spray than drops.
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Definitely advisable to not stare at screens all day long!
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I think i do suffer from dry eyes. They seem to be irritated a lot these days so thanks for the tips.
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I had a problem with the blinking, I have eye sight problems that were made worse from studying. I noticed it forming when I was doing VCE (year 12) but I didn't think anything of it. The problem persisted and I had focusing issues and I needed glasses for reading. I recently finished 5 years of uni and my eyes would water around the edges and burn. I noticed it used to happen during my uni lectures and when I was spending way too many hours in front of my computer to do assignments. When I went to my recent eye appointment they said it was dry eyes and that I was concentrating for long periods without blinking. Now I am conscious of it (and not at uni) so it has really helped. It sounds simple but it is so true
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I do suffer from dry eyes and use eye drops. I also find fish oil helps.
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I do suffer from dry eyes and this article was really informative about how to treat it, thanks.
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Water and vitamins are definitely a good idea, not to mention getting enough sleep. I love Refresh eye drops for days where I need to moisten my eyes when they feel extra dry and sore.
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Heat is a great idea. I suffer from dry eyes daily and working in ac all day doesn't help. :(
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I suffer from dry eyes a lot... but never thought heat could be a solution! Neat
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