How to Treat Dry Eyes And Relieve 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).

How to treat dry eyes

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...

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?

130 Member Comments

S-P 7 Sep 2019 5:40 PM

I would add sleep to this list. Sleep gives the eyes a chance to rest and recover.

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co99 8 Aug 2019 3:12 PM

optom student here and I stand by all of these tips! I have dry eye myself and have found that lubricating drops like systane and hyloforte have really helped with my dry eye, and you can apply them whenever your eyes feel dry throughout the day (as long as the drops don't have preservatives in them, which is usually mentioned on the bottle if they are preservative free). forgetting to blink while concentrating is silly but true so remind yourself to blink when you can :)

Margi59 6 Aug 2019 5:43 PM

When I last had my eyes checked they said that I suffer from dry eyes so Thank You for the Tips on how to combat this problem.

Am1851 15 Jul 2019 9:19 AM

I didn't see this article until today and I do suffer dry eyes at times. Wish I knew about the hot washer treatment. I do drink a lot of water, sleep had been elusive, but now it is better an my eyes are improving. I occasionally take fish oil when I remember but I also have sensitive eyes, and recently had an infection. Hopefully I will now have time to care more for myself too. And the tips and articles on BH provide food for thought.

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ThisIsMe 25 Jun 2019 12:16 PM

I always drink lots of water :)

Miss19 19 Nov 2018 5:09 PM

Thankfully I don't suffer from dry eyes

Eskimo82 17 Jul 2018 9:41 PM

I am going to try the hot towel over the eyes tip. I also had laser eye surgery, though about 4 years ago now and still suffer from dry eyes, especially working in an office environment. My eyes are burning by the time I get home :( But I'm going to give the heat a go - thanks for the tip!!

aoperez 27 Sep 2017 12:40 PM

I get dry eyes and the more I am on the computer the more I seem to need eye drops! I use eye drops regularly but will occasionally wash out my eyes with a bit of cold tea...sounds wierd but it works!

BeautifulJusty 4 Jun 2017 11:57 AM

If my eyes get dry, I drink plenty of water and rest. Keep away from the computer then.

rosalindblog 26 Apr 2017 4:41 PM

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!

clearcrystalwater 25 Apr 2017 5:05 PM

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!!

cosmoslyn 24 Apr 2017 10:44 PM

dry gel for me at night. helps with the morning dryness.

Sydneyswans910 24 Apr 2017 11:26 AM

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.

MelissaFay89 24 Apr 2017 10:51 AM

I use eye drops, especially since I get hay fever and this is how I treat it

sunjeanie 24 Apr 2017 8:47 AM

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

annieleem 24 Apr 2017 7:19 AM

Ah thankyou! I get dry eyes from time to time and never know what would help it

Sandyg1 24 Apr 2017 6:51 AM

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.

Chrystalage 23 Apr 2017 11:28 PM

Some helpful advice. I don't suffer from dry eyes but they are very sensitive to strong smells

Ellelily 23 Apr 2017 5:17 PM

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.

Sassy Cassy 23 Apr 2017 5:08 PM

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.

Shop A Everyday 23 Apr 2017 1:56 PM

I have very sensitive eyes, they water so easily

Kendall Jayne 23 Apr 2017 9:17 AM

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 (?)

Calla 23 Apr 2017 9:07 AM

Good tips here BH.

dream-angels 23 Apr 2017 12:11 AM

Interesting didn't think of the vitamins

AndreaJW 22 Apr 2017 9:12 PM

I prefer to use optrex actimist spray than drops.

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