A good cry can make us feel light. But that’s not all tears do! Tears lubricate and nourish the eyes. So, what happens when our eyes become dry? Many of us have experienced dry eyes, especially if our job entails using the computer or laptop for long hours. While most of us dismiss dry eyes but studies suggest that dry eyes, if not taken care of, can even lead to blindness.
This is where home remedies for dry eyes come to your rescue. But treating dry eyes requires several lifestyle changes too. That is why I have divided the article into two – lifestyle remedies and herbal home remedies. But before we jump into the dry eyes home remedies, let’s first understand what a dry eye actually is!
Known medically as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, dry eyes is something which affects more than 60% of the world’s population, including children. Lack of lubrication in the eyes is the basic cause of this condition. Your eyes turn dry, inflamed, red, and even worse, your vision starts blurring. A timely cure is very essential, failing which you can develop scars on your cornea, ulcers, or worse, lose your sight.
There are numerous triggers behind dry eyes. Some of them include:
Irrespective of the causes, you can follow the remedies for dry eyes outlined below to obtain relief.
The soothing effect of cucumber is well known. Along with soothing the tired eye muscles, cucumber rejuvenates and revitalizes the functioning of the circulatory system. Once the dry feeling goes away, you will feel fresh for sure.
Milk contains various enzymes that are known to soothe and relax the eye muscles. Dip a clean cotton swab in a little cold milk. Place it on your closed eye lids and relax for 10 minutes. You can even add a few drops of rose water with milk to accelerate the benefits.
A natural anti-inflammatory and cooling herb, chamomile tea has the power to restore the lost moisture while easing tired eyes. Add 1 tsp dried chamomile to 200 ml boiling water and steep for about 10 minutes. Strain and refrigerate the liquid in a clean container until cool. Dip clean cotton balls in the chilled tea and place them on the closed eyes. Relax for 15 minutes. You can re-dip the balls once they lose the moisture. Repeat the process until you feel rejuvenated.
Many of us known that fennel seeds are ideal home remedies for digestive disorders, but what we do not know is that they are wonderful natural remedies for dry eyes, sores too. Steep 1 tsp of dried fennel seeds in 200 ml of water for 15 minutes. Strain it and allow it to come to room temperature. Dip cotton cloth in the warm tea and place on the eye lids for 15 minutes to see immediate results.
Flax seeds are rich sources of the essential fatty acid, Omega 3. A daily intake of 2,000 mg of this nutrient is known to ease dry eyes by 85%. Check for the most suitable form of this supplement. A word of caution here – if you are pregnant or lactating, please check with your doctor before using this supplement.
The soothing properties of aloe, along with its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, help in easing the symptoms of dry eyes. Apply pure aloe gel on the eye lids daily for about 10 days to feel the difference. You can even include aloe juice in your daily diet. But do make sure that the aloe does not come into direct contact with the eye.
According to studies conducted by the International Bee Research Association, this golden viscous liquid is known to work better than artificial tears to treat dry eyes. Mix 1 tsp of honey with 1 tsp clean, pure water and use it as an homemade eye drop. Add 2 drops into each eye, thrice a day until the dryness goes away. You can also use a mixture of 1 tsp honey in 1 tbsp warm water as an eye rinse.
You can even add a few drops of undiluted honey to the eyes. Even though it burns a little, you will start experiencing the results within 10 minutes.
My grandma used to add castor oil when she prepared Kajal at home. As a kid, I was really intrigued by the presence of this liquid in the Kajal. Now, I know! Research suggest that application of castor oil around the eyes and on the eye lids actually helps in restoring and retaining the moisture levels, preventing dry eyes.
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