Spring and summer are not the best times for eye health. Many of us experience scratchy, itchy eyes due to pollen and poor air quality.
Now is the perfect time to find out what could be causing your dry, itchy eyes and what you can do to achieve clear, healthy eyes. Dry eyes drops present a solution. Find out if they are suited to your needs.
What are the Best Dry Eye Drops?
Although various treatments are available on the market, people typically begin with dry eye drops. Here are a few recommended products.
- Professional Formulas Psorinum Miasm Drops: Professional Formulas is a professional-grade supplement brand providing holistic healthcare products. Their Psorinum Miasm drops temporarily relieve dry eyes, irritated skin, flatulence, runny nose, and constipation.
- Wisdom of the Ages Eyebright Drops: Wisdom of the Ages combines traditional herbal knowledge and modern manufacturing methods. Their Eyebright drops contain eyebright, a signature herbal ingredient that supports the body’s natural response to seasonal eye irritants. Other ingredients in the product help soothe, moisturize, and promote healthy retinol production.
- Sanum Pleo Muc Eye Drops: Sanum is a German-based company specializing in high-quality homeopathic products. Their dry eyes drops provide temporary relief for dry, irritated eyes. The ingredients create a film over the eyes to soothe irritations.
- Xlear Nasal Spray with Xylitol: Xlear formulates products with Xylitol, a natural sweetener that may also protect against bacteria. Their nasal spray for dry eyes cleanses the sinuses and nasal passages, washing away pollutants that may irritate the eyes. Taking a nasal spray for dry eyes in addition to dry eyes drops may help manage dry eyes symptoms. In addition, nasal spray for dry eyes can benefit from immuno-supportive vitamins and supplements.
Check out other Natural Healthy Concepts products that support eye health, and keep reading to learn more about what causes dry eyes and how to soothe them.
What is Dry Eye?
Humans have three layers of tears that cover and protect their eyes. Various factors, including dry weather, certain medications, and underlying medical conditions, can impair the tear film’s ability to function correctly, leading to multiple types of dry eye disease, such as:
- Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye: This condition occurs when the lacrimal gland in your eyes doesn’t produce enough tears. It is often caused by an autoimmune condition, which leads to inflammation in the gland.
- Evaporative Dry Eye: This condition is typically associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. The glands don’t produce enough tears, and the watery layer dries up quickly.
- Mixed Dry Eye: Some individuals have a combination of aqueous tear deficiency and tear instability contributing to dry eye.
What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry eye can be caused by the following conditions, many of which are tied to the summer season:
- Dry Climate: Eyes produce fewer tears in a low-humidity climate. The tears that are produced evaporate quickly.
- Air conditioning: Forced air also makes tears evaporate quickly.
- Smoke and Dust: These air particulates can dry out and irritate your eyes.
- Swimming Pools: The chlorine in swimming pools can wash away your tear film and irritate your eyes.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Eye?
- Burning and Stinging
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred or changed vision
- Mucus discharge
- Watery eyes – your eyes may produce tears to compensate for dry eyes, but they don’t properly coat your eyes
How to Treat Dry Eye
Dry eye treatments
range from self-care to medical procedures. Here are some to consider.
- Home Remedies: Home remedies include avoiding environmental triggers, using a home humidifier, applying a warm compress to your eyes, and taking omega-3 fatty acids, which are said to promote tear production. You may also rest your eyes or blink frequently when using a computer to help prevent dry eye.
- Eye Drops: There are various dry eyes drops on the market, including prescription and OTC products. You may also try a nasal spray for dry eyes, which clears up allergy-related symptoms.
- Punctual Occlusion: This procedure involves placing a plug into the tear drain of the lower eyelid, helping tears stay in your eyes.
- In-Office Procedures: Doctors may perform thermal pulsation therapy, which gently massages and warms the eyelids to help the meibomian gland produce oil. Intense pulse light therapy is another option. It melts the thick substances that block the meibomian glands, allowing oil to flow freely.
- Therapeutic Content Lenses: These lenses protect and lubricate the surface of the eye and may also correct your vision.
Summer is upon us. It’s the perfect time to think of what you can do to keep your eyes lubricated during the hot weather season. Which treatments will you incorporate into your health routine?
FAQs
What happens if your eyes get too dry?
Dry eyes can lead to irritation, burning, and sensitivity to light. If untreated, you may experience blurry vision, corneal damage, and even vision loss.
How long does dry eye last?
Dry eye can last anywhere from a few hours to several months or be a permanent condition. Temporary dryness is typically caused by allergens or exposure to sunlight. Chronic dry eye occurs when symptoms last for days or longer.
How to massage dry eyes?
You can stimulate oil production by placing a warm compress on the eyes. Then use your fingers to gently massage your closed eyelids in a circular motion, pushing out the melted oil. You may also roll your fingers across the length of your upper and lower eyelids towards the lashes.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.