This condition is a common occurrence when your tears aren’t able to give enough lubrication on your eyes. But doesn’t tears only happen when you cry?

Believe it or not, that’s not the only thing tears can do. Tears are an essential part for your eye health.

When you blink, a film of fluid coats the surface of your eye, which is called tear stability. It not only keeps the eye moist but also has an important role in having a healthy functioning eye.

There are several reasons why tears are essential, and these are:

Creates a smooth surface for your eye - Tears are evidently your eyes’ source for lubricating and smoothing the surface of the eye.

Prevents dryness - It prevents your eyes to dry out by coating the surface with a film of fluid. It simply provides lubrication for the eyes.

Prevents Infections - There are foriegn bodies, such as small particles in the air that can easily enter the eye. But because of the presence of tears, those foreign bodies are being washed out.

Furthermore, tears contain Lysozyme — which acts as an antibacterial substance, as well as preventing contact and infection by microbes.

Supplies oxygen and nutrients to the eyes - Oxygen and nutrients are transported to the surface cells through tears since there are no blood vessels present on the surface of the eye.

Creates a smooth surface on the eye - Tears are a great lubricant and moisturizer for your eyes since it provides fluid that smoothens the surface. This is also for refracting light correcting to enable us to see clearly.

Heals the damages on the eye - Mild damages on the eye can be healed naturally with tears because of its antibacterial and healing properties.

However, there are several conditions that can affect the production of tears, and one of these is dry eyes.

As previously stated, a dry eye is a condition of low production of tears on the eye. Having dry eyes can be very uncomfortable because a dry surface can result in harsh friction.

This will eventually cause a stinging or burning sensation. Several examples for having dry eyes include situations such as being in an air-conditioned room, riding a bike, and simply staring at the computer screen.

These are simple situations, thus having dry eyes can be inevitable.

While your eyes are sensitive, treatment for dry eyes are mostly done by changing eye care routines and eye drops.

Dry eyes can range from mild to severe when prolonged. Severe dry eyes may be caused by eye inflammation, scarring of the surface, or constant eye irritation.

Dry eyes can result in several symptoms and affect both eyes. These symptoms include:

A stinging, burning or itchy sensation

Stringy mucus in or around your eyes

Sensitivity to light

Eye redness

A sensation of having something in your eyes

Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Difficulty with nighttime driving

Watery eyes

Blurred vision

Eye fatigue

The usual treatment for dry eyes are eye drops and medication. If ever you have mild symptoms of dry eye, you may try using these natural remedies for your dry eyes.

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Castor Oil Eye Drops

Castor oil has been known to be great for creating fuller eyebrows and eyelashes, as well as lengthening it. But did you know that it can be used on your eyes?

Based on research, castor oil contains anti-inflammatory properties specifically the ricinoleic acid — which helps alleviate inflammation and redness of the eyes.

Thus, there are several uses for castor oil on dry eyes.

This ingredient encourages lipid production in the eyes and creates evaporation of tears which is useful for treating dry eyes.

The anti-inflammatory properties of the oil helps treat eye redness, allergies, and alleviate bloodshot eyes. It's also a great moisturizer for treating itchiness of the eye.

Omega-3

One good source for omega-3 is fish oil. This has been suggested to be a possible remedy for dry eyes due to its omega-3 fatty acids called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Based on research studies, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplements resulted in fewer dry eye symptoms in people who take the supplement.

It was found that this can improve the eye’s liquid film that’s produced by the meibomian glands. Thus, improves dry eye symptoms and makes artificial tears unnecessary.

However, high doses of this supplement can result in harmful side effects. So before trying this for yourself, it’s better to consult with a health professional.

You can also consume omega-3 fatty acids by adding fish in your diet. It’s recommended that healthy adults eat fish at least twice a week.

Humidifier

A humidifier is a device for creating more moisture in the air. This is especially essential in places where there is dry air or air pollution.

Thus, dry air will more likely cause dry eyes. By creating moisture into the air and purifying it, you will be able to avoid getting your eyes irritated or dry.

Additionally, dry air can happen due to air conditioners or furnaces because it decreases the humidity in the air.

According to the National Eye Institute, a windy, dry, smoky, or polluted environment can increase your chance of getting dry eyes.

Rest Your Eyes

Frequent TV watching, reading, and using gadgets can dry out your eyes. The more time you spend staring at a screen, the more likely you’ll get dry eyes.

So, it’s essential to give your eyes a break from time to time especially if you’re required to work on a computer for hours.

You can try resting your eyes just by looking away on the screen for at least 15 minutes or more. Resting your eyes will eventually regain the needed moisture for your eyes.

Warm Compress

Simply applying a warm compress on your eyes for 5 minutes can easily alleviate irritation and release some of the oil in your glands. This will eventually improve the quality of your tears.

Dry eye is usually easily manageable and treatable, thus trying out these natural remedies can be a good start for you.

Taking care of your eyes are an essential part of your overall health because it is a necessity. Having proper eye care and resting of the eyes are a good combination in avoiding dry eyes or any other eye conditions.