If you suffer from dry eyes, then you know first-hand how uncomfortable and irritating it can be. Symptoms such as itching, burning, redness, and the feeling of having something stuck in your eye can make everyday tasks difficult.

At Total Retina Eye Care, we diagnose and treat dry eye symptoms for long-lasting relief.

Dry Eye: Definition and Causes Almost everyone experiences dry eyes at one point or another. When the problem is chronic, it’s called dry eye syndrome (DES), and can be caused by environmental factors, medical issues like autoimmune diseases, certain medications, aging and excessive computer use.

Insufficient tears or poor-quality tears that don’t properly hydrate the tear film can result in blurry vision, dryness, redness, and the feeling that sand particles are in your eye. Untreated, dry eye syndrome can sometimes result in corneal scarring and loss of vision. That’s why knowing the underlying cause of your symptoms and receiving the appropriate treatment is so important.

Here are some lifestyle tips to help alleviate symptoms:

#1 Drink Enough Water Staying hydrated is essential for overall health, and it can also help alleviate dry eye symptoms.Drinking enough water keeps the body, including the eyes, lubricated and functioning well.

#2 Wear Protective Glasses Outside Wind, dust, and other environmental factors can make dry eye symptoms worse. It’s recommended that you wear protective glasses like wrap-around sunglasses or goggles when you’re outdoors to reduce your exposure to harsh elements, which can act as irritants that exacerbate your dry eye symptoms.

#3 Avoid Makeup That Can Clog Glands And Irritate The Eyes: Not all makeup is created equal. Some makeup can clog your eye’s meibomian (oil) glands, preventing them from releasing much-needed oils that lubricate the tear film. If you wear makeup, make sure it’s hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. You should also remove makeup before you sleep to prevent dry eye symptoms. Additionally, some preservatives in eye makeup can irritate the eyes and cause dryness, so make sure you also purchase preservative-free makeup products.

#4 Add Omega-3 to Your Diet Incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your diet or taking nutritional supplements can help reduce inflammation and improve tear production. Note: Check with your physician before changing your diet or adding supplements to your daily routine.

Find Dry Eye Treatments at Total Retina Eye Care While these tips aren’t a substitute for treatment prescribed by your eye doctor, we encourage our patients to live a life that promotes good eye health. If your dry eye symptoms are chronic, consult our eye doctor at Total Retina Eye Care, Dhantoli, Nagpur.