Do you have dry eyes and allergies? Are you looking for natural ways to treat your dry eye and allergies?
Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t make enough tears or they are low-quality tears. Dry eye can make your eyes sting, look red, burn or feel gritty. Keep reading for six natural dry eye treatments for allergies!
Warm Compresses
Your tears are made of mucus, water and oil. For your eyes to stay healthy they need all three components.
Having inflammation and flaky eyelids can clog the oil making glands around your eye. If these glands become blocked, it can cause dry eye.
To help fix the irritation and clogged glands, try using a wet wash cloth. You should use warm water, wring it out and cover your eye(s) for at least one minute.
You should press it along your eyelid to help unclog the oil glands. The warmth and water help to break up the blocks that are clogging your glands. You should use a warm compress every day to reduce inflammation, even if your eyes feel better.
Clean Your Crusty Eyelashes
Cleaning around your eyes and eyelids can help control your inflammation. You can use a little baby shampoo or soap on your fingers.
Using the shampoo or soap, massage around your closed eye by your eyelashes. This will help clean off any debris.
Blinking More
Using the computer a lot reduces how much you blink your eyes per minute. Any time you are working, you should blink as often as possible.
Try keeping your computer below eye level to reduce the size you need to open your eyes. The wider you open your eyes, the more moisture they lose.
Eat Oily Fish
You want to eat fish that is naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids. Some fish in this category include salmon, tuna, sardines, trout, and mackerel.
Eating foods high in healthy fats help your glands work better when making oil. This in turn helps reduce irritation.
Eating other foods with omega-3s are good as well. Some options include flax seed, walnuts, and soybean/canola oil.
Another option is taking an omega-3 pill, but before you try this talk with your doctor. You want to make sure that it does not impact any conditions or medicines you use.
Drink Water
Your entire body needs water, and your eyes are no exception! Water helps keep your eyes moist.
You should have between 8-10 glasses of water per day. If you do not like water, try drinking other non-alcoholic or non-caffeinated beverages. You can also eat foods with high water content like watermelon or cucumber.
Stop Smoking
While this is a lifestyle change, quitting smoking can help your eyes keep moisture. It can also reduce existing irritation from allergies.
Do you need help treating your dry eye allergy symptoms? Contact the experts at Omaha Eye & Laser Institute in Omaha, NE by booking a dry appointment today! There’s no reason to keep feeling frustrated about your dry eyes when we can help!
