Dry Eyes: Prevention and Treatment

• May 16, 2024

The digital age and poor lifestyle conditions have made us habitual of computer screens and it’s no news that it does affect our eyes!

Eyes are a very sensitive part of our body which makes them prone to damage if you’re not taking good care of them. With time, our eyes become more susceptible to damage, and the situation worsens because of several factors like pollution, longer screen time, use of low-quality contacts, hormonal changes, and many more. 

Such factors can contribute to many eye ailments. One such common ailment is dry eyes. It usually happens when your eyes don’t produce enough tears which leads to a lot of discomfort and irritation for the eyes. 

Diagnosis of dry eyes 

Before starting your medication, ensure to get your eye diagnosis done. Diagnosis of dry eyes is done by ENT specialists as well as an ophthalmologist. 

So make sure to get the diagnosis to get the right medication prescribed. 

Regular eye checkup 

A checkup of the eyes involves an in-depth examination of your general and eye health will assist your eye care professional in determining the reason for your dry eyes.

Volume measurement test for tear ducts

With a Schirmer tear test, the eye specialist will measure the product information of your eyes. In this test, a blotting paper strip is placed inside the lower eyelids to absorb the tear. According to the tear absorption diagnosis.  

Tear osmolarity checkup

It analyses the composition of the water molecules in your pupils. If your eyes show fewer water components, you may have dry eyes.

Clinical treatment of dry eyes 

If you have dry eye problems occasionally, then using non-prescribed medication like teardrops would be enough to keep your eyes moist and healthy. 

However, if the condition is prevalent and is oftentimes paired with swollen eyelids and pain, then you need to see a doctor immediately.  

Punctal plugs

Dry eyes can be treated by closing the tear duct apertures with microscopic silicone implants (punctal closures). These plugs seal the minute aperture (punctum) located in the interior region of each of your eyelids. 

The closure prevents the drying of both your natural tears and any synthetic tears you might have applied.

Medication 

You can also opt for over-the-counter medications to treat your dry eyes. You can get antibiotics to reduce eyelid inflammation. Also, drops to ease corneal inflammation are suggested to improve the condition. 

You can even go for teardrops ( pilocarpine, cevimeline), nasal spray (varenicline) as well as tear stimulation medicine to keep your eyes from getting dry.  

Some alternative remedies to treat dry eyes

Apart from clinical treatment, there are a few alternative remedies that can help reduce your dry eye problems.

Omega 3

Incorporating more and more Omega 3 in the form of fish, flax seed, walnut, and chia seed into your diet can help reduce the risk of dry eyes. You can even get Omega 3 drops for your eyes.  

Castor oil eye drops

These are known as one of the best lubricants and will keep your eyes moist by reducing tear evaporation. These are useful while traveling and during office hours. 

Acupuncture therapy 

Acupuncture is an effective remedy for closing the tear duct and preventing the loss of tears. It aids in keeping your eyes moist and healthy with any chemical usage. 

If you’re already suffering from dry eyes then you can seek medical help to treat them and alleviate your condition. However, you can also follow a few important steps and make some lifestyle changes to prevent dry eyes. Let’s take a look at some steps by which you can prevent dry eyes.

Steps to prevent dry eyes

Dry eyes could be managed with regular eyelid wiping and the use of nonprescription eye solutions or similar lubricants. If your disease is ongoing (chronic), use eye medications regardless of whether your eyes feel normal to keep them moist.

Use over-the-counter medications 

To prevent dry eyes, there are numerous over-the-counter medications that can be bought without a prescription. We suggest you buy preservatives for free one-time-use eye drops, as they won't cause irritation. 

Lubricating eye creams moisturize the corneas and provide long-term comfort from eyestrain. But given that ointments are thick and can't be used during the day, in such situations, you can opt for the drop during the day while applying ointments during bedtime.

Washing the eyelid to reduce inflammation 

If you are struggling with blepharitis or a similar eye condition causing eyelid inflammation because of obstruction in the oil flow to the eyes, you can follow these tips:

• Dip an eye towel in warm water and keep it over the eyelids for 5 minutes. Repeat the process until your eye soreness reduces. (Advisable time: 10-15 min.).
• You can wash your eyelids by using a mild soap or baby shampoo. It will help reduce the itching and burning sensation.

Bottom line

Dry eyes are a common eye problems for today's generation. It also occurs with aging. However, dry eyes are a preventable condition and can be controlled with a timely diagnosis and the right medication. 

You must visit an eye care professional at a reputed clinic like God Service Eye Clinic to treat your dry eyes and maintain good vision. In addition to this, your diet and exercise routine also contribute to maintaining your eye health so you must take care of that as well.