There are many things that can cause ones eyes to become dry. These can range from simple eye strain, to environmental conditions, to the wearing of contacts. Even certain medications can cause dry eye. Symptoms of dry eye can include blurred vision, light sensitivity, inflammation, burning or itching sensations, pain, and redness.
Ordinary common sense cures
A little common sense can go a long way. Even something as simple as peeling an onion, which causes many to tear up, can be of help. If you know you have dry eyes, avoid the things you know irritate it. Factors such as wearing contacts too long, reading or looking at screens too long without a break, being outside without sunglasses or other eye protection (from either wind, or sun), and using a hot blow dryer on the hair can obviously be adjusted or avoided.
If the air in your home is dry, and you feel this is affecting your eyes, you can use a humidifier in the home to add moisture to the air, and this can ease your eyes.You can also use methods as simple as placing a wet compress over your eyes at night.
Diet can help
According to the Mayo Clinic, foods that are rich in fatty acids can help dry eyes. A simple change in diet to include things such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, sardines, flax seed, or eggs can be helpful
Natural remedies for dry eye
There are also common herbs and teas that can be used as compresses on the eyes to relieve dryness. These can be made into a tea, and used on a compress, or if you have teas already in tea bags, the bags can be placed directly on the eyelids. My favorite herbs and teas for this purpose are:
1. Chamomile
2. Elderberry
3. Bearberry
4. Eyebright
5. Green Tea
Most of these herbs either reduce inflammation, can ease eye infection, or can improve vision as well. In addition, herbal oils that help inflammation, such as Burdock root, or even common oils, such as Olive, Almond, or Safflower oil, can be placed on the eyelids to reduce swelling, and alleviate dry eyes.
Precautions
If rash occurs during any of these procedure, immediately stop usage. You may be allergic to a particular herb, and this will only worsen your dry eye condition as well. For example, my daughter is allergic to ragweed. Many people who are allergic to ragweed are also allergic to chamomile, thus should not use it.
Additional Sources :
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsdisease/a/dry_eyes.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/basics/definition/con-20024129
I have also put in over 20 years of personal study and experimentation with herbs and natural therapies, with regard to the health of myself and my family.
