How to Treat Dry Eyes Naturally

The most common eye ailment, dry eyes result from allergies, blepharitis, Sjogren's disease and other problems. Although dry eyes don't usually threaten eye sight, the discomfort reduces quality of life and chronic dry eyes can cause erosion of the cornea. You don't always have to resort to prescription drugs to treat dry eyes. The medical community recognizes several natural remedies. Read on to learn how to treat dry eyes naturally.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Flaxseed oil
• Fish oil
• Castor oil
• Humidifier
• Wraparound sunglasses
• N-acetylcysteine

1. Take flaxseed or fish oil supplements. The Omega-3 fatty acids in these oils can decrease the viscosity of tears and normalize the function of the tear glands. You should also include sources of Omega-3 fatty acid in your diet, such as walnuts and soybeans.
2. Use castor oil eye drops. An old folk remedy for dry eyes, castor oil can be found in many commercial eye drops. You can add one drop of regular castor oil to the affected eye twice daily using a clean dropper.
3. Apply warm compresses to the eye. In some inflammatory disorders, the lipid layer of tears becomes too thick for the eye to express enough. A warm compress helps to express plugged tear ducts.
4. Add humidity to your environment. Use a portable humidifier at the office, and a whole-house humidifier at home. Aim for a humidity level near the high end of normal or around 50 to 60 percent.
5. Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect the eyes from dry air and wind. This creates a kind of moisture chamber that increases the humidity around the eyes.
6. Ask your doctor about the supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Researchers believe this amino acid stabilizes tear production. Take 100 mg three times a day.