Whether you are travelling a lot or you just have sensitive eyes, dry and itchy eyes are a common condition and one that can be seriously annoying in your day to day life.
Dry eyes can be caused by not enough moisture in the eye, meaning the water, oils, mucus and antibodies that keep infections at bay are slightly off balance causing a dry eye sensation which can affect the tear system.
Usually, you will know if you have dry eyes if you have a gritty feeling in the eye, experience itching, redness, blurred vision or light sensitivity.
The cause of dry eyes can be a range of things from natural ageing, to a side effect of medication right through to disease from another ailment in the body.
Tips for treating dry eyes include:
Artificial tear drops – this is a simple way to treat dry eyes and works to ensure the eye is wet enough that they don’t dry out while you are working or sleeping. The drops will create moisture for your eye and allow you to blink and behave normally without the chronic dry eye sensation.
Avoid smoky environments – avoiding smoke will help your eyes to stay moist. Smoking will dry out the eyes and increase the risk of developing dry or irritated eyes.
Add a warm compress to the eyelids – adding a warm compress to your eyes when you are washing will work to release oil in your eye glands and hopefully improve the quality of your years. Be careful not to have too much soap otherwise you may irritate the eyes.
Add additional omega-3 to your diet – increasing your omega-3 could make a difference to dry eye because fatty acid supplements will enhance the supply of oils in your eye ducts.
Temporary punctal occlusion – this is where your doctor will close the duct that drains tears from eyes, allowing for more moisture to remain in the eye. This is only a temporary fix, however, can help to provide comfort to the eye and reduce redness and itchiness.
Other simple tips for treating dry eyes including using a humidifier in the winter in your room to ensure you eyes get the moisture they need to function properly and avoiding environments with lots of air movement such as wind, fans and exposure to hair dryers, all of which can affect and dry out your eyes.
If you would like professional medical advice on ways to reduce the effect of dry or irritated eyes or to take charge of your health why not arrange our health screening services today. You can contact The Medical Concierge team to book an appointment +65 6679 7867 or email us at customercare@tmcg.com.sg to ask for more information.