Dry Eye Remedies that Really Work

Gritty and itchy eyes, redness, maybe even unexplained tears. Whether it's due to scratchy contact lenses or pollen in the air, most people have experienced dry eye at some point in their lives. If you're like me, you have it almost perpetually. It is, of course, extremely annoying and something that you go crazy to find a remedy for. Here are some techniques that have helped me out with my dry eye problems.

1.) Lubricating drops

Obviously, lubricating eye drops. These are the most obvious thing that people turn to when they are experiencing dry eye or red eye symptoms. It is not as easy as just picking up a bottle of generic drops at your local drugstore, however. You need to take into account the main ingredients of the solution. It is best to avoid drops that claim to "get the red out" of your eyes; these are not very good at curing dry eye symptoms (except for the redness), and long-term usage can make you become immune to them.

I recommend Refresh Plus drops by Allergan. They are .5% carboxymethlycellulose sodium and are very good for sensitive eyes. They can also be used long-term. Finally, unlike most other eye drops, these can be used to prevent dry eye in the first place.

2.) Bananas

If you have never tried eating a banana for dry eye symptoms, then it is a must. Many people get dry eye because they have a potassium deficiency. This obviously can be cured by eating a banana, or taking a vitamin supplement. Of course, the banana is tastier! Eating a banana a day usually helps ward off dry eye in the first place for me.

3.) Steam

Getting in a hot shower will provide automatic relief. The steam will help bring moisture to your eyes. You can also try using a warm washcloth and holding it over the affected eye or eyes. Heat helps tears flow, which will diminish your dry eye symptoms.

4.) Blink

This should be obvious, but sometimes people forget that when they are looking at a computer screen or reading a book, they are probably blinking less than they should be. If you experience dry eye while you are at the computer, take a break and close your eyes, or make an effort to blink more than you were.

5.) Check your medications

Some medications have dry eye as a side effect. Surprisingly, anti-histamines (like Claritin) are included on this list! If your medication has dry eye as a side effect, and you are perpetually plagued by dry eye symptoms, there is likely a correlation between the two. You should also keep this in mind if you believe that your dry eye is caused by allergies. Imagine: taking Claritin because you believe that allergies are causing dry eye, just to have Claritin make it worse!

I hope that you can benefit from my advice. If you have dry eye that seems to never go away, try talking to your doctor about artificial tears (like Restasis). There may be an underlying problem causing your dry eye that needs addressed. Otherwise, simply hang in there and try some of my remedies.