What To Do When You Have Dry & Tired Eyes

Our eyes are parts of our anatomy we take for granted, but when they start to hurt or give us issues, we are reminded not to take them for granted. All the time we spend in front of smartphone and computer screens is bound to affect our eyes unless we do something about it. Not to mention other factors that can lead to tired, dry eyes like cigarette smoke or allergies. We can prevent them by setting up the right precautions, but sometimes it can’t be avoided and we need a cure immediately.

There is nothing as uncomfortable as the feeling of dry eyes. You find yourself constantly needing to blink and going about your normal day because so much harder. If you’re in this position, and you desperately need a remedy to ease the discomfort, here are some of the things you can do for some much needed relief.

Give your eyes a rest

The constant blinking can actually make you feel like the eyes are more tired and more dry. If you’re looking for a quick fix while you’re looking for something with a longer lasting effect, giving your eyes a rest in the literal sense will provide some temporary ease. Lie down somewhere comfortable, close your eyes and relax. Some people wear eye masks to avoid opening their eyes during this time. Try to lie like this for at least 30 minutes. This will buy you some time for a more permanent fix.

Don’t Touch Your Eyes

When our eyes are tired and irritated, it’s very natural to want to rub them in a bid to get some relief but don’t do this, it will make it worse. There are so many things we might have touched or picked up on our fingers that might not seem that bad, but are extremely irritating to already sensitive eyes. Keep your hands away from your eye area just to be safe.

Get Moisture Flowing Again

The evaporation of tears can cause great discomfort. When our eyes are dry one of the things we have to do is coax some moisture back into them. One trick is to put a warm compress over your eyes and then rinse them out with a very gentle and mild wash (like baby shampoo). This will hopefully activate your oil glands and get some moisture coming through again. The rinse will remove dirt, excess hair from the eye area, which might also be contributing to the irritation.

Drink Some Water

Dehydration affects all parts of our bodies because water is so vital. Sometimes the eye dryness can be a sign that you need to drink more water. While sipping some H2O won’t give you instant relief, it will help prevent the problem in the long-run.

Invest in a Humidifier

If your home is prone to dry air and winds, this could be contributing to your dry and tired eyes. If you use an AC, this can suck the moisture out of the air and create a lot of dryness. You can counter this by investing in a humidifier that can help maintain some moisture in the air and help your eyes stay lubricated.

Eye Drops

Whether you use eye drops that work as artificial tears or use a thicker ointment that can get the moisture flowing again, this is a great quick remedy. If you’re looking for something natural that has multiple uses, try sananga eye drops. These drops are “a sacred medicine used to heal mind, body, and spirit. Sananga has a wide range of applications from enhancing vision and focus to relieving headaches and eye ailments.” Keeping these eye drops nearby can be a great fix if a dryness attack arises.

Dry eyes might seem like a minor ailment or annoyance but because we use our eyes for most of the day, they can really cause a lot of misery. The good thing is we can not only prevent them, but there are so many ways to make the irritation better. The key thing is making sure the spaces we spend most of our time in have moisture in the air. If the rooms become too dry, it’s likely that our eyes will suffer. Keep a bottle of eye drops handy to provide some relief when the dryness hits. The discomfort will eventually wear away and you can get back to your normal life again.

Photo by Jordan Whitfield 

Derek Markham

Things I dig include: simple living, natural fatherhood, attachment parenting, natural building, unassisted childbirth (homebirth), bicycles, permaculture, organic and biodynamic gardening, vegan peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips, bouldering, and the blues. Find me elsewhere at @NaturalPapa, @DerekMarkham, Google+, or RebelMouse.

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