Dry eyes are uncomfortable and can be quite painful. If you're looking for a natural way to treat dry eyes, this article is for you!  Below are some remedies that work wonders in relieving the discomfort of dry eye syndrome. Whether it's due to allergies or another reason, these remedies will help your symptoms improve over time.

What are Dry Eyes and What Causes Them?

Dry eyes happen when your tears fail to lubricate your eyes properly. This leads to decreased lubrication on the surface of the eye and can cause dryness or irritation in some cases. Other possible causes include environmental conditions such as cold weather or air conditioning. Dry eyes may also be caused by contact lens use, medications, allergies, and conditions such as diabetes. Now that you know what causes dry eyes, you can use the remedies below to stop or prevent it.

Quit Smoking

You probably know that smoking is bad for the lungs. What you may not know is that it's bad for your eyes, too. Nicotine in cigarettes has a dehydrating effect on the eyes and can make dry eye symptoms worse. If necessary, quit smoking completely to improve your condition.

Use Artificial Tears

If your eyes are dry, lubricating eye drops may help. You can get them at drug stores without a prescription. Make sure you follow the instructions on how often to use them and what kind of drops are suitable for your condition. If you don't feel comfortable using drops in your eye without a prescription, consult your eye doctor.

Use Lukewarm Water

If necessary, wash your eyes with lukewarm water in the morning when you get up. This will help moisturize them while they're not strained. Pat your outer eye dry gently. Do not rub or massage your eyelids. It may feel like a relief, but it will only make dry eye worse.

Watch Your Diet

Another thing that can help is eating more foods rich in omega fatty acids, such as avocados or nuts. A diet with lots of these products may also improve the lipid layer on the surface of your eyelids. 

You can also use natural remedies such as avocado oil or olive oil to relieve your eyes of their dryness. A little bit of these natural oils applied directly on your eyelids before going to bed at night will give you relief and make your eyes feel much better.

For more information about eye care, contact a local eye doctor.