Dry Eyes - What Should You Know?

Patients suffering from this condition may experience a broad range of symptoms. Among them, one may feel redness in the eye, stringy mucus in or around the eyes. Other symptoms of dry eyes include blurred vision, sensitivity to light, double and blurred vision, etc. Some patients with dry eyes may also get a feeling like there?s sand in their eyes and they may find it difficult to wear contact lenses. Consult an eye specialist as soon as you notice these symptoms.

Non-prescription eye drops and eye ointments are known to contain certain preservatives and come in a multi-dose vial. Sometimes the patient?s eyes may react badly with these preservatives. These non-prescription drugs are known to bring temporary relief to the patients. Overuse of ointments may impair the vision of the patient. Use eye drops that are free from preservatives, and it?s best to use ointments before bedtime.

Prolonged use of computers and other portable digital devices like mobile phones, tablets may increase the risk of dry eyes. This is because when a person sits in front of the computer, he tends to blink his eyes less frequently and less fully. This causes an imbalance in the tear mixture which is made up of water, fatty oils, growth facts and other electrolytes and it evaporates too fast. As a result, the person may start experiencing the symptoms of dry eyes. Avoid using computers and other digital portable devices for a prolonged period.

As per medical research, eating more omega-3 fatty acid may help in treating the symptoms of dry eyes. The fat reduces the risk of inflammation in the body and contributes to reduce eye inflammation. This may help the patient to get relief from dry eyes and subsequently allows more tear production and improves the quality of tears produced by the eyes. Oils like palm oil and soybean oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acid. Person suffering from this condition may also add fatty fishes like salmon, tuna, sardine, and eggs to his/her diet, as these foods are a rich source of fatty acids.