Answered by SecondMedic Expert
Ophthalmologist · Ophthalmology
Dry eyes can be a very uncomfortable and sometimes annoying condition to live with. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye syndrome.
The first step is to practice good hygiene by taking regular breaks from reading or staring at screens. Take a break for 5 minutes every hour or so and make sure you blink frequently throughout the day as blinking helps keep your eyes lubricated. Additionally, try using artificial tears several times each day to help replace lost moisture in the tear film that coats your eyes.
Another helpful tip is to wear sunglasses when outdoors, as UV rays from the sun can worsen dry eye symptoms by drying out your tears even further. Furthermore, adding omega-3 fatty acids through dietary sources such as flaxseed oil, fish oil capsules, and walnuts may help prevent dryness in both men and women according to some reports published in research studies. Lastly, if none of these solutions work for you it might be a good idea to see an ophthalmologist who can prescribe special medications that specifically target chronic dryness caused by low tear production or other underlying conditions like meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).
