Natural Help for Gritty Dry Eyes

Dry, gritty eyes are caused by an abnormality in tear production. Tears are a combination of water, mucus, proteins, oils and antibodies and provide a moist layer that protects the eyes. For your eyes to function optimally, a continuous amount of moisture must be present on the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the eye surface. Symptoms of dry eyes include redness, itchiness, burning, problems wearing contact lenses, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and a gritty sensation.

Causes

• There are two types of tear abnormalities that cause dry eyes, according to AOA.com. The first is an inadequate amount of tear production. The second is poor tear quality. Often, when an eye is exposed to irritants, it will produce too many tears or tears that evaporate too quickly or do not properly spread over the eyes.
  Many underlying issues or environmental irritants can contribute to the problem. As women age and approach menopause, the drastic drop in hormones can cause the eyes to produce less tears. Staring at a computer screen causes users to blink less frequently than normal. Blinking regularly replenishes tear production, so less blinking results in dryer eyes.
  Contact lens wearers may experience dry eyes because the contact lenses irritate their eyes, causing excessive tearing and poor tear quality. An allergy sufferer can also experience watery and, paradoxically, dry eyes because of poor tear quality. An individual who has had Lasik surgery may experience dry eyes after the surgery.
  People who are regularly exposed to smoke or dry indoor heating can also experience dry eyes.

Dietary Changes

• Eat three balanced meals a day, consisting primarily of whole foods. Avoid processed foods whenever possible. Use a multivitamin daily.
  According to Women to Women.com, increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and increase the amount of tear secretion. They also provide more oil to your tears, which increases the efficiency of their lubricating properties and helps improve tear quality. You can take omega-3 supplements such as fish oil or flaxseed oil. In addition, you can increase the amount of tuna, mackerel and wild salmon in your diet or sprinkle flaxseeds on your breakfast cereal. Try to find a high-quality omega-3 supplement that is free of lead, mercury and other dangerous preservatives.
  Increase the amount of water you drink daily, and cut down on caffeine. Caffeine dehydrates your body, while drinks such as water, milk, juice and herbal teas rehydrate you, helping to replenish your tear supply.

Environmental Changes

• If you are in a room with air vents, try moving away from the vent if you intend to spend an extended amount of time in the room. If your home has forced-air heating, this step is crucial. Forced-air heating is a common eye irritant and can also reduce the amount of tears your eyes produce. Placing a humidifier in the room can help moisturize the air and provide relief.
  If you smoke, quit as soon as possible. Cigarette smoke is an eye irritant and can worsen the symptoms of dry eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes and wash your hands before putting in or removing contact lenses. Blink more often, especially if you must use a computer screen at work.