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How to treat dry eyes

It is possible to treat dry eye syndrome with a few simple steps, although chances are that symptoms won't disappear completely.

Self treatment

• Make an effort to blink frequently.
• If you suffer from only occasional tearing or dryness of the eyes, try over-the-counter artificial tears. These drops can be used as often as necessary as they are just a lubricant and have no side effects. Do not use ordinary eye drops for reducing redness; some can cause dry eyes.
• Hot compressing (with a warm towel) or eyelash cleaning to open blocked glands and allow healthy tear film production.
• Essential fatty acids (like omega 3, 6, 7 and 9) in the diet are helpful in not only suppressing inflammation, for example in rheumatoid arthritis, blepharitis and the inflammation of the tear gland that causes decreased tear production in Sjögren's syndrome. In addition, it has been found that these same essential fatty acids are used by the oil glands in the eyelid to produce a healthy tear oily layer.
• Vitamin A helps to form and maintain healthy mucous membranes, therefore assisting in tear layer production.

See your optometrist or doctor if:

• You experience severe discomfort or itchiness.
• Your eyelids stick together when you wake in the morning. You may need antibiotics.
• The drops do not help after regular administration for several days. You may need tiny plugs (called punctal plugs) in the corner of your eye to slow tear drainage.
• The problem persists for longer than a few weeks. A doctor may need to establish if your dry eyes is one of the symptoms of another disease.

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