Dry eye affects tens of millions worldwide, about 16 million of them in America. It can become intense, affecting your quality of life, depending on the severity. There is no set rule book on treating the condition, as it is often chronic and has no specific cure. However, some treatments are more effective than others, and some only work on one particular form of dry eye.

Natural Treatments for Dry Eye

Natural treatments for dry eye syndrome usually include changing your lifestyle and improving your diet. Here are some of the most effective ways to combat dry eye syndrome naturally.

Shield Your Eyes in the Wind

Moving air can dry your eyes more quickly than they should, exposing your eye's surface. If you live in a windy place or the day is extra windy, wear wraparound sunglasses to keep the wind from your eyes. If you work in an area with a fan or air conditioning, you can get a humidifier to maintain moisture in the air.

Take Breaks and Blink

When you work for long hours on a computer, your eyes dry up because digital screen use reduces your average blink rate. To avoid this, use the 20-20-20 rule—taking breaks every 20 minutes for 20 seconds to look at something 20 feet away. Also, intently remind yourself to blink every few minutes to keep your eyes lubricated.

Diet

You can reduce dry eye by improving your diet to increase the nutrients in the eyes. Including omega-3 fatty acids in foods like fish and flax seeds has been shown to reduce dry eye. You could ask your eye doctor about omega-3 fatty acid supplements and how often you need to take them.

Advanced Treatments

Evaporative dry eye is usually more difficult to treat, so many advanced treatments typically try to deal with it. The most effective treatments so far for the condition are LipiFlow® and IPL.

LipiFlow®

LipiFlow is a novel treatment that addresses meibomian gland dysfunction, the leading cause of evaporative dry eye syndrome. It uses heat pulsation and gentle massaging to draw out the clogged oils in the glands. The treatment melts the thickened oils blocking the passage.

LipiFlow is so effective that it has quickly become a standard treatment for evaporative dry eye. The treatment is quick, with a session lasting only a few minutes and results taking effect after a few sessions. The relief from the treatment can last up to two years, after which you can have another round of sessions.

IPL or Intense Pulsed Light

IPL is the new kid on the block for treating evaporative dry eye and a common comorbid condition, rosacea. IPL is quite effective as the oxyhemoglobin absorbs the light and converts it into heat, which helps with meibomian gland expression.

The heat also aids in destroying bacteria that leads to inflammation of the meibomian glands. It also targets specific structures in blood vessels, impacting the inflammation that causes meibomian gland dysfunction.

For more on exploring alternative treatments for dry eye syndrome, visit Eyes on Butterfield at our office in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Call (630) 519-6060​​​​​​​ to book an appointment today.