Some of the side-effects of summer aren't as cheery as blue skies and sunshine. The heat can also leave your body dehydrated, your skin thirsty and worse, your eyes dry. This summer time worry is especially prevalent in contact lens wearers as the climate further dries the eye's natural lubricant on top of lenses. The result can be dry eyes that you end up itching, just because they are so parched. We're going to change that with these six ways to soothe your tired, dry peepers, even in the middle of May.
1. A Warm Compress
Before you wonder question what a hot compress can do for your eyes, hear us out. A warm compress over the eye area can open clogged ducts and encourage the glands to produce more tears. All you have to do is placed a warm towel directly on closed eyelids and hold in place for 10 minutes. Repeat this twice a day for best results.
2. Look Around
Make sure your surroundings aren't worsening the condition of your eyes. Stay away from smoke, heat and air conditioning drafts or wear protective glasses when you are exposed to any of them. If the air in your home is too dry, consider installing a humidifier to add moisture to it.
3. Eat Well
What you eat directly impacts the rest of your body, especially your eyes. To keep dryness at bay, add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Such foods include chia seeds, salmon and tuna, walnuts and eggs. They reduce inflammation in the body and help the production of tears in the ducts.
4. Switch Off
Continuously staring at your screen can tire your eyes and further dry them out. Prevent this from happening by taking a break away from your screen for a few minutes after every hour so that your eyes aren't strained and get excessively dry.
5. Splash And Blink
Twice daily, make it a habit to splash your eyes with water as it will refresh them and reduce the itchy, dry feeling. Also add a blinking exercise to your routine. Try blinking slowly by keeping your eyes closed for two counts and opening them. This will help lubricate the eyeball surface and even remove any irritants.
6. Eye Drops
Comments
If you aren't able to produce tears naturally, try lubricating eye drops under the care of a doctor. Their formula is close to natural tears and will keep the eyes wet and healthy.
