Redness! Burning! Irritation! These words are enough to make your eyes water but you can't. The reason is dry eyes. This is a common ocular problem in the Southwest because of the low humidity which produces an extra demand on our tear glands to keep the eyes lubricated. Other symptoms of dry eyes are a sensation that something is in the eye or even severe pain. These symptoms tend to be worse in dry cool weather and worse during a windy day. Dry eyes can also be aggravated by pollution and underlying allergies. The eye discomfort is worse when reading and worse toward the end of the day.
There are 5 common causes of Dry Eyes:
1) Decrease in blinking. Blinking helps to spread tears across the surface of the eye and lubricate the surface. Any decrease in blinking will cause symptoms of dry eyes.
1) Decrease in blinking. Blinking helps to spread tears across the surface of the eye and lubricate the surface. Any decrease in blinking will cause symptoms of dry eyes.
2) Aging. Tear production decreases with aging. The volume of tear production can be 60% less at age 65 than at age 18.
3) Environment. High altitudes; sunny, dry windy conditions; and the use of heaters, blowers and air conditioning increase tear evaporation and cause symptoms of dry eyes.
4) Contact lenses can dramatically increase tear evaporation. Dry eyes are the leading cause of contact lens discomfort.
5) Some medications decrease the body's ability to produce lubricating tears. These include decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics and many other allopathic medications.
Alternative medicine can help!
Deficiency of Vitamin A has been shown to contribute to dry eyes. The first line of treatment should be a healthy diet with fresh dark green leafy vegetables or supplemental vitamin A. I would recommend 10,000 Units of Vitamin A once a day. Vitamin A can be toxic to the liver so be sure to consult with your health care practitioner.
Primrose Oil 1000 mg twice a day can also be helpful. It is a source of essential fatty acids that aids in the production of several tear components.
Artificial tears and lubricating eye drops are the second line of treatment. They can be used as often as every hour to help reduce the symptoms of dry eyes. There are many brands of artificial tears on the market. The best are those that are preservative free.
In addition begin eye compresses or soaks using Euphrasia. Use a clean cloth and soak your eyes twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes.
Common homeopathic remedies for dry eyes. Consult a homeopath before taking medicines.
ACONTINUM NAPELLUS (Acon.)
Symptoms from an exposure to a cold dry wind. Dryness, burning, sensitiveness to air. Burning in the eyes especially worse in the evening.
ARSENICUM ALBUM (Ars-a)
Burning of the margins of the lid. Feeling of sand in the eyes in the evening. Pulsating and throbbing eye pain after midnight. Light sensitivity.
Burning of the margins of the lid. Feeling of sand in the eyes in the evening. Pulsating and throbbing eye pain after midnight. Light sensitivity.
BELLADONNA (Bell.)- Feeling of heat in the eyes. Feeling as if the eyes are protruded. Severe throbbing pain in the eye and head, worse at night.
EUPRHASIA (Euphr.)- Eyes irritated, burning with acrid and profuse tearing. Light sensitivity with intense blinking.
PULSATILLA (Puls.)- Eyelids are stuck together by yellow discharge in the morning. Symptoms better in the cool open air.
MERCURIUS (Merc.)- Redness of eyes with thin and acrid tearing which is worse at night. Marked light sensitivity. Symptoms similar to Euphrasia but they are more marked and there is night time aggravation.
SULPHUR (Sulph.)- Watering in the morning followed by dryness. Redness of the eyes during the day. Redness and burning of the eyelids.
ZINC- Eyelids stick together in the morning. Eyes are painful in the evening with a sensation of sand in the eyes with frequent watering. Constant burning in the eyes with a feeling of dryness. Hot scalding tears.
