Here Are 7 Optometrist-Approved Ways To Naturally Alleviate Dry Eyes

The good news: Even if you can’t break away from your screen, there’s still a lot you can do to keep eyes naturally moist and pain-free, from supplementing your diet with key nutrients to giving yourself an eye massage.

“Consumption of 11 teaspoons of sugar a day has been linked to dry eye syndrome,” says Grossman. “It's thought that excess sugar in the diet results in too much unusable glucose in the eyes, and more than half of all diabetics suffer from dry eye syndrome.” You probably don’t need much convincing to nix refined sugars from your diet, but what should you load up on? Grossman suggests leafy greens, a sentiment that’s seconded by registered dietitian Jess Cording, R.D., who also recommends a variety of colorful fruits and veggies for a concentrated dose of antioxidants (including zeaxanthin, lutein, and astaxanthin) that have been specifically shown to benefit eye health.

While evidence1 is mixed on whether or not2 supplements like fish oil or flaxseed oil can help with dry eyes, Grossman recommends them to his patients, citing research showing that high intakes of omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce dry eye syndrome symptoms by improving the coating of tears that cover the front of the eye and reducing inflammation. Vitamin D may have a similar benefit, with some research showing that dry eye and impaired tear function are symptoms of low vitamin D levels. As weird as it sounds, gut issues such as IBS have also been associated with3 dry eye, which is why Grossman recommends a high quality probiotic supplement to support overall gut health.

Be sure to wash down those supplements with plenty of water. Both Grossman and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommend drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to help promote tear production and alleviate dry eyes.

They may not be the cutest, but amber-hued glasses are an effective way of filtering out blue light from our tech devices and have been shown to help reduce dry eye symptoms, says Grossman. Beyond that, they can also help counter the effects of blue light on our hormones and menstrual cycle when worn with the natural light-dark cycles of the planet by helping raise melatonin levels and bring down cortisol levels at night, according to women’s health and hormone expert Jolene Brighten.

A warm compress with a wet washcloth can is an effective way of opening up oil glands in the eyelids, allowing natural oils to flow back into the eye, slow tear evaporation, and relieve discomfort from dry eye triggers like contact lenses or too much screen time. Grossman suggests applying a warm compress for 10 minutes two to three times a day. You can also try gently massaging your upper and lower eyelids while you’re in the shower, which will stimulate tear glands.

Researchers have discovered that equally important to blinking is blinking completely, says Grossman. So, make sure that when you blink you close your eyelids fully. Or set a timer to go off a few times per day and do the following simple exercise: Close your eyes, squeeze your eyes tight, then relax your eyes while keeping them closed. Open your eyes and repeat about five times.

While dietary and lifestyle tweaks are great, none of us are above eye drops, or artificial tears. In those ultra dry, sandpapery moments, you need that immediate relief. But don’t reach for just any drops. Grossman warns that drops marketed to "get the red out" may reduce circulation in the eye, limit moisture production, and actually make dry eyes worse. Instead, consider preservative-free artificial tears. These are available in single-dose vials to keep them fresh without chemical preservatives. If you have moderate to severe dry eyes, drops with preservatives may irritate your eyes further.