Dry eyes can be caused by a variety of medical and non-medical conditions. With proper care, caution, and some preventive measures, people can feel immediate relief. However, if someone has a chronic or severe case of dry eyes, these remedies cannot give long-term or permanent relief. They have to consult their physician or eye specialists before resorting to doctor-prescribed and/or natural treatments for dry eyes.

Self-medication and treatment have their benefits, but it is always advised to consult your doctor before using them. In case you use any product in your eye, ensure that the product is certified by the medical community and safe for use. Untested and uncertified products can cause more damage than help.

To ensure that you can naturally treat dry eyes in the safest way possible, we provide herein a few tips that will help you avoid any further damage:

1. External irritants
Avoid dust as much as possible. If you are outdoors and it is unavoidable, use eye gear with side shields. Stay indoors if it is windy and use appropriate eye gear if you participate in outdoor activities.

2. Drying eyes
Avoid being under ceiling fans and do not use hair dryers as these could aid in faster evaporation of tears.

3. Humidifier
At homes, or whenever you are indoors, and more so in winter, use a good quality humidifier to increase the moisture content. This is one of the best natural treatments for dry eyes.

4. Smoke
Stay away from any kind of smoke. Move away from cigarette smoke and if you are traveling, choose modes that offer separate non-smoking zones. Those who smoke must quit as early as possible.

5. Eye compresses
Use warm compresses for the eyes as is highly beneficial for the natural treatment for dry eyes. This can release oil from the tear ducts and help prevent dry eyes. After a warm compress, wash your eyes with baby shampoo and wash off all the shampoo to prevent irritation. To prepare a warm compress, heat a bowl of water to a temperature that is not too hot that your skin could get scaled. Cover the bowl with a washcloth. Squeeze the cloth so that excess water is drained, fold it and place it above your eyes. It is important that you use plain water. No chemicals or medication should be added to the water.

6. Contact lens use
If you use contact lenses from morning to night, try and reduce the duration and use glasses instead, to reduce the strain on the eye. Remember to never sleep with the contact lens on.

7. Blue screen devices
If you are a voracious reader or use a laptop, mobile, or PC for long hours, ensure that you take a break every 20 minutes. Remember to blink your eyes. You have to consciously practice this until it becomes second nature.

8. Eye massage
Blurry vision in the morning can lead to dry eyes, and one should gently massage their eyelids right after waking up.

9. Hydrate
Drink water first thing in the morning and increasing fluid intake, reducing coffee and tea and substituting with fresh fruit juices without sugar can increase the number of tears produced.

10. Protect the eyes
If you are driving, take a break periodically, blink now and then, and wear glasses that offer protection from sun and glare.

Following the tips mentioned above work very well in the natural treatment for dry eyes.