10 top tips for dry gritty eyes

Here are the top tips on managing dry, gritty eyes. I have picked these up over the years from my patients and colleagues.

Tip 1 Compresses

Using a hot compress is part of the therapy I recommend for improving lid function. Many patients also report great relief from

gritty eyes by using cold compresses. They find them to be very soothing particularly just before bed or in the night.

Tip 2 Yawning

A number of patients deliberately yawn to simulate the tear reflex. This can be very useful at night. About 10 yawns and there are enough tears to drift off comfortably to sleep.

Tip 3 Breathing

Even patients with quite dry eyes can still produce large amount of reflex or emotional tears.

One client made the connection been yawning and heartfelt sobbing ( both of which produce tears). She noticed that she was holding her breath and did very shallow breathing a lot of the time. This led here to enrol in a Yoga breathing course. This has not cured the dry gritty eyes but it certainly has made the condition more manageable.

Tip 4 Eye Misting

Some clients use the empty little 4 inch spray bottles that can be purchased from a drug store. It is best not to use tap water but some clients really like distilled water and other use soft contact lens soaking solution such as Optifree or Complete.

They hold the bottle about 12 inched from the eye and do a quick spritz on each eye. One patient does it every 5 to 10 mins and gets great relief.

Tip 5 Humidifier

Many patients use a humidifier in the bedroom at night while they sleep. You might also like to install one at the office. If it is not practical to install a humidifier then try one of natures own – a pot plant on your desk.

Tip 6 Moisture chamber goggles

The best brand based on patient feedback is Tranquileyes from eyeeco.com The “goggles” consist of a soft rubber mask with foam liners and wettable foam inserts that seals in moisture overnight.

Applying Tranquileyes

They work by placing the goggles on the eyes and adjusting the wrap on the back of the head to create a good seal around the orbital area.

Tip 7 Goggle style sunglasses

These can be particularly useful for those that live in dry windy climates. One brand that seems to work well is the Panoptx range. They are also used for motorcycling and Harley Davidson carries a range.

Panoptx sunglasses are a cross between sunglasses and goggles. They have a patented vented seal that helps maintain moisture & defends against dry gritty eyes.

Even if you don’t wear glasses, a set of frames with non prescription lenses can help reduce airflow across your eyes and reduce evaporation. There are also side shields available that can be fitted (they are mostly used for eye protection) and they also reduce evaporation.

Tip 8 Office

Dry eye sufferers are advised to take it easy by not over doing it and giving the eyes a frequent break. Plenty of water will avoid dehydration and even keeping the eyes closed during phone calls can be a welcome relief from gritty eyes. Avoid diuretics like coffee which are dehydrating.

Tip 9 Avoid vents

When in an airplane or at the office dry eye patients should try to avoid air conditioning vents blowing across the eyes. This also applies to fans, ceiling fans, and open car windows.

Tip 10 Computer

When we concentrate we tend to blink less. This is bad news for people with dry gritty eyes. When on the computer, patients should make a special effort to blink more frequently.

The computer monitor should be positioned so that the eyes are looking down at it slightly. This will ensure the eyelids are in a slightly more closed position which reduces the area for evaporation. Looking up at a monitor would be the worst position for evaporation of tears.

Dry eyes patients tend to be more light sensitive. Ensure there are no undue reflections on the screen and that the screen is not overly bright.

Return from ten top tips to Home page

footer for gritty eyes page