Chronic dry eyes are a common condition that happens when the patient produces inadequate tears, and as a result, isn’t able to hydrate the eyes. Chronic dry eyes can be very uncomfortable. Some of the symptoms of chronic dry eye include stinging, mucus in the eye, redness, blurred vision, and feeling like a foreign substance is in the eye. However, there are solutions to help ease the problem.

Here are the top natural treatments to help soothe dry eyes:

1. Omega-3 oils
It is known that Omega-3 oils improve the function of the gland that produces natural tears. Start by adding foods that include Omega-3 oils to your diet. These include fatty fish(like Salmon), Chia seeds, Flax Seeds, and walnuts. If those don’t appeal to you, you can always get fish oil supplements and other types of supplements with Omega-3 to boost your tear glands.

2. Wash your eyelids and lashes
When you wash your face, you probably don’t think about eyelids and lashes. But, if you have dry eyes, you should clean them. Use warm water and baby shampoo or eyelid cleaner to clean both the upper and lower eyelids. Particularly focus on areas where makeup and facial cleansers have been. This is because they can get into the tear film and cause irritation. When you are done, use a mask, or a warm, damp compress to bring moisture back to your eyes.

3. Drink more water
It has long been recommended to drink lots of water to help with our health. This particularly helps when it comes to our eyes. When we drink water, it helps to moisten the eyes which allows them to produce tears, clean out debris, and see without straining. Doctors recommend around 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.

4. Blink more often
People are starting to blink less often than before, due to being on their smartphones and computers all day. However, blinking is actually good for you. It helps spread fresh tears over your eyes to help moisten them. So, try to blink as often as you can. However, don’t use forceful blinks. Make them look more natural and complete.

5. Take eye breaks
Being on a computer or in front of a screen all the time can take a toll on our eyes. It can cause them to be more irritable and dry. That is why it is important to take eye breaks often. It is recommended that every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. That should give your eyes less strain and keep the blue light for drying them out. Also take a few minutes during the day to just close your eyes and rest them as well.