Dry eye is a very common problem that affects people throughout the world and finding relief can also be tough. Though there are various dry eye treatments available in the market, a cold or warm compress can provide significant relief. But which one is better cold compress or a warm one?
Causes of the Dry Eye
There are various factors of drying eyes and here are some of the causes
- People spending long hours in front of the screen, reading or any other activities that can produce strain on their eyes can develop dry eyes.
- Due to aging, natural tears get dried risking the health of the eye
- Medical conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome can raise the risk of the dry eye
- Medicines like the anti-depressants can decrease the tear production
As soon as you suspect the conditions of dry eye, you should consult an eye doctor.
How to Get Relief from Dry Eye?
When you are involved in additional reading, or sitting long hours of screen time, there are several homely tips that can help you to get instant relief.
- Adjust Your Screen- When you spend long hours in front of the screen, you should adjust it so that it does not remain directly in front of your face.For decreasing eye strain, you can also use an anti-glare screen.
- Blink often- When you blink often, your tears get evenly distributed throughout your eyes. The symptoms of dry eye can thus be decreased.
- Use Sunglasses- Sunglasses help in protecting from Sun and wind decreasing the symptoms of dry eye.
- Apply Humidifier- When the air inside your room is dry, you can be affected by the dry eye symptoms
Warm Compresses for Relief of Dry Eye
When you want an effective and simple treatment for dry eye, warm compresses can be used. The blood flow to the eyes can be increased through tear production with the heat compress. The eyes can therefore get a soothing feeling while decreasing inflammation and discomfort. If there is any debris accumulated in the eyelashes, they can be removed through warm compresses. A clean cloth can be soaked in the warm water and the wet cloth should be placed on the eyes for 5 to 10 minutes. Warm compression should not be used more than twice a day. For avoiding sensitive skin and the burning sensation around the eyes, you can use a warm water cloth.
Cold Compress
Cold compresses are found in retail pharmacy stores. They can be used three times a day for relieving redness and pain.
Artificial Tears
For dry eye treatment, artificial tears are used commonly. Many over-the-counter solutions are used for producing natural tears. They can help in removing foreign irritants and particles for causing dry eye symptoms.
Conclusion
Though both warm and cold compresses can be used for treating dry eye symptoms, warm compresses can be more effective. When there are pain and redness, cold compresses can also be used. For obtaining relief from dry eyes, you should always blink often while doing an eye-straining job to produce natural tears.