Revive Your Burning, Itchy Eyes
If you've been spending a lot of time staring at screens, you might experience eye strain, characterized by tired, burning, and itchy eyes. Even with temporary relief from eye drops, the symptoms often return. Why does this happen?
The Cleveland Clinic discusses the issue this way:
Dry eye is a condition that affects your tear film, the three layers of tears that cover and protect the surface of your eyes. You need a smooth and stable tear film to help you see clearly and comfortably. Disruptions to your tear film can cause uncomfortable symptoms like burning, itching, watering or blurred vision.
The causes can vary widely. Common culprits include contact lenses, allergies, medications, and certain eye conditions. However, I believe the biggest cause of this condition today is the overuse of screen time.
Staring at a computer can significantly impact eye health due to blinking less frequently, improper screen positioning, eye strain, and artificial lighting. To alleviate these issues, it's beneficial to take regular breaks with the 20-20-20 rule, maintain an appropriate screen position, and consciously blink more frequently.
But what happens if the problem doesn’t go away?
A Natural Option
The Substack: A Theory of Cure says this:
“The American Academy of Ophthalmology writes about “The Itchy Eye: Diagnosis, Management of Ocular Pruritis” identifies a number of medical conditions and treatments, and the last one on the list is “meibomian gland dysfunction” and advises “Warm compresses and twice-daily eyelid scrubs can help open inspissated meibomian glands. A clean washcloth dipped into baby shampoo diluted with water is commonly used for eyelid massage and scrubbing.”
The author, Tracy Kolenchuk, proceeds to give the following solution, which I used for this article:
Wet a facecloth with hot water
Press the hot facecloth onto your closed eyes for about two minutes.
Do this twice a day for about two weeks.
No drugs. No drops. No surgery. Just a simple exercise.
It certainly seemed like an intriguing approach, and I tried this myself with success. It takes a few weeks, but once the problem goes away, you just need to do the exercise only occasionally to stay relieved.
How Does It Work?
Here I had to dig a little deeper into the matter. A warm to semi-hot rag on the eyes can help by promoting the production of natural oils in the eyelids, which can improve tear quality and keep the eyes moist. The warmth also helps to unclog any blocked glands in the eyelids, allowing for better secretion of these oils. Additionally, the heat can increase blood circulation to the area, providing relief from irritation and discomfort associated with dry eyes.
The use of a warm compress for dry eyes is supported by research and clinical practice. Here's a summary of the evidence:
1. Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD): Many cases of dry eyes are related to dysfunction of the meibomian glands, which are responsible for secreting oils that prevent tear evaporation. Warm compresses help by melting the oils in the glands, improving their flow and reducing blockages.
2. Increased Tear Stability: Studies have shown that warm compresses can improve the stability of the tear film by enhancing the lipid layer, thus reducing tear evaporation and improving overall eye comfort.
3. Improved Circulation and Relief from Inflammation: The heat from a warm compress can increase blood circulation around the eyes and help reduce inflammation, providing relief from symptoms like redness and irritation.
Ophthalmologists and optometrists often recommend warm compresses as part of the treatment plan for dry eyes, indicating their acceptance in clinical settings.
Conclusion
I know it’s impractical to say just stop looking at a screen. Many people do it for a living, so this natural solution might fit the bill. Besides the warm compresses, you can also use a natural eye drop from A.Vogel that has about the best ingredients I could find.
It’s preservative and phosphate-free, using Hyaluronic Acid & Euphrasia (Eyebright). Information on the product is here: A. Vogel Eye Drops.
Hopefully, I was able to help you in a small way if you suffer from this issue. Try these natural methods and see if they work for you as well.
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Whether or not it is a cure depends on the definition of cure used in the case. Medically, there is no definition of "dry eyes cured" so I use my own. The case of illness is cured when the present cause has been successfully addressed, such that signs and symptoms fade and disappear and no more medicines are required.
Hey! Nice article and thanks for the recognition. Of course - as the creator of "A New Theory of Cure" (there is no "old" theory of cure) I would have used the title "Cure your burning, itchy eyes" - but I recognize that using the forbidden "cure" word can be a risky step for anyone to take.
Two thoughts come to mind immediately.
First: My optometrist said something like "“The problem could be that tears in your tear ducts are not flowing smoothly. So your eyes are dry and irritated – the right eye a bit more than the left. You can try this and see if it helps.” - tear ducts, not just glands. I also believe that rubbing the duct area helps.
Second: assuming that the ducts, or the glands are the problem, there is some risk with this technique - as there is with every cure - that problem is different and the curative process will make things worse, not better. This risk is often highlighted in medical references, perhaps mores so because the treatment is not "a medicine." For example, assuming something is clogging the ducts, a warm compress might release the clog, but it might also move it along and create a larger blockage, or perhaps damage the ducts in some other way. No cure is perfect. Life is a risk.
I hadn't really thought about tear stability and evaporation - although that's another field for discussion, nor about the fact that the heated massage can also lessen inflammation. Good stuff.
to your health, tracy
ps. I'm sure this is not just about looking at the screen too long. Dry eyes - as we age, is a common problem. Our fluid circulation slows and exercise and massage an often provide benefits, even cures.