Your eyes need constant lubrication, whether from your lacrimal gland or your meibomian gland, to function properly. There are often no significant issues with eyes maintaining their moisture, but there can be circumstances that limit lubrication. A common condition called dry eyes can occur when the eyes don’t receive enough wetness from tears.

Dry eyes can be a frustrating condition that causes discomfort and inflammation and can negatively impact your overall vision. Be aware of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for dry eyes, as well as common symptoms, and steps to take to avoid dry eyes in the future.

What Are the Causes?

As the name suggests, dry eyes is a condition in which your eyes aren’t receiving the necessary lubrication to keep them moist, which then leads to dryness and inflammation. There can be several causes for dry eyes, and one of the most common reasons is simply age. As people grow older, their tear ducts are less effective at generating moisture. This decrease in naturally generated moisture can quickly lead to a case of dry eyes.

Certain illnesses can also result in dry eyes, such as diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. There is no single reason why these illnesses decrease tear production, as different conditions affect the body in different ways. Regardless, each can lead to the development of dry eyes.

Outside of bodily reasons, dry eyes can also occur when individuals are in a dry environment where there is simply not enough moisture in the air. These dry environments, whether indoors or outdoors, can suck the moisture from your eyes, even if your tear production is adequate.

And lastly, another significant cause of dry eyes is a decrease in blinking. While the act of blinking is automatic, people sometimes lower the frequency of their blinks when reading a book or watching TV. The reason a lack of blinking leads to dry eyes is due to the lowered ability to spread your tears. Your lacrimal glands create tears, but your eyelids need to spread them. Therefore, the less you blink, the harder it is to spread the moisture.

What Are the Symptoms?

Beyond a feeling of dryness, having dry eyes may feel as though you’re blinking with sandpaper. There’s a certain grittiness to your blinks that can be painful. People with dry eyes may also experience a stinging sensation, whether they blink or not.

In addition to pain and discomfort, dry eyes can also blur your vision, making it more difficult to see. This can also come with a feeling of eye strain due to the stress your eyes are under.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Dry Eyes?

In the short term, dry eye symptoms don’t pose a significant risk to overall health, but left untreated, dry eyes can develop into a more serious condition. The most immediate long-term risk is an increased risk of eye infection due to a lack of moisture on your eye’s surface. The tears act as a shield that prevents infection. Without that shield, your eyes can become vulnerable to harmful bacteria.

Physical damage is another risk of untreated dry eyes. That scratchy, rough feeling when you blink is the eyelid literally scratching your eyeball. If the eyeball sustains enough damage from this scratching, it can cause issues on the corneal surface, resulting in ulcers and a loss of vision.

Steps You Can Take to Avoid Dry Eyes

When dealing with dry eyes, adding and maintaining moisture is key. The first thing you can do is use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air. This added moisture will help lubricate your eyes.

Another way to deal with dry eyes is to be aware of your blinking when reading books, watching television, or looking at computer screens. As mentioned before, people tend to subconsciously decrease their blinking when engaged in these activities, so always make it a point to maintain normal blinking patterns. If you need to, set alarms as reminders to give your eyes a rest; take a step back from your book or screen and take a few minutes to relax your eyes.

Sometimes dry eyes are unavoidable, as a decrease in tear production can be the result of aging or a medical condition. If you do experience consistent dry eyes, make sure to invest in eye drops to maintain moisture.

How Omega-3 Fatty Acids Aid Dry Eyes

Omega-3 fatty acids help alleviate a specific cause of dry eyes, as there can be more than one source for a person to suffer from the condition. As mentioned, the body can generate moisture for your eyes from the lacrimal glands and the meibomian glands.

The lacrimal glands are located above the eyes, and they generate tears, but the meibomian glands are in the eyelids, and they create oils that also help lubricate the eyes. These two glands work in tandem to help maintain eye moisture and prevent dry eyes.

Omega-3 eye supplements work best when a person suffers from meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) because the oils in the supplement help facilitate oil production in the glands.

If your eyes are dry due to a lack of moisture coming from the lacrimal glands, omega-3 may not be as effective as other treatments and supplements. Consult with your personal doctor to identify the specific cause of your dry eyes and get the best treatment for your situation.

Food Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

To introduce omega-3 fatty acids into your diet, you can opt for either supplemental pills or certain food choices. As for what foods contain the omega-3 fatty acids, there are several options to consider:

• Mackerel
• Oysters
• Salmon
• Walnuts

Consider foods that best fit with your current diet and personal taste. For example, if you often eat oatmeal for breakfast, consider adding in a handful of walnuts and a spoonful of flaxseeds. If you like to grill, try grilling some fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon or mackerel. There’s no shortage of foods with omega-3 fatty acids, so experiment and see what works best for you.

Don’t Wait To Act on Your Dry Eyes

While dry eyes may seem like a low-priority issue to resolve, the long-lasting effects of dry eyes can be significant. Take a case of dry eyes seriously and take the necessary steps to remedy the situation as fast as possible. Knowing the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for dry eyes, as well as the other general treatments, will allow you to take care of your eyes and facilitate good eye health for the future.