Most people with dry eyes reach for the nearest bottle of eye drops. Some get temporary relief. Many do not. If your eyes feel scratchy, tired, or watery by the end of the day, the solution is often not a drop — it is a habit.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya discusses the natural remedies for dry eyes that actually work: what you can do at home, what to avoid, and when to see a doctor.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya is a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator with over 25 years of experience. She also trained in the cornea services of AIIMS, New Delhi, with a special focus on diseases of the ocular surface, including dry eyes. Her approach focuses on identifying risk before damage is irreversible, simplifying treatment decisions, and protecting vision long-term.
What Are Dry Eyes?
Your tear glands produce a thin film that lubricates, protects, and nourishes your eyes. When this film is insufficient — either in quantity or quality — your eyes become uncomfortable. This is dry eye syndrome. For a detailed overview, visit the dry eye condition page.
Symptoms of Dry Eye
Dry eye symptoms vary by person and time of day. Common ones include scratchy or gritty eyes, a foreign body sensation, redness, mucus discharge, light sensitivity, tired eyes, and blurred vision. Paradoxically, watery eyes can also signal dry eye — the tear film is unstable, and the eye overcompensates with reflex tearing.
Common Causes of Dry Eye
Dry eye is more common with increasing age, in women, and in people with autoimmune conditions. Other causes include prolonged screen use, air conditioning, contact lens wear, allergies, and certain medications. Patients on long-term glaucoma eye drops are especially prone — the preservatives in many glaucoma medications damage the tear film over time.
Natural Remedies for Dry Eyes
Blink More Deliberately
Blinking redistributes the tear film. During screen use, your blink rate drops to roughly one-third of normal. Make a conscious effort to blink fully, and follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away. This reduces eye fatigue and tear evaporation.
Change Your Environment
Dry air, smoke, dust, and wind all worsen dry eye. Use a humidifier indoors, especially in air-conditioned rooms. Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors. On high-pollution days, stay indoors when possible. Avoid smoking — it damages the ocular surface directly.
Add Omega-3 to Your Diet
Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and improve the quality of the oily layer of the tear film. Good dietary sources include flaxseed and flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, and oily fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, and mackerel. An over-the-counter supplement is an alternative — ask your doctor for the right dose. For more on eye-specific nutrition, see eye-specific nutrients.
Do Warm Lid Compresses
Warm compresses melt the thickened oil in the eyelid glands (meibomian glands), improving tear film quality. Use a clean cloth soaked in warm (not hot) water. Apply gently to closed eyelids for five minutes. Follow with gentle lid cleaning using diluted baby shampoo or a commercially available eyelid wipe. Chamomile teabags and tea-tree oil wipes are popular online suggestions — neither has proven superior to a simple warm compress and lid hygiene.
Use Preservative-Free Artificial Tears
Over-the-counter lubricating eye drops (artificial tears) are safe and effective for symptom relief. Always choose preservative-free formulations. Preservatives in regular drops can irritate the ocular surface with frequent use.
A Warning About Steroid Eye Drops
This section is important if you are in India.
Steroid eye drops provide fast, cheap relief. As a result, pharmacists across India dispense them without a prescription. This is one of the most harmful practices in eye care.
Steroid eye drops used without supervision can cause serious infections, raise eye pressure, and trigger glaucoma — often with no symptoms until damage is done.
Before using any eye drop, check the ingredients on the back of the bottle. If you see any of the following, do not use it without a doctor’s prescription:
Dexamethasone, Betamethasone, Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Loteprednol, Fluorometholone.
If you have been using steroid drops regularly, get your eye pressure checked promptly. Book an appointment or call +91 88826 38735.
Special Note: Manuka Honey and Dry Eye
Manuka honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that have attracted interest as a dry eye remedy. Unlike regular table honey, medical-grade Manuka honey is produced from the Leptospermum scoparium plant in New Zealand and Australia, and is available in specially formulated eye drops and gels designed for ocular use.
Standard Manuka honey from a jar is not sterile and must never be applied to the eye. If you are considering a Manuka-based eye product, look for a purpose-made ophthalmic formulation and discuss it with your doctor before use.
When to See a Doctor for Dry Eyes
Home remedies help mild to moderate dry eye. See your doctor promptly if you experience any of the following:
My eyes are red and swollen — is that just dry eye?
Redness beyond mild irritation, or pain beyond a mild scratch, needs medical assessment. It may indicate infection or inflammation.
I have yellow or green discharge — should I be worried?
Yes. Coloured discharge suggests an infection. See your doctor the same day.
My vision is blurring — is that from dry eye?
Blurred or fluctuating vision needs examination. It may be dry eye, but it may also indicate something else.
I have joint pain and a dry mouth as well as dry eyes.
This combination suggests a systemic autoimmune condition such as Sjogren’s syndrome. Your doctor needs to know.
I can see a white spot on my eye.
This requires urgent attention. A white corneal spot can indicate a serious infection.
One of my eyelids is drooping or turning inward.
Lid abnormalities affect the tear film and ocular surface. Inability to close the eye fully may indicate facial nerve palsy and needs urgent review.
Read the research articles
This article was written by Dr Shibal Bhartiya, fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator, Clinical Director at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, known for ethical, patient-centred glaucoma care and independent glaucoma second opinions. This article was edited in April 2026.
She has published peer-reviewed research on glaucoma management, examining how treatment decisions should balance medical evidence, patient preferences, and long-term vision outcomes.
As Editor-in-Chief of Clinical and Experimental Vision and Eye Research and Executive Editor of the Journal of Current Glaucoma Practice (Pubmed Indexed, official journal of the International Society of Glaucoma Surgery), Dr Shibal Bhartiya brings editorial and research depth to every clinical decision. Her 200+ publications, including 90+ PubMed-indexed publications and 28 edited textbooks span glaucoma biology, surgical outcomes, health equity, and emerging diagnostics.
Her work can be accessed on Pubmed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and ORCID.
Dr Shibal Bhartiya
Glaucoma • Second Opinion • Advanced Care
www.drshibalbhartiya.com
+91 88826 38735
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