DRY EYES: 10 Simple Habits To Get Rid of Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be more than just uncomfortable—they can lead to vision issues like corneal scratches, itchy eyes, blurry eyesight and more. Whether caused by seasonal changes, screen time, poor vision habits, autoimmune disease, contact lens wear or hormonal shifts, dry eyes affect millions.

The good news is that there are natural effective habits you can adopt to support eye comfort without relying solely on artificial tears when your dry eyes are caused by evaporation of the tearfilm issues, mostly related to poor vision habits, wrong use of screens and not understanding how to protect that lubricating tear film

Understanding Dry Eyes: A Quick Look at Eye Anatomy

The outermost surface of the eye is the cornea, which is protected by a three-layer tear film:

• Lipid layer (fatty layer) produced by the meibomian glands to prevent evaporation
• Aqueous layer (watery layer) produced by the lacrimal gland to hydrate the eye
• Mucin layer which allows the tear film to spread evenly

Dryness occurs when any part of this system is disrupted. This could be due to evaporation, blocked meibomian glands, lack of tear production in the lacrimal gland, poor drainage through the lacrimal sac, excessive use of artificial tears, hormone changes, or systemic inflammation. If you rely on eye drops, do not stop them abruptly, especially if prescribed—but know there are ways to support your eyes naturally.

Common (Non-Pathological) Causes of Dry Eyes

• Screen time & staring habits
• Contact lens use
• Indoor fans, air conditioning or heating
• Dry climate or wind exposure
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Hormonal shifts, like menopause
• Certain medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, etc.)

For systemic causes (for instance autoimmune conditions like Sjogren’s, RA, thyroid disorders), it’s important to work on your microbiome with a holistic or functional medicine practitioner.

10 Natural Habits to Relieve Dry Eyes

1. Blink more often especially at screens
We blink less when staring at screens. Blinking naturally spreads tears and stimulates tear production. Try 10 seconds of quick blinking every hour to teach your brain to crave blinking. You can also put stickers with a happy eye “blink” message on your computer to remember to blink more.

2. Close or palm your eyes before they feel dry 
Close your eyes whenever you can. Or, even better, practice palming (also known as cupping) cupping your hands over your closed eyes. This relaxes the nervous system and gently warms the eyes. Try it for 2–10 minutes a day. To get the most relaxation, support your elbows and listen to a guided meditation, lovely music or bring up happy memories.

3. Apply warm compresses 
Use a moist warm clean cloth or heatable eye mask to help liquify the oil in your Meibomian glands. This helps support the lipid layer and reduces evaporation. Use as often as needed.

4. Get sunlight through closed eyes 
Expose closed eyes to sunlight. While this can be done all day, morning and evening hours are the best if you live in a hot, dry climate. The warmth of the sun relaxes all the muscles in and around the eyes and stimulates natural tear production. Slowly moving your head side to side while sunning improves blood and lymph flow to the brain by losing the often tight neck muscles.

5. Improve dry eyes with castor oil eye packs 
Apply organic castor oil around your eyes (not inside) before going to bed and put an organic cotton eye mask on top. This keeps the eye area moisturized and shields from drying fans or AC. It also helps grow your eye brows and lashes. We love this organic castor oil eye mask. Use code CLAUDIA to get 10% off.

6. Use a humidifier if you live in a dry climate 
In dry climates or rooms running fans or air-conditioning, a humidifier adds needed moisture to the air and helps your eyes retain their tear film.

7. Hydrate with structured water 
Your eyes are 95% water. Stay hydrated with clean, filtered water. Structured or hydrogen-rich water helps improve absorption and supply the eyes with exclusion zone water.

8. Massage your acupressure eye points 
Massage around the eyes and along and under the brows to stimulate the lacrimal and Meibomian glands. Use light pressure around sensitive areas. You also softly stroke vertically on the eye lids and underneath the eyes.

9. Add Omega-3s to your diet 
Omega 3 fatty acids support the lipid layer. Include flax seeds, basil seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, or clean fish sources like salmon (watch for toxins).

10. Allow yourself to cry 
Emotions and tears are connected. Releasing grief or laughing until you cry helps naturally moisten the eyes. Watch a funny or sad movie, or simply cut some onions to bring on the tears.

Bonus Tip: Protect from the Elements

Wear wraparound glasses or goggles when cycling or in windy environments to prevent tear evaporation.

Dry eyes don’t have to be your norm. These simple, proven habits can be integrated into daily life with minimal effort. Even small changes like blinking more, using a humidifier, or adding Omega-3s can make a lasting difference.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward naturally clear vision, explore more resources at Naturally Clear Vision and check out our recent blog on gut health and vision.

Watch the full episode of 10 Simple Habits For DRY EYES