Dry Eyes
Natural Remedies

Best Natural Remedies for Dry Eyes: Relief & Eye Health Tips

| Modified on Feb 18, 2025
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Kayle (San Diego) on 11/26/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I saw 7 doctors for dry, inflamed, red, itchy eyes. Total waste of $ and time as usual. My dry eyes were really bad at night I had to wake up several times a night and use drops. I read about oil pulling and that you should do it longer for severe cases. I considered my case severe.

I mixed 1 big teaspoon of organic virgin coconut oil and 3 drops of oregano oil together. I oil pulled for 45 minutes a night and sometime I would do it twice a day. I also started alkalizing twice a day (squeezed lemon juice, baking soda in glass of water).

Oil pulling naturally CURED my red, severe dry itchy eyes, and my brain fog is gone as well something seven doctor could not cure!


Baking Soda
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 06/18/2013
★★★★★

Had dry eyes for years and in my case found it was acid related. Tried lots of remedies but the best is to dissolve a third teaspoon baking soda into a half cup of purified water. For safety sake, boil the water and let cool. Dab with clean cloth onto eyelids; repeat a minute later. I repeat: Apply to eye LIDS. Keep eyes closed until dry. The alkaline water will counter the acidic condition on eye surface.

I drink then the remainder of the baking soda water to offset my acidic system.

If I drink coffee, the dry eye problem is worse. Eating acidic foods also worsens the dry eye.

The point is: my dry eye condition was being caused by an acidic system. I had been diagnosed by an opthomologist with "dry eye" and the solution was to counter the acid in the body which I suppose had caused the dryness.

Castor Oil
Posted by Vaxine (Bainbridge, Ny) on 03/12/2022
★★★★★

I have dry eyes. Lately my eyes were worse and with cold weather didn't help. Went to the eye Dr. due to the furnaces running more because of really cold weather. I tried cold pressed castor oil without hexane. One drop in each eye at night. Couldn't believe it! Two days later and ever since unbelievable great results. Will always use it. Hope this can help someone. else.


Aloe
Posted by Maureen (Illinois) on 06/16/2018 1 posts
★★★★★

Thank you so much, Dave, for posting this remedy, which a friend of mine found here and told me about. I take thyroid medication which makes aging dry eyes even drier. I was ready to give up wearing contact lenses and switch to glasses because after being awake for a few hours, my eyes burned badly and drops weren't helping. The first time I tried it, I thought my eyes were less dry but I wasn't sure. I applied it to my lids again after removing my contact lenses before bed. Day 2, it wasn't until I was going through my nightly ritual of removing my contact lenses that I realized I'd gone the whole day without any problems. They didn't burn and weren't uncomfortable at all.

I don't know how or why this works, but it does. If people have tried it and it's not working, wait a few days, or try applying it to your lids, two or three times during the day. It may be different for different people and aloe vera gel doesn't hurt anything.

I put a small drop (smaller than a pea) on my little finger and dab the other little finger into it to apply to both eyelids. I just keep rubbing it in until it feels like it's been absorbed. It will remain tacky initially, but will eventually dry.

For those asking about brands, I've used both drugstore generic brand and Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel that I picked up from Walmart. Both work the same.


Castor Oil
Posted by Joan (New York City) on 10/22/2015
★★★★★

I am 74 years old. I was diagnosed with blepharitis and dry eyes many years ago. Over the years I was noncompliant and never washed my lids with baby shampoo or used warm compresses. I rarely used natural tears. Since (a bad allergy season) June of this year my eyes worsened drmatically. They have been swollen, very bloodshot, with constant tearing..etc.

After 4 visits to the eyes doctors, and they prescribing Zylet, Restasis, Lastacaft, and too many other medications to list here, nothing brought me relief. I have been in touch with Dr. Yang of TheraLife Eye in California. She advised to stop using baby shampoo, that it is a detergent and more irritating to the eyes. I have also been taking Sea Buckthorn caps, Omega 3, Genteal Gel, and natural tears. I stopped washing my lids with baby shampoo.

Last evening, I dabbed cold press castor oil around my eyes. When I woke this morning the swelling and irritation was improved 75%. I will continue this, as it has brought me relief.

Meibomian Gland Expression
Posted by Kwee Ping (Turkey ) on 08/16/2020 1 posts
★★★★★

I have been experiencing dry eyes for more than 6 months and no matter how many times I drip eye drops into my eyes a day, they just feel dry and uncomfortable because these eye drops just get evaporated right away. I came to earthclinic to find a solution and read from one reader who wrote about this being a common problem for women in their menopausal age (that's me) and about the function of the Meibomian gland.

I then did looked up on the internet about this gland and chance upon a website whereby a Dr Mckellar has produced a short video to show patients how to express their own Meibomian gland. I tried it right away, true and behold, I found immediate release. Please try it for yourselves and I hope it will work for you like it has worked for me. Very simple to do, too!

Here is the link

https://drmalcolmmckellar.co.nz/for-patients/treatments/meibomian-gland-disease/

Maqui Berry Extract
Posted by Viola (Sparks, Nv) on 10/06/2020
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I don't see anyone talking about this yet.

After 20 years of post-lasik dry eyes and trying many remedies, none of which provided satisfactory results and most of which were a real nuisance, I tried Maqui berry extract and experienced same day and ongoing relief with just one dose in the morning.

The second day I happened to yawn and actually produced tears.

This is nothing less than miraculous for me. I highly recommend you check it out.

Castor Oil
Posted by Beth (Palmyra, Nj) on 09/15/2020
★★★★★

I was experiencing stinging eye pain and also flashes of jolting pain in my temples and other head areas. I was diagnosed with dry eye and told to purchase a Pharma product for eye lubrication. Instead I used a very small drop of organic unrefined castor oil in each eye inside the bottom lid at night and again in the morning. All symptoms disappeared after the first dose. I continue to use this routine with 100% success.


Baking Soda
Posted by Rob (Cape Hatteraas, NC) on 03/20/2022
★★★★★

I have redness in the corner of my left eye. I have had it over a year. My eye also produces and lot of sand and grit. My left eye always feels tired even after just waking up I read about adding 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda to an 4 ounce glass of water and splashing it in my eye and drinking it. After doing this, almost immediately, my eye felt better! Can't recommend it enough:)

Castor Oil
Posted by Mary (Utica, New York) on 12/28/2020
★★★★★

I have severe dry eyes. The reason is Meiboamoan Glands are not only NOT working, many are atrophied. Dead! So believe me when I say I have tried everything.

One thing has helped tremendously. Castor oil, at night. My condition is very bad. Here's what I do:

  • First I put castor oil on my lids and around the eye area.
  • Then I put a generous amount in my eyes.
  • I top this treatment with a plastic wrap (mask) on top of my eyes and upper face.

So much better, cheaper and comfortable than moisture googles. The plastic wrap stays on all night. Most of the castor oil is absorbed in the skin. In the morning, I use the hot washcloth method on my eyes and use my xiidra drops.

If it hurts bad enough you will try this, and will be happy you did! I promise.

Black Seed Oil
Posted by Tammy (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 02/18/2016
★★★★★

Black Seed Oil in just a few days relieved my terribly dry eyes. They were so bad that I had to use ointment in them at night, sometimes if I didn't, when I would wake up they would be so painful and feel like they were ripping. I had an antibiotic ointment by the side of my bed, and I would put over the counter ointment in my eyes regularly. I was amazed that in just a few days, taking a tiny dosage (1/4 teaspoon) of black seed oil, I had no trouble with dry eyes at all when I woke up in the morning! I do not know if I have Sjogren's, but I do have some of the symptoms, I just haven't been tested yet.


Aloe Vera, Avoid Coffee
Posted by Terry (Connecticut) on 04/23/2014
★★★★★

I had such horrible dry eyes. My vision was so blurred and I was getting no help from drops or ointments. When I went for an eye exam they had to reapply the drops a few times because they were so dry and itchy. I read your suggestion to use aloe Vera gel on the lids......I cannot believe how wonderful my eyes feel. Thank you.


Castor Oil
Posted by Bob A (Mcdonough, Georgia, Usa) on 09/25/2012
★★★★★

[YEA] I was unable to drive or even walk due to "dry eye" syndrome caused by a "heavy pollen season"' here in Georgia, USA. I was told to treat it with "gel" eye drops every 2 hours, costing $10 for a tiny bottle. After 7 weeks and NO improvement in my sight, my brother suggested I try a home remedy.

I tried 2 drops of cold pressed, cold processed castor oil every night in an 8-oz bottle. The thick, oozy liquid felt like molasses, but the next day I received a pleasant surprise: I could see better than I had in days! Every day improved, until by the 10th day, my eyes were healed- and the "dry eye" never returned! I cancelled my eye doctor visits and never went back. Never once did I notice the slightest side effect.

The 8-oz bottle of good castor oil costs only $7, with enough product to treat 1000 eyes! Just have a little faith in Earth Clinic. I do!

Potassium
Posted by HisJewel (New York) on 12/03/2022
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Potassium supplementation for Dry Eyes

If you have had to deal with any of the COVD colds these past few years check with the doctor to find out if your potassium level is up to par. Besides Vitamin C and Melatonin, Potassium was one of the earlier supplements that helped people recover from COVD. From what I understood that condition used up or drained the body's potassium.

I am adding this thought on potassium because lately I have been trying keep up with the daily recommendation for Potassium. Articles say 3,500–4,700 mg of potassium daily and that it is safer when taken in foods. This really is not hard if you love banana, spinach, prunes etc. . However, knowing that I do not have enough potassium rich foods on hand, I take potassium supplements. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning, my eyes feel much more normal. In fact, sometimes I forget it has been sticking.

I could not find much information to verify this, but what I did come up with is in this post. I found a post from PubMed that incudes what tears are made of in this statement"

"Methods: The model is based on mass balances of water and solutes such as glucose, sodium, potassium, and chloride."

Check it out the PubMed Article:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17453939/

Here is an article about potassium Deficiency and dry eyes:

https://healthfully.com/347415-potassium-deficiency-and-dry-eyes.html

I have always been concerned about seniors, and now that I am one, I see and feel what they are saying.

HisJewel


Baking Soda
Posted by Dave (Fountain Inn, Sc) on 01/10/2017
★★★★★

I've found that my burning eyes could be helped by applying a solution of Baking Soda in water to eyelids and get instant relief. And a while back my sister reminded me that my grandmother (who lived to 103) would start her day off with Baking soda in water and wash her eyes out with the solution...not just applying to eyelids. I've been doing that for a few weeks now and find my eyes don't burn nearly as much, even when I've had too much acid foods during the day (coffee, Tex-mex).


Aloe Vera, Avoid Coffee
Posted by Taylor Young (Tempe, Az) on 12/21/2017
★★★★★

For people having trouble with coffee and it's acidity causing more problems with dry eyes, you should try adding baking soda to the coffee. I add 1/8th teaspoon to a big cup. I have checked it with ph testing paper as well as I have a ph testing meter.



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