Many seniors suffer from dry eyes. Medications can cause dry eye, but allergies, or not sleeping enough, or many other things can too. But no matter what the cause is, dry eyes can be irritating, red, itchy, and painful. In the fall and winter, the dry eye can get worse. This is because of the cold air outside and the hot dry air inside. If your senior parent suffers from dry eyes or wants to avoid worse dry eyes, now that the weather is getting cooler, make sure they know about these tried and true home remedies to sooth dry eyes:
A Lavender Eye Pillow
One of the easiest ways to sooth dry eyes is to use a lavender eye pillow. Eye pillows should be made from soft natural fibers like cotton or linen for best results. But they are also sometimes made from silk.
These small pillows are filled with soothing flax seed and herbs. Soothe sore eyes or help stop headaches by putting them in the microwave and using heated.
The gentle weight of the flax seeds relieves pressure on the eyes. It also helps them stay closed, so they can naturally lubricate. Itching eyes can get cooling relief by using cold eye pillows kept in the freezer.
Your senior parent may want to have two. To use it cold, keep it in the freezer. Keep the other out to use warm.
A Humidifier
Humidifiers are essential for seniors who are aging at home. Cool mist humidifiers have many benefits for seniors, but one of those benefits is that the humid air will help soothe red dry eyes. It’s a good idea to at least have a humidifier in the bedroom at night, so seniors won’t be breathing in dry air as they try to sleep. But it’s better to keep one humidifier where your senior parent spends most of their time, and one in the bedroom.
A Hot Shower
In a situation where your senior loved one is having a lot of pain or irritation from their dry eye, a hot shower can be soothing. In-home care can help seniors take a hot shower, or at least sit in a steamy bathroom. If your senior parent doesn’t want to take a full shower, their in-home care provider can turn the shower on hot and let the bathroom fill up with warm steam. The warm moist air will help dry eyes be less red and irritated.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Another thing seniors can do to relieve dry eyes is take more Omega 3 fatty acids. Fish, some nuts, and other foods contain Omega 3 fatty acids. But seniors can also take fish oil supplements or Omega 3 fatty acid supplements. These have high doses of Omega 3 fatty acids. Fatty acids can help naturally heal dry eyes and make them less red and irritated.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring In-Home Care in Scottsdale, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources at (602) 443-4700.
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