Home remedies for dry eyes that are backed by evidence, the ones that aren’t, and what should never go into your eyes.
Dry eye happens when your eyes don’t make enough tears to stay wet, or when your tears don’t work correctly. It can cause a scratchy feeling, stinging or burning, red eyes, sensitivity to light and blurry vision, and it affects nearly 16.4 million Americans (1). Most people have mild disease (2).
Many home remedies for dry eyes can ease symptoms, especially lifestyle changes and over-the-counter artificial tears. Others, like putting kitchen oils in your eyes or relying on omega-3 supplements, have little or no evidence behind them (1, 5, 10).
Key Takeaways
- Artificial tears are the most common treatment for mild dry eye (1).
- Lifestyle changes help: limit screen time, avoid smoke and wind, use a humidifier and wear wraparound sunglasses (1).
- Only sterile products made for eyes should go in your eyes; castor oil eye drops helped blocked oil glands in a small trial (4).
- Omega-3 supplements were no better than placebo in a large NIH-funded trial (10).
- Correcting a vitamin A, D or B12 deficiency may help; extra vitamins are not proven if your levels are normal (7, 8, 9).
- See an eye doctor if symptoms persist; dry eye can be linked to autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren syndrome (1, 3).
Causes and Risk Factors
Tears are made by glands around the eyes. Dry eye happens when these glands don’t make enough tears, when tears dry up too fast, or when tears don’t work well enough (1). Meibomian gland dysfunction, where the oil glands in the eyelids don’t release enough oil, is extremely common in dry eye disease and contributes to inflammation (2).
You may be more likely to have dry eye if you (1):
- Are 50 or older, or female
- Wear contact lenses
- Don’t get enough vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids
- Have autoimmune conditions such as lupus or Sjögren syndrome
- Spend a lot of time looking at a computer, tablet or phone
About 1 in 10 people with significant aqueous-deficient dry eye has underlying Sjögren syndrome, which is often underdiagnosed (3).
Lifestyle Remedies That Help
The National Eye Institute recommends these changes to help your eyes feel better (1):
- Avoid smoke, wind and air conditioning
- Use a humidifier to keep indoor air from getting too dry
- Limit screen time and take breaks from staring at screens
- Wear wraparound sunglasses outside
- Drink plenty of water, about 8 to 10 glasses a day
- Get about 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night
If a medicine you take for another condition is causing dry eye, your doctor may suggest a different one (1).
What Belongs in Your Eye, and What Doesn’t
Save| Remedy | What the evidence shows | Safe in the eye? |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial tears (1, 2) | Most common treatment for mild dry eye | Yes |
| Castor oil eye drops made for eyes (4) | Improved symptoms in a small crossover trial of 20 people with blocked oil glands | Yes (ophthalmic products only) |
| Castor oil from a hair or skin bottle | Not tested and not sterile | No |
| Coconut oil (5) | Tested only in rabbits | No |
| Omega-3 supplements (10, 11) | No better than placebo in a large NIH-funded trial; one uncontrolled study found improvement | Taken by mouth |
| Vitamin D or B12 (8, 9) | Studied in people who were deficient | Taken by mouth or injection |
| Warm compress on closed lids (12, 13) | Used as a standard comparison treatment in trials for blocked oil glands | On the eyelid only |
| Chamomile, fennel or cucumber (14, 15, 16) | Plant reviews only; not tested for dry eye | No (closed lids only) |
Artificial tears
Over-the-counter artificial tears are the most common treatment for mild dry eye, and moisturizing gels and ointments may also help (1). For mild disease, management starts with removing triggers and using artificial tear supplements (2).
Castor oil eye drops
In a randomized, double-masked crossover trial of 20 people with blocked meibomian glands, low-concentration castor oil eye drops used six times a day for 2 weeks improved symptoms, tear film stability and tear evaporation compared with placebo, with no complications (4). This was a specially formulated eye drop, not castor oil sold for hair or skin. For more detail, see our article on castor oil for eyes.
Coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil has only been tested as rewetting drops in an open-label pilot study in rabbits (5). That is not enough to recommend putting food-grade oil in human eyes. Olive, fish and flaxseed oil have no evidence for use in the eye.
Vitamin A eye drops
In a trial of 150 people with dry eye, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) eye drops improved blurred vision, tear stability and tear production about as well as prescription cyclosporine drops, compared with artificial tears alone (6). These were formulated eye drops, not vitamin A oil from a capsule.
Nutrition: Omega-3s and Vitamins
Omega-3 supplements
Many clinicians recommend omega-3 supplements for dry eye, but a large NIH-funded trial did not support them. In the DREAM study, 535 people with moderate-to-severe dry eye took 3,000 mg a day of fish-derived omega-3s or an olive oil placebo for 12 months. Symptoms improved similarly in both groups, and there were no differences in tear or eye surface measures (10).
An earlier open-label study without a control group found that a commercial omega-3 and antioxidant supplement improved dry eye symptoms in 1,255 glaucoma patients using eye drops, but the authors said the results needed confirmation in a randomized trial (11). Eating oily fish is part of a balanced diet, but supplements are unlikely to treat dry eye.
Vitamins A, D and B12
Vitamin A deficiency can affect the eyes. In one case, an 88-year-old woman with an unusual diet developed severe vitamin A deficiency that caused “itchy eyes,” which improved with supplementation (7). Vitamin A is found in carrots, broccoli and liver (that distinction is set out here.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye”>1).
In 105 people with dry eye that did not respond to usual treatment and who were vitamin D deficient, a vitamin D injection improved symptoms and tear measures; the study had no control group (8). In people with severe dry eye and eye pain, those with vitamin B12 deficiency who received B12 injections plus eye treatment improved, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (9). If you have ongoing symptoms, ask your doctor whether testing for deficiencies makes sense.
Warm Compresses and Herbal Compresses
SaveA warm compress on closed eyelids is widely used for meibomian gland dysfunction and serves as a standard treatment arm or comparison in clinical trials of newer therapies (12, 13). Use a clean cloth soaked in warm (not hot) water, and keep your eyes closed.
Chamomile and fennel are sometimes used for compresses because of their traditional anti-inflammatory uses (14, 15), and cucumber slices are a popular soothing option (16). None has been tested as a treatment for dry eye, so any relief is likely from the temperature and resting your eyes. If you try a tea compress, strain it well, let it cool, apply it only to closed lids and make it fresh each time. Chamomile belongs to the daisy family (14), so skip it if you are allergic to related plants.
When to See a Doctor
Tell your doctor if dry eye is getting in the way of everyday activities (1). More serious dry eye can be treated with prescription eye drops such as cyclosporine or lifitegrast, tear duct plugs to keep tears on the eye, or, rarely, eyelid surgery. If severe dry eye isn’t treated, it can sometimes damage the cornea (1). Sjögren syndrome can also cause serious eye complications beyond dryness, so persistent symptoms deserve an eye exam (3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best home remedy for dry eyes?
For mild dry eye, over-the-counter artificial tears are the most common treatment. Lifestyle changes also help: take breaks from screens, avoid smoke, wind and air conditioning, use a humidifier, wear wraparound sunglasses outside, drink plenty of water and get enough sleep.
Do omega-3 supplements help dry eyes?
Probably not much. In a large NIH-funded trial of 535 people with moderate-to-severe dry eye, 3,000 mg a day of fish oil omega-3s for a year worked no better than an olive oil placebo. Eating oily fish is still healthy, but supplements should not be relied on to treat dry eye.
Can I put castor oil or coconut oil in my eyes?
Only use products made for eyes. A castor oil eye drop formulated for eyes helped people with blocked oil glands in a small trial, but castor oil sold for hair or skin is not sterile. Coconut oil has only been tested as eye drops in rabbits.
Can dry eyes cause blurry vision?
Yes. Dry eye can cause blurry vision, along with a scratchy feeling, stinging or burning, red eyes and sensitivity to light. If severe dry eye isn’t treated, it can sometimes damage the cornea.
When should I see a doctor for dry eyes?
See an eye doctor if symptoms get in the way of everyday activities or don’t improve with artificial tears. Prescription eye drops, tear duct plugs and other treatments are available, and dry eye can be linked to autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren syndrome.
The Bottom Line
The home remedies for dry eyes with the best support are simple: artificial tears, taking breaks from screens, avoiding smoke and wind, using a humidifier, wearing wraparound sunglasses, and warm compresses on closed eyelids for blocked oil glands. Only sterile products made for eyes should go in your eyes, and omega-3 supplements were no better than placebo in a large trial. If symptoms persist or affect daily life, see an eye doctor, since prescription treatments are available and dry eye can signal conditions like Sjögren syndrome.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before trying new remedies, especially anything applied directly to the eyes.
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