Dry eye syndrome is classified as a disease by the American Journal of Ophthalmology. The same journal estimates that 16 million adults suffer from dry eye syndrome. It is estimated that the number will rise to 29 million by 2022. The good news is that dry eyes are treatable depending on the cause, which may range from environmental factors (i.e., weather), allergies, underlying medication conditions (i.e., diabetes or thyroid disorders), medications (i.e., birth control pills or antihistamines), or simply the inability to produce enough tears to keep the eyes lubricated.

Dry eyes are generally recognizable by most but may produce different symptoms for individuals. The following is a partial list of symptoms that you may experience with dry eyes:

• Scratchiness
• Pain in the eyes
• Heaviness of eyelids
• Redness
• Eye Fatigue
• Feeling of a foreign object in the eye
• Blurred vision
• Discharge

Here’s the good news, there are do it yourself remedies for dry eyes that you can try out. Please keep in mind you should consult a doctor if these remedies do not alleviate your symptoms:

1. Wash your eyes and eyelids
Begin by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Gently wet a cloth or paper towel with lukewarm water. Then apply a small amount of baby “no-tears” shampoo or eyelid cleaner—gentle press and dab the cloth or paper towel on your eyelids. Then, rinse your eyes with the same solution and water. Do this for several minutes to relieve dry eyes. If this doesn’t work, then try the next tip.

2. Rest your eyes
A large portion of people nowadays work on computers or other electronic devices. Studies have shown that computer usage results in a reduced blinking rate. Some screens’ color also impacts eye dryness as well. So, you could try removing yourself from the screen and blinking more often to alleviate symptoms.

3. Use natural tears eye drops
Finally, the most common and effective method of treating dry eyes is the use of natural tears drops. These are cheap, effective, and easy to use. Depending on your condition and needs, most people only need to apply eye drops a few times a day for instant and long-lasting relief.

4. Use a humidifier
To help alleviate your symptoms of dry eye syndrome, many folks use a humidifier in their home and particularly in their bedroom as they sleep to restore moisture to the eyes. A humidifier fills the air with moisture so tears will evaporate more slowly, keeping your eyes moist and comfortable. Keep this in mind during times of year when you are running a furnace or central air conditioner, which both decrease indoor humidity.