The right dry eye treatment often depends on the cause of your condition.
Over-the-Counter Options
For mild or occasional dry eye, artificial tears (dry eye drops) can help lubricate the eyes and relieve symptoms. The best part about artificial tears is that you don’t need a prescription. (6) There are also a variety of options, including drops with electrolytes. These drops not only keep your eyes moist, but also protect the surface of your eyes. (7)
Alternatively, there are eye drops containing preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria after you open the bottle, as well as nonpreservative eye drops. The latter has fewer additives. This is an option if you’re allergic to certain ingredients in eye drops, or if you apply artificial tears more than four to six times a day. (2,7)
Prescription Options
While artificial tears are often the first line of defense for dry eye, more severe symptoms require a prescription from your ophthalmologist or optometrist.
But prescription products don’t necessarily rehydrate the eyes, so you may be advised to use both OTC artificial tears and one of the products listed below.
- The immune-suppressing drugcyclosporine ophthalmic (Restasis) relieves dry eyes by stopping inflammation that interferes with tear production. (8)
- Similarly, the prescription druglifitegrast ophthalmic (Xiidra), a nonsteroid drug that can reduce inflammation, can also adequately manage the condition, says Hauser. (3)
- Corticosteroideye drops may be used temporarily to reduce inflammation. (8)
- Antibiotic eye drops can also reduce eyelid inflammation, helping with the secretion of oil into your tears. (5)
- A tear-stimulating drug —cevimeline(Evoxac)orpilocarpine(Salagen)— is another option for improving symptoms of dry eye, or you might have excellent results with eye inserts that release a substance to increase lubrication. (5)
- The nasal spray varenicline (Tyrvaya) also stimulates an increase in tear volume, but offers a novel delivery method: It is sprayed into each nostril, twice a day, rather than being administered as an eye drop, like most dry eye treatments.
- The drug perfluorohexyloctane ophthalmic (Miebo) is the first prescription dry eye treatment to relieve dry eyes by reducing tear evaporation on the surface of the eye. According toBioSpace, the eye drop forms a layer over the natural tear film, limiting its evaporation.
Surgery Options
Procedures that close the tear drainage holes in the inner corners of your eyelids — either temporarily (with tiny plugs) or permanently (with surgery) — may also be an option if you have dry eye. (2,5)
Closing your tear drainage holes allows the limited volume of tears to remain on your eyes longer.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
If you prefer a natural approach to healing dry eye syndrome, consider acupuncture. A review of 19 studies found that acupuncture therapy combined with artificial tear therapy was more effective than artificial tear therapy alone for dry eyes, although the individual study results varied. (5,9)
Home remedies and making a few lifestyle changes may also alleviate symptoms of dry eye.
If you take a prescription medication for another condition, check with your doctor to see if dry eye is a common side effect of this drug, says Fartash.
Improving dry eye symptoms may require switching to another medication, if possible.
You may also be better off wearing glasses if your contact lenses cause dry eye. (8)
In some people, consuming omega-3 fatty acids from supplements or foods (including fatty fish like salmon and sardines, as well as walnuts andflaxseed) reduces eye irritation, says Fartash. (2,8)
She also suggests using a humidifier to put moisture back into dry air, taking short breaks from technology to give your eyes a rest, and laying a warm, damp washcloth across your eyelids for a couple minutes for relief. (2)
Prevention of Dry Eye
Here’s how else you can alleviate or prevent dry eye: (1,2,8)
- Wear wraparound glasses when outdoors to protect eyes from wind
- Blink often
- Don’t use a hair dryer
- Wash your eyelids with baby shampoo to help release oil into the eyes
- Remove makeup daily
- If you work on a computer, look away from the screen at least every 20 minutes
- Take an antihistamine to relieve allergy symptoms
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to prevent dehydration
- Stop smoking
Contact Lenses and Dry Eye
With regard to contact lenses, dry eyes doesn’t mean that you’re no longer a candidate for contacts. But you’ll need to have a conversation with your doctor about dryness, and then choose a lens that’s comfortable to wear with this condition, such as single-use daily disposable lenses, advises Fartash.
The best contacts for dry eyes are soft lenses, as well as lenses with a low-water content, such as those made from silicone hydrogel. (10)
