What Are the Treatments for Dry Eyes? Your Guide

Medically Reviewed By Ann Marie Griff, O.D.

You may experience dry eyes if you do not make enough tears or if there is a problem with the tear layers. When this happens, your doctor may recommend medical treatments and home remedies. Punctal plugs or surgery may also be necessary. This article discusses the over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications your doctor may recommend for dry eyes. It also looks at home remedies and lifestyle changes, the causes and symptoms of dry eyes, when to contact a doctor, and more.

What are the medical treatments for dry eyes?

A person is putting in eye drops.
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Depending on the cause of dry eyes, your doctor may recommend OTC or prescription medications. These can alleviate your symptoms and treat the underlying cause. Your doctor may also recommend punctal plugs or surgery.

Over-the-counter medications

For a mild case of dry eyes, your doctor may recommend OTC eye drops known as “artificial tears.”

Artificial tears act like your natural tears to help your eyes to stay wet enough. Your local pharmacist may offer numerous brands of artificial tears. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises that you may need to try a few until you find one that works for you.

In general, you can use artificial tears as frequently as you need to. However, if you use them over 6 times per day, or if you are allergic to preservatives, it is important to use artificial tears that are preservative free. This will help to reduce eye irritation.

If you do not like using eye drops, ask your pharmacist about moisturizing ointments and gels. These may also help with dry eyes.

Prescription medications

You may need prescription eye drops for a more serious case of dry eyes. This can include Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source lifitegrast (Xiidra) and cyclosporine (Restasis).

Cyclosporine is an immunomodulator. It helps your eyes to produce more tears by decreasing swelling. You may need to use it several times a day.

Lifitegrast is an LFA-1 antagonist. As with cyclosporine, it reduces swelling to encourage tear production, and you will typically need to use it twice a day.

Punctal plugs

If your tears quickly leave your eyes, your doctor may recommend tear duct plugs, also called punctal plugs.

Punctal plugs are silicone or gel plugs that your doctor will insert into your tear ducts. This helps your natural tears to remain in your eyes for longer, reducing the risk of dry eyes.

Surgery

Although surgery for dry eyes is uncommon Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source , your doctor may recommend a procedure to help your tears stay in your eyes if your lower eyelids are too loose.

Surgery to close your tear ducts may also be an option. This prevents tears from leaving your eyes too quickly and causing dry eyes.

Your doctor may only recommend surgery in severe cases of dry eyes where no other treatments help to alleviate your symptoms.

What are the home remedies for dry eyes?

There may be things you can do at home to alleviate symptoms of dry eyes.

Steps you can take to reduce dry eyes and prevent them include Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source :

  • using a humidifier to prevent the air from becoming too dry
  • limiting the amount of time you spend looking at computer or phone screens
  • wearing wraparound sunglasses when outside to protect your eyes from the wind
  • avoiding spending time in air conditioning or environments with smoke
  • drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated

What are the symptoms of dry eyes?

If you have dry eyes, your eyes may feel:

  • gritty
  • irritated
  • scratchy
  • burning

Other symptoms you may experience include:

  • excessively watering eyes
  • feeling like you have something in your eyes
  • sensitivity to light
  • stringy mucus near the eye
  • blurry vision

Contact your doctor if you notice changes in your eyes or your vision. They will be able to perform tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and advise on any treatments they recommend.

What is the main cause of dry eyes? 

Dry eyes occur when your eyes are unable to make enough tears or when your tears do not work as they should.

This can happen for a number of reasons. In particular, the body is unable to make tears as easily as it ages. This means that you are more likely to experience dry eyes after the age of 50 years Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source .

Dry eyes are also more likely to happen during pregnancy and menopause. This is due to the hormonal changes that happen during these times.

Certain health conditions also increase your risk of dry eyes. These include:

  • autoimmune disorders such as lupus or Sjögren’s disease
  • diabetes
  • thyroid problems
  • blepharitis
  • meibomian gland dysfunction

Other factors that increase your risk of dry eyes include:

  • taking certain medications for allergies, depression, or high blood pressure
  • spending time in windy or dry environments
  • spending a lot of time looking at device screens
  • having laser eye surgery, which may affect how well your eyes produce tears

Contact your doctor if you have concerns about the risk factors for dry eyes.

When should I see a doctor?

Contact your doctor or pharmacist as soon as you experience symptoms of dry eyes.

Your pharmacist may be able to recommend suitable OTC artificial tears for mild cases. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend prescription-strength eye drops.

How do doctors diagnose the cause of dry eyes?

To diagnose dry eyes, your doctor may begin by taking a full medical history, carrying out a physical exam, and asking you questions about your symptoms.

They may then order tests to take a better look at your eyes and confirm the diagnosis. Tests may include Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source :

  • Slit lamp test: This involves putting drops in your eye and then looking at your eye with a light and a microscope called a slit lamp.
  • Schirmer’s test: This involves numbing your eyes with eye drops and then holding a piece of paper to your eye’s edge for about 5 minutes. The purpose of the test is to see how much moisture is on the paper at the end of the test.
  • Tear breakup time: This involves placing dye in your eye to see how long it takes for the dyed tear film to cover your whole eye.

Your doctor will be able to explain the tests to you beforehand and answer any questions you may have.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some more frequently asked questions about dry eyes.

What is the most effective treatment for dry eyes?

Eye drops called artificial tears are an effective treatment for dry eyes. They help to keep your eyes wet when your natural tears can’t. If you find that artificial tears are not effective, then your doctor may recommend prescription-strength eye drops.

What is the most common treatment for dry eyes?

Artificial tears are the most common treatment Trusted Source National Eye Institute Governmental authority Go to source for mild cases of dry eyes. If the OTC eye drops do not alleviate your symptoms, or if your symptoms worsen, your doctor may recommend prescription eye drops.

What eye drops do doctors recommend for dry eyes?

Your doctor may recommend OTC eye drops for mild cases. In more severe cases, they may recommend prescription eye drops such as cyclosporine (Restasis) and lifitegrast (Xiidra).

Summary

Dry eyes can happen if your eyes do not make enough tears or if there is a problem with the layers of your tears.

If you experience dry eyes, your doctor may recommend either OTC artificial tears or prescription eye drops, depending on the severity of the condition.

If your symptoms do not respond to treatments, or if your condition is severe, your doctor may recommend tear duct plugs or surgery.

Contact your doctor if you experience frequent, persistent, or severely dry eyes. They will be able to advise on medical treatments and home remedies to alleviate your symptoms.

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Medical Reviewer: Ann Marie Griff, O.D.
Last Review Date: 2023 Feb 23
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