Dry eye is more than just uncomfortable. It can hurt your vision. Treatments and some simple actions can bring welcome relief to your sore eyes.
Add More Tears
Your natural tears bathe and soothe your eyes every time you blink. If you don’t make enough tears or they evaporate too quickly, your eyes get dry. They can get infected and the surface of your eye can get damaged if dry eye isn’t treated.
Water, oil, and mucus make up healthy tears. Eye drops called artificial tears mimic your real ones. They’re usually what doctors suggest first. You can choose from lots of over-the-counter brands at the drugstore, but try to go with a brand your doctor recommends. You may have to try a few before you find one that works for you.
Drops come with or without preservatives. If you use artificial tears four or more times a day, choose a brand that doesn't have them. Preservatives can irritate your eyes.
Artificial tears also come in thicker gels and ointments. Use these if the regular drops don’t do the trick. Use them before bed because the thick liquid can blur your vision.
Prescription Meds
Sometimes, artificial tears aren’t enough and dry eye is long-lasting (chronic). Your doctor may suggest cyclosporine (Cequa, Restasis, Vevye) drops. This medicine helps make more of your own tears by calming inflammation in the tear glands.
You’ll use it twice a day. It may take up to six months to work, and it may cause some irritation at first.
A new eye drop called lifitegrast (Xiidra) also curbs inflammation and can improve signs and symptoms of dry eye. You use these drops twice a day, too. You may get relief in as little as two weeks.
If your dry eye is serious, you might need a type of corticosteroid called loteprednol (Eysuvis) eye drops to ease inflammation quickly. You’ll use these for just a short time.
Varenicline (Tyrvaya) is a nasal spray you use take twice a day in each nostril to increase tear production and give relief to dry eye.
Perfluorohexyloctane (Miebo) is a new type of prescription lubricating eye drop that coats the eye’s surface and keeps moisture from evaporating.
If your symptoms are serious and other treatments haven't helped, your doctor could recommend autologous serum eye drops. These are artificial tears made from a substance in your own blood.
Plug Your Tear Ducts
Your eye doctor may suggest blocking your tear ducts so your eyes stay moist longer. Tiny plugs are put into the ducts at the inside corner of your eyes. These slow down tears from draining into your nose. Instead, they stay on the surface of your eye. The plugs can be taken out later or left in for the long term.
Or your doctor may recommend surgery to permanently close the ducts.
Procedures and Devices
Your doctor can do an in-office procedure with a device that uses heat, massage, or intense pulsed light to clear blocked oil glands on your eyelids. When these glands don't produce enough oil, your tears can evaporate too quickly and cause dry eye.
They might also prescribe therapeutic contact lenses, which help keep your eyes moist and protect them so they can heal.
Warm Your Peepers
Sometimes, the oil glands at the edge of your lids get inflamed and clogged with hardened oil. Heat can melt it so it can flow freely again. Apply a warm wet washcloth to the area for 30 seconds up to four minutes. Do this twice a day when you have symptoms and once a day to keep the problem from coming back.
Eye Massage
This can help push the inflamed melted oil out of the glands. Here’s how to do it:
- With your eyes closed, gently massage your lids by rolling your index finger in a circular motion.
- Or get a cotton swab and roll it down your upper lid toward the lashes and the edge of the lid.
- To massage the lower lids, move your finger or swab up toward your lash line.
- Repeat this five to 10 times.
Clean Your Lids
This can get rid of dried oil or other gunk that’s blocking the gland. Dip a cotton swab into diluted baby shampoo and gently clean along the lash line on your top and bottom lids. Do this once a day. You can also use over-the-counter eyelid cleaners like OcuSoft lid scrubs.
Add Moisture
Use a humidifier to add moisture to indoor air – especially during the winter. Your eyes won’t dry out as quickly. If you live in an area with lots of air pollution, you might also use a good-quality air purifier in your home.
Avoid turning your heater or air conditioner up high, since this can be drying
Lessen Your Screen Time
Using your computer, smartphone, or tablet can dry out your peepers. That’s because you blink less when your eyes are fixed onto a screen.
Follow the 20/20/20 rule. Take a 20-second break from your digital device every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away.
Use artificial tears if you feel symptoms of dry eye while using your devices.
Change Your Contacts
If your contact lenses make your eyes feel dry, your doctor may switch you to a different kind, particularly disposables that you replace every day. Or they may suggest wearing them for fewer hours. You may need to wear glasses if the dryness is serious.
Shade Your Eyes
The sun and wind can zap moisture from your eyes. Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect them from the elements.
Smoke can also dry out your eyes, so don't smoke and do your best to avoid secondhand smoke. Exposure to dust can also dry out your eyes.
