Dry Eye Treatment

There are three main options for treating dry eye syndrome

    Adding Tears
  • Eye drops are similar to your own tears. They lubricate the eyes and maintain moisture. Artificial tears are available without a prescription, and there are many brands on the market, so you may want to try several to find the one you like best. Preservative-free eye drops are available if you are sensitive to the preservatives in most artificial tears. If you need to use artificial tears more than every two hours, then preservative-free brands may be better for you. You can use the preservative-free tears as often as necessary, from once or twice a day to as often as several times an hour.
    Conserving Tears
  • Conserving your eyes' own tears is another method of keeping the eyes moist. Tears drain out of the eye through a small channel in your eyelid into the nose. This is why your nose runs when you cry. We may close these channels either temporarily or permanently using punctal plugs. This closure conserves your own tears and makes artificial tears last longer. Natural tears are retained rather than drained away, which allows more natural lubrication for the eye.
    Other Treatments for Dry Eyes
  • You can take steps to prevent the evaporation of tears. In winter, when indoor heat is on, a humidifier adds moisture to dry air. Wrap-around glasses may reduce the drying effect of the wind, but are illegal to wear while driving in certain states.

Anything that may cause dryness, such as an overly warm room, hair dryers, or wind should be avoided by a person with dry eye. Smoking is especially bothersome. Some people with dry eye complain of "scratchy eyes" when they wake up. This symptom can be treated by using an artificial tear ointment at bedtime.