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Dry Eye Treatment

Dry eye syndrome (DES or dry eye) is a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. Its consequences range from minor irritation to the inability to wear contact lenses and an increased risk of corneal inflammation and eye infections.

Signs and Symptoms of Dry Eye

Persistent dryness, scratchiness and a burning sensation on your eyes are common symptoms of dry eye syndrome. These symptoms alone may be enough for your eye doctor to diagnose dry eye syndrome. Sometimes, he or she may want to measure the amount of tears in your eyes. A thin strip of filter paper placed at the edge of the eye, called a Schirmer test, is one way of measuring this.

Some people with dry eyes also experience a "foreign body sensation” – the feeling that something is in the eye. And it may seem odd, but sometimes dry eye syndrome can cause watery eyes, because the excessive dryness works to overstimulate production of the watery component of your eye's tears.

What Causes Dry Eyes?

In dry eye syndrome, the tear glands that moisturize the eye don't produce enough tears, or the tears have a chemical composition that causes them to evaporate too quickly.

Dry eye syndrome has several causes. It occurs:

  • As a part of the natural aging process, especially among women over age 40.
  • As a side effect of many medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medicines, Parkinson's medications and birth control pills.
  • Because you live in a dry, dusty or windy climate with low humidity.

If your home or office has air conditioning or a dry heating system, that too can dry out your eyes. Another cause is insufficient blinking, such as when you're staring at a computer screen all day.

Dry eyes are also associated with certain systemic diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, rosacea or Sjogren's Syndrome (a triad of dry eyes, dry mouth, and rheumatoid arthritis or lupus).

Long-term contact lens wear, incomplete closure of the eyelids, eyelid disease and a deficiency of the tear-producing glands are other causes.

Dry eye syndrome is more common in women, possibly due to hormone fluctuations. Recent research suggests that smoking, too, can increase your risk of dry eye syndrome. Dry eye has also been associated with incomplete lid closure following blepharoplasty – a popular cosmetic surgery to eliminate droopy eyelids.

Treatment for Dry Eye

Dry eye syndrome is an ongoing condition that treatments may be unable to cure. But the symptoms of dry eye – including dryness, scratchiness and burning – can usually be successfully managed.

Your eyecare practitioner may recommend artificial tears, which are lubricating eye drops that may alleviate the dry, scratchy feeling and foreign body sensation of dry eye. Prescription eye drops for dry eye go one step further: they help increase your tear production. In some cases, your doctor may also prescribe a steroid for more immediate short-term relief.

Another option for dry eye treatment involves a tiny insert filled with a lubricating ingredient. The insert is placed just inside the lower eyelid, where it continuously releases lubrication throughout the day.

If you wear contact lenses, be aware that many artificial tears cannot be used during contact lens wear. You may need to remove your lenses before using the drops. Wait 15 minutes or longer (check the label) before reinserting them. For mild dry eye, contact lens rewetting drops may be sufficient to make your eyes feel better, but the effect is usually only temporary. Switching to another lens brand could also help.

Check the label, but better yet, check with your doctor before buying any over-the-counter eye drops. Your eye doctor will know which formulas are effective and long-lasting and which are not, as well as which eye drops will work with your contact lenses.

To reduce the effects of sun, wind and dust on dry eyes, wear sunglasses when outdoors. Wraparound styles offer the best protection.

Indoors, an air cleaner can filter out dust and other particles from the air, while a humidifier adds moisture to air that's too dry because of air conditioning or heating.

For more significant cases of dry eye, your eye doctor may recommend punctal plugs. These tiny devices are inserted in ducts in your lids to slow the drainage of tears away from your eyes, thereby keeping your eyes more moist.

If your dry eye is caused by meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), your doctor may recommend warm compresses and suggest an in-office procedure to clear the blocked glands and restore normal function.

Doctors sometimes also recommend special nutritional supplements containing certain essential fatty acids to decrease dry eye symptoms. Drinking more water may also offer some relief.

If medications are the cause of dry eyes, discontinuing the drug generally resolves the problem. But in this case, the benefits of the drug must be weighed against the side effect of dry eyes. Sometimes switching to a different type of medication alleviates the dry eye symptoms while keeping the needed treatment. In any case, never switch or discontinue your medications without consulting with your doctor first.

Treating any underlying eyelid disease, such as blepharitis, helps as well. This may call for antibiotic or steroid drops, plus frequent eyelid scrubs with an antibacterial shampoo.

If you are considering LASIK, be aware that dry eyes may disqualify you for the surgery, at least until your dry eye condition is successfully treated. Dry eyes increase your risk for poor healing after LASIK, so most surgeons will want to treat the dry eyes first, to ensure a good LASIK outcome. This goes for other types of vision correction surgery, as well.

  • Prolonged computer use can lead to dry eye syndrome for 3 reasons: blue light exposure, infrequent blinking and incomplete blinking. Read on to learn more and discover how a dry eye optometrist can help.
  • Do your eyes burn, itch or feel dry? You may have dry eye syndrome. By consuming certain vitamins, you can get the relief you seek. Read on to learn which ones to consume and why.
  • Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk of developing dry eye. Whether your contact lens is blocking oxygen from entering the eye, or the tear film breaks up, causing the contact lens to irritate the surface of the eye, you can get relief. Read on to learn more about contact lens-induced dry eye and to prevent and treat it.

  • Ocular rosacea is a common eye condition that causes dry eye. While there is no cure for ocular rosacea, we can help you manage it to achieve the relief you need.
  • Using electronic devices like smartphones and tablets has been linked to dry eye syndrome. Read on to learn why it can cause or exacerbate dry eye and discover ways to prevent it.
  • Evaporative dry eye and aqueous deficient dry eye both harm the quality and quantity of the tears our eyes rely on for hydration and comfort. The causes and symptoms of dry eye are wide-ranging, but solutions are at hand.
  • ZocuKit is an exciting in-office treatment for dry eye, demodex, blepharitis, and inflammation.
  • Xiidra is a prescription eye drop used to treat the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease.
  • Lagophthalmos is the inability to completely close one’s eyelids. There are several causes of this uncomfortable, sometimes damaging eye condition, so it’s important to visit your eye doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
  • If your eyes feel gritty or itchy, you likely have dry eye syndrome. Here are a few ways your can enhance your diet for eye comfort and health.
  • Are you waking up with dry, itchy, burning eyes? Many things can cause these sensations: certain medications, your eyelids not closing properly at night, or a thyroid disorder. Read on to learn why you're waking up with dry eyes and how the condition can be treated.
  • BlephEx is a technological device that provides powerful and effective treatment for blepharitis Read on to learn how this treatment method can provide you with the relief you need.  
  • Women are susceptible to developing Dry Eye Syndrome due to lifestyle choices (such as makeup use) and hormonal changes that occur over a lifetime. Post-menopausal women can further increase their chances when using hormonal replacement therapy.
  • LipiFlow is an effective doctor-led procedure for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), a major cause of Dry Eye Syndrome. The device applies warmth and gentle pressure to the meibomian glands, liquefying the oil blockage.
  • If you struggle with dry eye syndrome and have been looking for a more effective treatment method beyond eyedrops and artificial tears, try scleral lenses.
  • Learn about all about Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: the causes, symptoms and treatment options.
  • Take the Speed Questionnaire to assess the symptoms of your eyes that could be hindering the quality of your vision.
  • This article describes the most common factors that can contribute to dry eye syndromes, such as age, genetics, environment, lifestyle, medications, and the overall health of your eyes.  
  • Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL) is an effective and painless treatment that targets the root cause of some forms of dry eye by delivering pulses of light to the area surrounding the eyes. This enables the meibomian glands to resume their vital moisturizing function for long-term dry eye relief and treatment.
  • Hot compress eye masks provide relief to those suffering from dry eye disease and can also be used to treat blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction.
  • Mild to moderate dry eye symptoms can be relieved at home with the use of warm eye compresses. They are easy to make and can also be purchased at drugstores.
  • Keep Up-To-Date with our Dry Eye Blog!
  • Gritty eyes are characterized by an uncomfortable sensation of having sand in your eyes. They are typically caused by certain eye conditions, such as Dry Eye Syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, Blepharitis, and sunburned eyes.
  • Aging increases your chance of developing dry eye syndrome (DES), for several reasons. These include reduced tear production, certain medical conditions, and taking specific medications. Although DES is unpleasant and the symptoms may be irritating, this condition is treatable.
  • LASIK and other refractive surgeries can often lead to uncomfortable symptoms of dry eye syndrome — here’s why.

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