Dry eye affects approximately 7% of the U.S. population (16.5 million people), according to the American Optometric Association. It can cause significant daily disturbances and be a sign of a more severe eye concern if left untreated. In this review, we discuss the various methods and approaches to dry eye treatment, both at home and from an eye care professional.
A treatment plan should be personalized according to what works best for the individual patient. There are no cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all approaches. However, there are certain treatments that are more common. Here, we discuss lifestyle changes, home remedies, non-prescription products, prescription medication, and in-office procedures for dry eye treatment.
In many cases, lifestyle changes are enough to manage dry eye in the long term. Each person with dry eye should evaluate their daily routine and determine if there are habits that may be exacerbating the problem. For instance, dry eye may be caused by excessive exposure to dirt and debris. For those who work an outdoor job, simply wearing protective eyewear may be enough to prevent dry eye. It is also vital to reduce the amount of time spent in front of digital screens, particularly for those who work from their computer.
In addition to changes in environmental and work habits, patients should manage any underlying conditions, such as diabetes. Habits like smoking and tobacco use may negatively contribute to the development of chronic dry eye. Patients can also benefit from regular checkups with their eye doctor.
It is essential to keep your eyelids clean for dry eye prevention, particularly for individuals with blepharitis. In addition to washing them regularly with mild soap, it can help to apply a warm (and wet) compress for several minutes. This helps reduce inflammation, irritation, and dry eye.
Non-prescription products are among the most common ways to manage (and treat) dry eye. Specifically, artificial tears are ideal for keeping the eyes lubricated throughout the day and subsequently, preventing dry eye. Although artificial tears are available over the counter, you should check with your eye doctor before using them.
Also, remember that artificial tears do not treat the underlying cause of dry eye, but rather only temporarily deal with the symptom. Ointments are also available, and these are stronger than artificial tears. An eye doctor may recommend ointments if the patient struggles with dry eye throughout the night.
There are special contact lenses that eye doctors may recommend to help patients with chronic dry eye. Specifically, therapeutic contact lenses lubricate the surface of the eye and relieve much of the discomfort that is caused by dry eye. In essence, these contact lenses trap moisture and allow for more tears to remain in the eye throughout the day.
There are also prescription solutions available from an eye doctor for patients who do not see improvements from over-the-counter products, home remedies, and lifestyle changes. Common prescription medications for dry eye treatment include:
The recommended medication depends on what the eye doctor determines is the underlying cause of the dry eye symptom. For many patients, medications seek to treat that cause, given that dry eye is usually part of a larger issue. However, in other cases, the medication may simply provide a way to produce more tears.
In-office procedures for dry eye are not that common. However, there are several procedures that eye doctors may recommend for certain patients who have chronic dry eye that has not improved through other means. Notably, the most common types of in-office procedures for dry eye are:
Are you dealing with chronic or recurring dry eye? If so, then please contact our office today. We can answer your questions and address your concerns, and we can also schedule a consultation time, during which we can review your symptoms and help put together a treatment plan.
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