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How is dry eye syndrome treated?
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To help soothe your dry eyes, you can try artificial tear eye drops or ointments that you can buy over the counter. Don't use eye drops that are meant to treat red, bloodshot eyes. Those might make your eyes feel worse.
You can also try to blink a lot, especially if you spend a lot of time staring at a computer screen. Limit your time in air-conditioned or heated rooms. Try a humidifier in rooms where you spend a lot of time. Wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes from wind and sun.
If your symptoms don't get better. You may need treatment because too much dryness can damage your eyes.
Treatments may include:
- Prescription ointments or eyedrops, such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra). You will need to use this medicine every day for a long time. It's important to find out how much the medicine will cost you. Some people need to take it for years.
- Tear duct plugs. The doctor puts tiny plugs in the openings of your tear ducts. This helps keep your tears from draining out. The plugs can fall out and need to be put in again. Again, it's important to find out how much this will cost you.
