8 Ways to Relieve Dry Eyes

Dry eye syndrome is a lifelong condition that often worsens over time without treatment. While it does not have a cure, there are many treatments to lessen the severity of dry eye symptoms as well as sharpen your vision.

Dry eyes may occur due to a variety of reasons, but here are ten doctor-recommended ways to treat dry eyes.

  1. Eye Drops

Frequent computer use, reading, and schoolwork are all activities that strain our eyes and can cause dry eyes. In these cases, eyes drops or artificial tears are the best options to get relief as most of them are over-the-counter.

  1. Restasis

There is also prescription-strength eye drops you may use in addition to over-the-counter eye drops. Restasis is the most common prescription eye drop treatment. Restasis lubricates your eyes and reduces inflammation for more comfort. However, Restasis for dry eyes does not work as fast as other eyes drop, so you need to use it for up to 3 months to reap the benefits.

  1. Eye Drops with Steroid

Most over-the-counter dry eye treatments, like eyes drops, do not address the issue of inflammation which often triggers dryness. As a short-term solution, eye drops with steroid in them, however, provide fast relief from dry eye symptoms. These eye drops are sometimes taken in combination with Restasis and over-the-counter eye drops as a long-term treatment plan.

  1. Xiidra

In 2016, FDA approved the new drug Xiidra for the treatment of dry eyes, and just as Restasis, Xiidra works to help with inflammation to reduce dryness. It is recommended that you take two doses (12 hours apart) per day for optimum results.

  1. Warm Compress

A non-medical alternative to alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes is to apply a warm compress twice a day for about 10 minutes. Experts say that the ideal temperature for the compress is 108 F.

  1. Lacrisert

Bausch + Lomb’s Lacrisert is another option. Lacrisert is a slow-release lubricant agent taken once a day that keeps the eyes moistened throughout the day. It helps with watery eyes, dryness, itching, and burning sensations.

  1. Tear Duct Plugs

A tear duct plug, also known as a punctal plug, is a device that gets inserted into the tear duct of an eye to plug the duct. While this treatment method prevents drainage, it is also used to treat dry eyes. When your tears remain on the surface of your eye for longer thanks to the device, this keeps your eye moistened.  Even after the insertion of the plug(s), most patients continue to use eye drops.

  1. Supplements

There are certain nutrients and foods everyone who suffers from dry eye should have in their diet, according to doctors. Doctors recommend fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like sardines, salmon, and cod. Flaxseeds are also rich in omega-3 fats. Drinking lots of water is also imperative.

Featured Image: depositphotos/AndreyPopov

Posted on May 5, 2023