According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), nearly 16 million Americans have dry eye and seek relief from dry eye symptoms. Because it is so common, many different options for dry eye treatment can provide relief. Specialists at your nearest dry eye clinic can help. Chances are, you or someone you know suffers from dry eye. You don’t have to suffer needlessly and can seek treatment today.

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye occurs when your eyes don’t have enough tears to stay wet. Dry eye can happen because your glands do not produce enough tears, your tears dry up too quickly, or your tears don’t work correctly. Dry eye makes your eyes uncomfortable and, in severe cases, can cause vision problems. Common symptoms of dry eye include:

• Discomfort and irritation in the eye
• Scratchiness and itching
• Grittiness or feeling of a foreign object in the eye
• Burning or stinging
• Tearing
• Redness
• Discharge from lids or eye
• Tired eyes
• Vision disturbance
• Light sensitivity

Dry eye can affect anyone at any age. However, you are more susceptible to dry eye if you wear contact lenses or live in a dry environment. If you are female, are 50 years or older, or suffer from certain autoimmune conditions such as lupus or Sjogren syndrome, you are also more likely to have dry eye. Lastly, if your diet is low in vitamin A or omega-3 fatty acids, you are more likely to have dry eye.

4 Dry Eye Treatments to Combat Symptoms

There are many different treatment options to combat dry eye symptoms. There is no all-encompassing approach to dry eye treatment; your specific plan will depend on your symptoms, severity, and cause. However, knowing standard treatment options and what may work best for you is valuable when counseling with your doctor.

Over-the-Counter Treatment

Over-the-counter treatment options are products that do not need a prescription. They are considered the first line of defense for dry eye and include:

• Artificial tears
• Moisturizing gels
• Eye ointments

Improper use can make conditions worse. Preservative-free solutions are the best option. Products with preservatives or additives promising to clear up red eyes can also worsen dry eyes. Make sure always to follow package instructions and advice from your eye doctor when using these products.

Prescription Treatment

If your dry eye symptoms are moderate to severe, your doctor can prescribe medicated eye drops to increase tear production. These products, called cyclosporine (Restasis), lifitegrast (Xiidra), and corticosteroid, help your eyes produce more tears in the following ways:
According to the NEI, Cyclosporine decreases damage to the cornea, increases tear production, and reduces dry eye symptoms. It may take three to six months for the medication to be effective.
Lifitegrast minimizes the inflammatory cycle caused by dry eye and increased tear production. It takes about two weeks for results.
Corticosteroid eye drops are a temporary solution for severe dry eye to decrease inflammation in the eye; your doctor may pair corticosteroid drops with cyclosporine in severe cases.

Your doctor may also prescribe a scleral contact lens designed to help hydrate dry eyes.

Surgical & Medical Treatment

Your eye doctor may recommend surgical or medical treatment for quicker, more long-lasting results. These treatments range from mildly invasive to permanent and include:

Tear Duct Plugs

Plugging the tear ducts can slow the drain of natural tears, keep your eyes wetter for longer, and help reduce dry eye symptoms. Plugs for the tear ducts can be either removable or permanent. Removable plugs, known as punctal plugs, are tiny silicone or gel-like plugs placed in the tear ducts as a temporary solution. Punctal cauterization is a surgery that permanently closes the ducts for a long-lasting, irreversible fix.

LipiFlow®

Moderate to severe dry eye can also be caused by an imbalance in the chemical makeup of your tears. If your eyes are not producing enough lipid, an oil layer on your eye, then there may be a block in your Meibomian glands, or you may suffer from evaporative dry eye. If this is the case, your doctor may recommend LipiFlow, an in-office procedure that applies heat and pulsatile pressure to clear and open the Meibomian glands. Effective results can occur after as little as one 12-minute treatment.

Lower Eyelid Surgery

In some cases, dry eye occurs because tears drain too quickly from a loose lower eyelid. Surgically fixing your lower eyelids to slow the drainage of tears is another less common way to help improve dry eye.

Natural Remedies & Lifestyle Change Treatments

There are many different natural remedies and lifestyle changes that you can make to increase eye health and lower dry eye symptoms. They range from diet to environment and can significantly impact your eye health.

Change Your Diet

You can make simple diet changes to decrease dry eye symptoms. First, make sure you are eating enough vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in foods like carrots, broccoli, and liver. Also, increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, walnuts, and vegetable oils. Consider taking a supplement if your diet does not allow you to have these foods. Always consult your doctor before adding supplements to your diet.

Make sure you are drinking enough water every day. An adult should drink 8 to 10 glasses a day.

Assess any medications you are currently taking. If a medication you take for another health condition is causing dry eye, talk to your doctor about trying a different option.

Create a Healthy Environment:

Small changes to your home and work environment can decrease dry eye symptoms.

• Try to avoid smoke, wind, and air conditioning
• Use a humidifier in your home to keep the air from getting too dry
• Limit your screentime use and take breaks from staring at screens, such as phones, computers, and televisions
• Wear sunglasses when outside

Have a Healthy Eye Care Routine

You can increase eye comfort in your home using a few simple and healthy tips.

• Get enough sleep, around 7 to 8 hours each night
• Use warm compresses on your eyes
• Give yourself a gentle eyelid massage
• Use eyelid cleaners
• Consider specialized goggles to seal in moisture around your eyes

Visit Excel Eye Center’s Dry Eye Clinic for All Your Dry Eye Needs

If you suffer from dry eye symptoms, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor at the Dry Eye Clinic at Excel. Visiting an eye doctor who specializes in dry eye symptom relief is the best way to determine which treatment option will prove most effective and give you quick relief.

Excel Eye Center has provided world-class, state-of-the-art healthcare to our patients for over 100 years. We provide kind, caring, courteous, and efficient service recognized by our patients and the medical community across the country. Our experienced and professional doctors will provide regular checkups and ongoing care to monitor your progress and make your dry eye symptoms a thing of the past. Let us help you experience dry eye relief like never before.

We have several locations throughout Utah County and Central Utah, find one near you. Call today to schedule an appointment for dry eye treatment or evaluation.