Dry Eye Syndrome Treatments: From Home Remedies to Professional Solutions
Have you had enough of dry eye syndrome? That’s completely understandable, considering just how debilitating the condition can be. From eye redness and irritation to wateriness and blurry vision, you might be desperate for some relief. Thankfully, there are many dry eye treatments available for use at home or in your local eye doctor's office. We’ll cover them in this article. Let's get right into it!
Dry Eye Home Remedies
For many people, the first step in treating dry eye is to try home remedies. Some might flock to social media sites like Pinterest in search of dry eye advice and concoctions. But that's never a good idea. Your eyes are delicate and should be cared for as such. The dry eye home remedies we'll share with you below are all recommended by eye doctors and eye care professionals:
Run a Humidifier at Home
A humidifier is a handy appliance that adds moisture to the air. That moisture helps to lubricate your eyes and reduce bothersome dry eye symptoms. You can find one at your local drugstore, department store, or online.
Be sure to choose a humidifier that's the right size for the room you'll be using it in. Some humidifiers are better suited to small rooms, while others are designed for larger spaces.
If you need a remedy in a pinch, you can also place a flat container of water next to your heater or radiator. In the meantime, this will replicate the effects of a humidifier.
Grab Some Specialized Eyewear
Are you in love with sunglasses? Here's an excuse to wear them even more often. Wraparound sunglasses not only look awesome, but they're extremely protective. When you wear these, they'll stop a lot of the surrounding air from making contact with your eyes and drying them out. You may find them useful while you're out bike riding, motorcycling, or simply spending time outside.
Note: Regular sunglasses don't provide the same wind-blocking protection as wraparound sunglasses, so it's wise to stick with wraparounds.
Do Warm Compresses Daily
One of the biggest causes of dry eye is clogged meibomian glands. These are glands that line your eyelids and produce oils that prevent tears from evaporating prematurely. If you have dry eye, the culprit could be clogged oil glands, and you can combat this issue with daily warm compresses.
The heat and moisture from these compresses work to release those oils. Your eyes will also feel more hydrated and less inflamed after using a compress.
Perhaps the best thing about warm compresses is that they're easy to do. Take a trip to your local drugstore and pick up some moist heat eye compresses. All you have to do is microwave them for 20-25 seconds and place them on your eyes for 10 minutes.
Change Your Computer Setup and Take Eye Breaks
Computer ergonomics are critical to your health. The right setup can prevent or reduce issues like back and neck pain. And the same thing applies to dry eyes. If you set your computer monitor just below eye level, you won't have to open your eyes as wide. This makes them less likely to dry out.
It also helps to take frequent eye breaks where you step away from the computer and look at something that's 20 feet away. You'll blink more and experience less eye strain, both of which are good for dry eye.
Make Some Dietary Changes
Your diet and eye health go hand in hand. If you're not getting the hydration and oils you need, you may feel it in your eyes. So, ensure that you're drinking enough water - from 8 to 10 glasses per day based on your body weight. It may also help to increase your omega-3 fatty acids to fuel your meibomian glands, improving their function.
Do Regular Eyelid Washes
Doing regular eyelid washes is integral to healthy meibomian gland function; it helps to remove dead skin cells, debris, and demodex that can cause dry eye.
Try Over the Counter (OTC) Artificial Tears
Artificial tears have been around for a long time, and you don't necessarily need a prescription to try them out. These eye drops lubricate the eyes by one of two mechanisms. Some work by adding to the aqueous portion of the tear film (the watery part), while others add to the oily portion of the tear film. If you haven't had a formal diagnosis from an eye doctor, you may not know which type of artificial tears you need. However, these products are generally safe, and there's usually no harm in trying either of them to see which works for you.
Note: Always choose artificial tears without preservatives - they are healthier for your eyes in the long term.
Should You Try Dry Eye Home Remedies?
At-home remedies can sometimes be very effective, but they are generally reserved for those with mild dry eye. If your dry eye is severe or worsening, it'd be a better idea to look into professional treatments.
Eye doctors are an indispensable resource when it comes to dry eye care. They have resources, equipment, and prior training that everyday folks simply don’t have access to. So, for moderate to severe dry eye, we recommend exploring professional dry eye treatments.
Diagnostic Methods Eye Doctors Use Before Dry Eye Treatment
Before exploring dry eye treatments, your eye doctor will diagnose your unique eye issue. Here are a few diagnostic methods they might use:
Examine the Overall Health of Your Eyes
Your eye doctor will conduct an eye exam and chat with you about your eye health and your general health. They'll also do a few preliminary tests to evaluate things like color vision, peripheral vision, etc. This step shouldn’t be skipped, given that there are many other issues that could be causing your symptoms. It's crucial to cover all bases when it comes to an organ as important as your eyes.
Conduct Dry Eye-Specific Tests
In addition to your standard eye exam, your eye care professional will conduct tests for dry eye. They may include:
Schirmer's test: This test measures your eye’s tear production. The doctor will place a strip of paper inside your bottom eyelids. You'll then close your eyes for 5 minutes. After that time, the doctor will measure how far your tears have traveled down the paper. If they haven't traveled 15mm, that's enough to diagnose you with dry eye.
Meibography: During meibography, the doctor will take several photos and videos of your meibomian glands - the oil glands along your eyelids. These images tell the doctor a lot about the structure of your oil glands, help to assess inflammation, and more. This test requires highly advanced equipment, like the Oculus Keratograph 5M.
Tear breakup time (TBUT): This test is designed to measure how long it takes for your tears to evaporate from your eye's surface. It also yields information about the stability of your tears. To conduct the test, the doctor will dye your eye with a fluorescein orange dye, shine a blue light on your eye, and assess how quickly the dye evaporates. This method may also be used to determine whether dry eye has damaged your eye's surface.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of testing methods for dry eye exams. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any tests they plan on conducting and what the results mean for you.
Professional Dry Eye Syndrome Treatments
Once your doctor has determined that you do indeed have dry eye, they may recommend one or more treatment options to help you.
If you have mild or sporadic dry eye, your eye doctor may suggest over-the-counter artificial tears. They can make your eyes feel better and prevent or reduce the risk of damage from dry eye. However, more serious cases of dry eye may require prescriptions or procedures.
Prescription Medications
When it comes to prescription medications for dry eye, there are several options. Here are a few of them:
Medication to increase the amount of tears your eyes produce.
Eye inserts used daily to lubricate the eyes.
Eye drops to reduce inflammation in your cornea (the outermost layer of your eye).
Antibiotics to stop eyelid inflammation and address blockages in your oil glands.
Lubricating eye drops made of your own blood and a salt solution. This treatment is reserved for cases where other treatments have failed.
Whenever you're prescribed any medication, be sure to ask about side effects and usage instructions.
In-Office Therapies
Your eye care professional may also recommend one or more therapies based on your dry eye exam. Some of them include:
Light Pulse Therapy - Intense pulsed light (IPL) is used for dry eye treatment when the more common treatments are ineffective. The light targets your meibomian glands and reduces congestion and inflammation to improve their function.
Thermal Therapy - This quick treatment addresses drainage issues in your meibomian glands. During the procedure, the doctor will place a protective lens between your eyelid and your cornea to keep the heat from damaging your eye. It will also apply heat to your eyelids to release any gland blockages and restore healthy oils for better tear quality.
Punctal Plugs - Another treatment for dry eye involves partially or fully blocking your tear ducts so your tears won't drain as quickly from your eye. These plugs are made of silicone and can be removed at a later date.
Professional Cleaning of Your Eyelids and Lashes
Zest, or Zocular Eyelid System Treatment, is an in-office dry eye treatment professionals use to clean demodex, debris, and dead skin from your eyelids and lashes. With the gunk cleaned away, your eyes will be better able to produce healthy tears. On average, you can expect the procedure to take about 10 minutes to complete. You may also be instructed to continue regular eyelid and lash cleanings at home.
Get Dry Eye Treatment Today
So, there you have it - everything you need to know about dry eye treatments. If you have any questions or need assistance with dry eye, we recommend talking to a professional. And if you're local to the Charlotte, NC area, text or call us at 704-766-1130 to schedule an appointment for a dry eye evaluation. We wish you the best on the road to better eye health.