Being diagnosed withdry eyecan spark some serious self-pity.
Are you doomed to a lifetime of scratchy,burning, dry-as-sandpaper eyes?
Theres a lower mucous-based layer that binds with the water in your tears to help keep your eyes moist.
Photo: Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe styling by Yuiko Ikebata. Hair by Jerome Cultrera. Makeup by Ingeborg.
This helps keep your tears from evaporating too quickly.
If its not working the way it should, you have dry eye and should treat it.
There are some great dry eye treatments out there that can help relieve youreye irritationand hydrate your eyes.
Here are the best options available, plus when your doctor may recommend that you try them.
Prescription dry eye medications
There are a few different options here depending on whats going on with your eyeballs.
The other FDA-approved dry eye treatment is lifitegrast, which alsoappears to suppress eye inflammationthat can promptdry eye symptoms.
Other prescription treatments can target different causes of dry eye.
Each insert looks like a clear grain of rice.
This is a battery-operated machine that uses a unit resembling an eyecup.
For some people, one treatment is enough (combined with any other dry eye treatments they use).
Others need periodic treatment with the gadget, Dr. Fogt explains.
These are usually used when you have moderate to severe dry eye, Dr. Massaro-Giordano says.
[They create] a protective layer of fluid that keeps the cornea hydrated all day.
This helps keep tears from draining from your eye too quickly.
Putting a plug in is like placing a stopper in a tub, Dr. Shibayama explains.
It reduces the outflow of tears and keeps more tears in the eyes.
Eye drops made from your own blood
Yes, really.
This sounds like something straight out of Netflixs latest original horror movie, but its real.
For the best results, you might need to make some lifestyle changes, too.
Exhibit A: warm compresses.
If your current dry eye treatment and lifestyle changes just arent doing the trick, seek medical advice.
Keep talking with your eye doctor, Dr. Fogt says.
If your symptoms are worsening, your treatment plan may need to change.
Often, multiple elements of treatment are needed.
