Tears can be inadequate for many reasons.

Dry eyes feel uncomfortable.

If you have dry eyes, your eyes may sting or burn.

Treatments for dry eyes may make you more comfortable.

These treatments can include lifestyle changes and eyedrops.

You’ll likely need to take these measures indefinitely to control the symptoms of dry eyes.

Your doctor can take steps to determine what’s bothering your eyes or refer you to a specialist.

Dry eyes are triggered by a lack of adequate tears.

Your tears are a complex mixture of water, fatty oils, and mucus.

For some people, the cause of dry eyes is decreased tear production.

For others it’s increased tear evaporation and an imbalance in the makeup of your tears.

Dry eyes can occur when you’re unable to produce enough tears.

The medical term for this condition is keratoconjunctivitis sicca(ker-uh-toe-kun-junk-tih-VY-tis SIK-uh).

Problems with any of these layers can cause dry eyes.

He or she may then refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).

Because appointments can be brief, it’s a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment.

Look for lubricating eyedrops (artificial tears) and avoid those that advocate reducing redness in the eyes.

Eyedrops that reduce eye redness can cause additional eye irritation.

If your symptoms are persistent and more serious, you have other options.

What you do depends on what’s causing your dry eyes.

Some treatments focus on reversing or managing a condition or factor that’s causing your dry eyes.

Other treatments can improve your tear quality or stop your tears from quickly draining away from your eyes.

Or if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist.

Tear ducts can be plugged with tiny silicone plugs (punctal plugs).

Or tear ducts can be plugged with a procedure that uses heat.

This is a more permanent solution called thermal cautery.

Using special contact lenses.Ask your doctor about newer contact lenses designed to help people with dry eyes.

These are called scleral lenses or bandage lenses.

Unblocking oil glands.Dry eyes resulting from blocked oil glands may be helped by a treatment called LipiFlow thermal pulsation.

During the treatment, a rig that looks like an eyecup is placed over your eye.

It delivers a gentle, warm massage to the lower eyelid.

The procedure takes less than 15 minutes.

Talk with your doctor about which might be best for you.

Artificial tears may be all it’s crucial that you control mild dry eye symptoms.

Stopping this daily routine may allow your symptoms to return.

Further study is needed, but some alternative medicine approaches may help relieve your dry eye symptoms.

Discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor.

If you experience dry eyes, pay attention to the situations that are most likely to cause your symptoms.

Then find ways to avoid those situations to prevent your dry eyes symptoms.

For instance:

Updated: 2015-07-24

Publication Date: 2002-09-10