What Eye Drops Help Dry Eyes?

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on October 9, 2024

Millions of people have dry eye disease. Dry eye disease is a chronic condition where your eyes don’t produce the right amount or balance of fluids in the tear film.

The tear film is a multi-layered mix of fluids that must have adequate amounts of each ingredient in order to lubricate and protect the surface of your eyes. Moisturizing eye drops are one of the most effective tools for combating the symptoms of dry eyes.

There are many over-the-counter formulations that can give your eyes the relief you need. However, there are also other types of eye drops that can help.

Keep reading to learn what eye drops help dry eyes!

What Types of Artificial Tears Are There?

When it comes to choosing over-the-counter lubrication eye drops, you have many options.

Oil Based Eye Drops

If you have evaporative dry eye, which is caused by a lipid deficiency in your tear film, you can use eye drops that contain lipids or oils. Check the packaging for ingredients like mineral oil or castor oil. 

Hypotonic Eye Drops

If you have dry eye caused by insufficient tear production, you can use lighter formulations. Look for descriptors like hypotonic or hypoosmolar.

These drops will add to your tear volume and soothe the surface of the eye.

Lubricating Ointments

You can find lubricating gels and ointments that offer the same benefits as liquid eye drops. Some people find them to be more helpful and longer-lasting than regular drops.

They can also cling to your eyes in a way that makes your vision cloudy. You may find that using them before bed is helpful, and you can use eye drops during the day. 

Preservative Free Eye Drops

Preservatives in eye drops can be irritating to the delicate surface of the eye. If you use drops multiple times per day, you may want to consider preservative-free eye drops.

Some preservative-free drops come in single-use pods that you can discard after use. Other come in multi-dose bottles with a special cap that prevents bacteria from getting into the packaging.

Be sure to discard unused drops after the expiration date on the package. 

Other Eye Drops

Eye drops that are formulated to reduce redness are not a good choice for relieving dry eye symptoms. They contain ingredients that can be more irritating to your eyes.

Using gentle eye drops that manage the underlying causes of dry eye can reduce redness over the long term. If you wear contacts, make sure any eye drops you use while wearing them are marked safe for contact lenses.

Preservative-free eye drops can also be used while contacts are in. For drops that aren’t safe for contacts, you should take out lenses, wait five minutes, apply eye drops, and then wait another ten to fifteen minutes before putting contacts back in your eyes. 

If over-the-counter eye drops don’t provide adequate relief from dry eye symptoms, call your eye doctor. They can give you prescription eye drops that offer greater relief.

You may also benefit from medications that increase tear production or punctal plugs that prevent tear loss. 

Are you looking for the best treatment options to manage symptoms of dry eye? Schedule an appointment at Missouri Eye Institute in Springfield, MO, today!