Ideal for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, which 86% of dry eye patients have 7Ī warm compress applied to the eyes softens and clears away build-up around the meibomian glands. Compresses are an effective dry eye remedy, especially paired with other self-care treatments. The warm compress is a product that’s pressed against the eyelid and clears blocked tear glands with extended heat. It should not be ruled out as a catalyst for dry eyes. While low tear production garners more attention, MGD contributes equally 6, if not more, to dryness. When these glands are obstructed, tears evaporate off the eye too quickly, due to a lack of oil. The Meibomian Glands line the edges of our eyelids and secrete oil that coats the surface of our eyes, preventing our tears from drying and, in turn, keeping our eyes wet. Warm compresses are an ideal treatment for this second category of dry eye. There are two categories of dry eye disease – Aqueous Tear Deficiency (low tear production) and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD). Refresh Optive Gel Drops Lubricant Eye Gel. Refresh Optive Lubricant Eye Drops For Dry Eyes. If you want to try artificial tears, the following are a good starting point: Occasionally, if these changes do not lead to improvement, a patient may be a candidate for escalated therapy. After 90 days of four-times-daily use, symptoms should improve. We recommend taking some time to experiment with brands, and then if necessary, moving to a daily regimen. It can take time to find the right kind of artificial tears for a patient’s situation. 
They come in sealed, single-dose vials, so shelf-life can be maintained without preservatives. Doctors tend to recommend these in cases of moderate to severe dry eye, when eye drops need to be applied more than four times a day because the preservative can be irritating to the eyes. 3 For Regular Use: Preservative-Free Eye DropsĮye Drops that do not contain chemical preservatives are generally the better choice for patients who need to regularly lubricate their eyes. We suggest that if you do choose eye drops with preservatives, use them occasionally, over a long period of time, and only if you have mild symptoms. An unfortunate side effect of preservatives is that they can damage the eye. Their presence means that these kinds of eye drops have a long shelf-life, even after they’ve been opened. For Occasional Use: Eye Drops with PreservativesĬhemical preservatives prevent the spread of bacteria.
Unpreserved Eye DropsĪnother important choice patients have is preserved or unpreserved eye drops. Gels are best for dry eye patients seeking relief from bedtime until morning. That’s because the thicker texture provides longer-lasting relief, but at the expense of vision - gels are more likely to cause short-term blurred vision while they’re being used. High viscosity artificial tears, also called gels, are the preferred option for people whose chronic dry eye gives them pain at night. Think of these as a low maintenance option for less severe cases of dry eye. Another advantage is that they’re less likely to cause blurred vision. They do, though, offer faster relief than other options. Low Viscosity Drops Provide Quick ReliefĪrtificial tears with low viscosity don’t provide long-lasting effects, so they need to be reapplied frequently. Low viscosity tears are thinner, with the texture of eye drops, while high viscosity tears are closer to a gel-like texture.
There are many kinds of artificial tears, so it’s important to find the ones that work for you and the underlying conditions that are causing your chronic dry eye.Īrtificial tears come in varying levels of viscosity (thickness).
Available with or without preservatives, and in high or low viscosityįinding the Artificial Tears That Are Right For You. They’re among the most common treatments for dry eye. 2 If you have issues with the availability, quality, or quantity of your tears, artificial tears fill the gap. Artificial TearsĪrtificial tears are a simple, straightforward treatment for dry eyes that work by lubricating the eyes and decreasing dryness. Fortunately, effective self-care products are easy to get your hands on - they can be purchased online and or at your local pharmacy, and they don’t require a prescription. We recommend our readers get started on self-care treatment at the first sign of symptoms. If left untreated, even mild cases have the ability to turn severe, causing lasting damage to the surface of your eyes. 1 Dry eye syndrome isn’t just uncomfortable it can measurably decrease quality of life. #When to use warm eye compress for dry eyes how to
Learn about three common over-the-counter dry eye remedies and how to use them.Ĭhronic dry eye affects up to 50% of the world’s population.
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