💧 Dry Eyes
Dry eye is a very common condition that can cause burning, irritation, blurry vision, and discomfort. The good news is that there are many effective treatment options available.
⚠️ Common Causes of Dry Eye
- 💊 Certain medications (as a side effect)
- 🩺 Systemic diseases (such as Sjögren’s syndrome)
- 👁️ LASIK or refractive laser surgery
- 🏜️ Dry climate
- 💻 Reduced blinking while using computers or screens
- 💄 Eyeliner applied inside the lash line (can clog tear glands)
- 🌸 Menopause
👓 Treatments for Patients Who Do NOT Wear Contact Lenses
💧 Artificial Tears (Oasis Tears)
Provides instant relief, but lasts only a few minutes and must be used frequently.
🫧 Liquid Gel (Oasis Tears Plus)
Lasts longer than artificial tears. A better option for mild to moderate dry eye, but still requires frequent use.
🧴 Gel
Lasts even longer but may blur vision for a few seconds.
🌙 Ointment
Lasts the longest but will blur vision for a while. Best used at night before bed.
📌 Note: If you wear contact lenses, these products can coat the lenses and cause blurry vision.
👁️ Treatments for Contact Lens Wearers
- 🌟 Consider daily contact lenses with built-in re-wetting technology
- 💧 Add re-wetting drops as needed if dryness persists
- 🚫 Avoid mixing brands to reduce allergy risk (match drops to your solution brand)
Example: If you use Opti-Free Pure Moist solution, use Opti-Free Pure Moist re-wetting drops.
🌿 Treatments That Work With or Without Contact Lenses
🐟 Omega-3 Capsules (Nordic Naturals)
Helps produce more stable tears. Requires high dosage for best results: 2 capsules of 2,000 mg each every morning. Allow 2–3 weeks before noticing improvement.
Not typically available at pharmacies.
🔥 Warm Mask (Oasis Mask)
Stimulates the meibomian glands (oil glands), improving tear quality.
🌱 Tea Tree Oil Pads (Oasis Tea Tree Oil Pads)
Cleans the openings of the meibomian glands and supports healthier tear production.
💊 Prescription Treatment Options
💧 Restasis
Helps your eyes produce more tears naturally. Allow 3–6 months to notice results. Available by prescription only.
💧 Xiidra
Another prescription eye drop that helps increase natural tear production. Allow 3–6 months to notice results. Available by prescription only.
🏥 Advanced Specialist Options
🧩 Punctal Plugs
Plugs the tear drainage opening (punctum), helping tears stay on the surface of the eye longer. Performed by an ophthalmologist.
🔥 Punctal Cautery
A permanent option where the punctum is surgically closed. Performed by an ophthalmologist.