Dry eye develops when a reduction in the quantity or quality of tears occurs, causing the tear film to become unstable and break up earlier than normal, leading to dry spots on the cornea. Dry eye can be treated with a variety of medications and procedures.

Prescription medications used to treat dry eyes include[1]:

– Drugs to reduce eyelid inflammation. Inflammation along the edge of your eyelids can keep oil glands from secreting oil into your tears.
– Eyedrops to control cornea inflammation. Inflammation on the surface of your eyes (cornea) may be controlled with prescription eyedrops that contain the immune-suppressing medication cyclosporine (Restasis) or corticosteroids.
– Eye inserts that work like artificial tears. If you have moderate to severe dry eye symptoms and artificial tears don’t help, another option may be a tiny eye insert that looks like a clear grain of rice. Once a day, you place the hydroxypropyl cellulose (lacrisert) insert between your lower eyelid and your eyeball. The insert dissolves slowly, releasing a substance that’s used in eyedrops to lubricate your eye.
– Tear-stimulating drugs. Drugs called cholinergic (pilocarpine, cevimeline) help increase tear production. These drugs are available as pills, gel or eyedrops.

Other procedures that may be used to treat dry eyes are:

– Closing your tear ducts to reduce tear loss. Your doctor may suggest this treatment to keep your tears from leaving your eye too quickly. This can be done by partially or completely closing your tear ducts, which normally serve to drain tears away.
– Tear ducts can be plugged with tiny silicone plugs (punctal plugs). These are removable. Tear ducts can be plugged with a procedure that uses heat. This is a more permanent solution called thermal cautery.
– Using special contact lenses. Some people with severe dry eyes may opt for special contact lenses that protect the surface of the eyes and trap moisture. These are called scleral lenses or bandage lenses.
– Unblocking oil glands. Warm compresses or eye masks used daily can help clear up blocked oil glands. A thermal pulsation device is another way to unclog the oil glands.
– Using electro field therapy. This type of treatment works by applying low-power high-frequency electric fields, capable of stimulating the metabolism and natural regeneration of cells through a mask over the eyes. This can only be done using our Resono Rexon- eye Dry Eye machine.

To read more about the Resono Rexon-eye Dry Eye treatment and its benefits, click here.

 

References:

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371869