If your eyes are often dry and irritated, you may be suffering from dry eye disease. Dry eye occurs when your eyes are unable to produce sufficient tears or make poor-quality tears that evaporate very quickly.
Dry eye symptoms can be more than an inconvenience. You may have dry eye if you’re experiencing blurred vision, burning or stinging sensation, light sensitivity, or eye redness.
The longer these symptoms linger, the more they can disrupt everyday activities and lower your quality of life. Luckily, treatment options such as artificial tears can aid with dry eye.
Keep reading to learn more about how artificial tears help dry eye.
How Do Artificial Tears Help Dry Eye?
Artificial tears are eye drops, ointments, or gels that supplement your natural tears, adding essential moisture to your eyes and providing enhanced lubrication. This improves the quantity and quality of your tears, which helps relieve dry eye symptoms and protect your eye surface.
Artificial tears are not all the same. There are various kinds, such as:
Over-the-Counter Eye Drops
You can get artificial tears over-the-counter, including:
Artificial Tears with Preservatives
These formulations contain preservatives to discourage bacterial growth once the bottle is opened and extend their shelf life. But, sometimes, the preservatives may cause eye irritation, particularly if you have moderate to severe dry eyes.
Eye doctors typically recommend not using artificial tears with preservatives more than 4 times a day. If you need them more frequently than that, preservative-free drops can be a better choice.
Preservative-Free Eye Drops
Preservative-free drops have fewer additives. They’re gentler on the eyes and minimize the risk of irritation from preservatives, making them more suitable for people with sensitive eyes or moderate to severe dry eye.
Gel-Based Eye Drops
Gel drops are more viscous than regular artificial tears. Because of this, they tend to stay on the eye surface longer, offering extended relief from dry, irritated eyes.
Gel-based drops are ideal for those with moderate to severe dry eye. They can cause temporary blurred vision, so they’re usually administered at bedtime rather than during the day.
Ointments
Ointments are thicker than standard eye drops and gels and can be a good choice for severe dry eye. Their thick consistency ensures they remain on the eye for an extended period, reducing the need for regular application while providing longer-lasting relief.
Like gel drops, ointments can temporarily blur your vision. For this reason, they’re best applied at night when going to sleep.
Prescription Eye Drops
If you still don’t find relief despite using over-the-counter artificial tears, prescription eyedrops can help alleviate your dry eye symptoms. Some can address the root cause of dry eye, such as inflammation or decreased tear production, providing lasting relief from dry eye.
When applying these eye drops, it’s essential to follow your eye doctor’s instructions for enhanced effectiveness. If you’re not sure about which artificial tears to select or your symptoms persist even after using artificial tears, seek professional care at Simone Eye Center to protect your eye and vision health.
Our eye doctors can uncover the underlying cause of your dry eyes and recommend the most effective artificial tears or other dry eye treatment options to bring you long-term relief.
Are you struggling with dry eye? Schedule your appointment at Simone Eye Center in Warren or Macomb Township, MI, today to start your journey towards clear, healthy, and comfortable eyes.
