Dry eyes sting, burn, or feel gritty — and they can ruin a day fast. If your eyes water after typing, TV, or being outside, you're not alone. These quick, proven steps can ease symptoms while you and your clinician find the right long-term plan.
Start with simple fixes at home. Use preservative-free artificial tears when your eyes feel dry — one drop as needed, more often during screen use or flights. Apply a warm compress for five minutes to loosen blocked oil glands, then gently massage your eyelids toward the lashes to help oil flow. Blink breaks help too: set a 20-minute timer and pause for 20 seconds to blink fully.
Change your environment: run a humidifier in dry rooms and avoid direct airflow from fans or air vents. Reduce screen glare and raise your monitor slightly so you look down at the screen — that lowers tear evaporation. Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to protect against wind. If you smoke or spend time around smoke, cut exposure — smoke makes dryness worse.
Check what you eat and take. Omega‑3 supplements can improve tear quality for many people; talk with your clinician before starting one. Certain medications cause dry eyes — antihistamines, some blood pressure drugs, decongestants, and antidepressants. Ask your prescriber if an alternative is possible.
See an eye doctor if symptoms persist, vision blurs, or pain or light sensitivity appears. Your clinician will check tear production and tear film quality with tests like Schirmer strips or tear breakup time, and may use dyes to spot surface damage.
Medical options range from prescription eye drops that reduce inflammation (cyclosporine or lifitegrast) to procedures that conserve tears. Punctal plugs block tear drainage so your natural tears stay on the eye longer. For meibomian gland dysfunction — a common cause — in‑office gland expression, thermal pulsation (IPL or LipiFlow), or lid hygiene routines can help. In severe cases, doctors may recommend autologous serum drops or contact lenses designed to trap moisture.
If you wear contacts, switch to daily disposables or lenses made for dry eyes. Remove contacts before sleeping and follow cleaning instructions closely. Makeup can clog glands; use oil-free products and cleanse lids gently.
Track what makes your symptoms worse and bring notes to your appointment: time of day, activities, and which drops help. That makes diagnosis faster and treatment more precise.
Make a follow-up plan with your eye doctor — try treatments for several weeks and note changes. If one prescription fails, don’t give up; adjustments are common. Ask about insurance coverage for procedures like punctal plugs or IPL before scheduling. Small daily wins add up: better sleep, fewer eye drops, vision.
Short-term relief is often simple, and long-term control is usually possible with a mix of lifestyle changes and targeted treatments. If pain, sudden vision changes, or intense redness occur, get urgent care. Dry eye can be managed — you don’t have to live with constant irritation.
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