The latest thinking on dry eye treatments - Harvard Health Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Health Publishing Open mobile menu Menu Close menu Close

Recent Blog Articles

Healthy oils at home and when eating out Why life expectancy in the US is falling Breakthrough in brain stimulation offers cautious hope for depression How well do colonoscopies prevent colorectal cancer? What you need to know How can you find joy (or at least peace) during difficult times? The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help The latest thinking on dry eye treatments What’s the relationship between memory loss and driving? Inflammatory bowel disease: Issues outside the gut Prostate cancer: Can imaging substitute for repeat biopsies during active surveillance? / Diseases & Conditions

The latest thinking on dry eye treatments

October 13, 2022 By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter

Eyes feeling dry gritty and irritated This can help

Ideally, the fix for dry eyes would be an easy one: if you added a little moisture to them, the problem would be solved. In reality, it's not that simple. "Dry eye disease is a chronic, complex condition, and we don't have a strict playbook to follow for treatment. We can't cure it or make it go away, but we can manage it," says Dr. Thomas Dohlman, an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear, and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

What are the types causes and symptoms of dry eye disease

There are two main types of dry eye disease. In one type, called aqueous deficient dry eye, you don't make enough tears to keep the surface of your eye lubricated. "It can happen as a result of age, environment, medication side effects, or certain conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome," Dr. Dohlman says. In the other type, called evaporative dry eye, you can make tears, but these are unstable and go away too quickly. "There are meibomian glands on the eyelids that put out oil on the surface of the eye that stabilizes the tear film," Dr. Dohlman says. "Meibomian gland dysfunction is more common than we think, and many things can affect the oil glands, such as eyelid inflammation, hormonal changes, and medications." People with dry eyes often have a combination of those two subtypes, which can cause eyes to be red or feel like they're gritty or sandy burning or stinging hurting tired. Dry eyes can also give you blurry vision or make your eyelids feel heavy.

Will fish oil help dry eye

Some studies suggest that taking a fish oil supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids may be useful for people with dry eyes. However, the most recent randomized clinical trials - including a large study led by Harvard researchers - have found no benefit of fish oil supplements for dry eye prevention or treatment. Dr. Dohlman isn't ready to dismiss fish oil as a potential treatment. "I think more work needs to be done as far as which populations of patients are studied and which formulations of fish oil they take," he says. "In my practice, fish oil has been a very effective treatment for some of my dry eye patients. And if it's helping, it's worth continuing," Dr. Dohlman says. Before trying fish oil for dry eyes, get your doctor's okay. You wouldn't want to take fish oil, for example, if you're on a blood thinner. In that case, fish oil could increase the risk of bleeding. If you have a green light, Dr. Dohlman recommends taking 2 or 3 grams of fish oil per day for dry eyes. "Try it for a month to see if you notice a difference in dry eye symptoms. If you don't, you can discontinue it," he says.

Other approaches to help ease dry eye

You can also try the following strategies to relieve dry eye. Use artificial tears. Use artificial tears periodically throughout day. The drops don't have to be preservative-free unless you use them more than six times per day. Try warm compresses. Use a wash cloth or warm eye mask. "This helps get the glands flowing and may improve the health of your tears," Dr. Dohlman says. Avoid certain environments. Your eyes will feel drier if you're in a windy, dry, smoky environment, or if you're sitting under an air conditioner. Use a humidifier. This will keep moisture in the air, so it doesn't get too dry. Take a break from electronic screens. "You don't blink as often when you're looking at your computer or smartphone, so be sure to take breaks. Blinking helps restore the tear film on your eye," Dr. Dohlman says. Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated may help your tear ducts pump out more fluid. What if those approaches aren't helping? You might be a candidate for: Medicated eye drops. Your doctor might prescribe an anti-inflammatory eye drop, such as cyclosporine (Restasis) or lifitegrast (Xiidra). Plugs. For people who have aqueous deficient dry eye disease, an ophthalmologist can insert a tiny plug into your tear-drainage duct. Placed in the inner corner of each eyelid, a plug blocks tear drainage and helps your eyes retain moisture. It's a quick procedure that takes place in your doctor's office. The plugs are either temporary (dissolving in days to months) or semi-permanent (lasting at least a few years). Special lenses for people who currently wear contacts. "Wearing contacts can make dry eyes worse," Dr. Dohlman says. "However, there are special types of contact lenses that can actually help protect the surface of your eye and relieve dry eye discomfort." But don't expect one treatment to be the answer. "There isn't a magic bullet to treat dry eye," Dr. Dohlman says. "Like other conditions, it can require a number of strategies and tools."

About the Author

Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter. Before coming to the Health Letter, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow … See Full Bio View all posts by Heidi Godman Share This Page Share this page to Facebook Share this page to Twitter Share this page via Email Print This Page Click to Print

Disclaimer

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. You might also be interested in…

The Aging Eye: Preventing and treating eye disease

As the eyes age, problems with vision become more common. The Aging Eye: Preventing and treating eye disease explains how to recognize the risk factors and symptoms of specific eye diseases - cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy - and what steps you can take to prevent or treat them before your vision deteriorates. Read More

Related Content

Diseases & Conditions

People with kidney disease eat less fruits and veggies

Diseases & Conditions

High blood pressure linked to severe COVID despite vaccination

Diseases & Conditions

Can you hear me now

Eye Health

Free Healthbeat Signup

Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Sign Up Close Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift. The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. I want to get healthier Close Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss...from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. BONUS! Sign up now and
get a FREE copy of the
Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness I want to get healthier Close Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Sign me up