Krissy Brady
How to relieve dry eyes, according to experts and eye doctors
Dry eye disease affects nearly 5 million Americans each year. However, there are over-the-counter treatments to help soothe your eyes.
Krissy Brady
Krissy Brady
Similar to wipes, Avenova’s lid and lash cleanser keeps your eyes healthy by washing away any excess bacteria that can lead to redness, irritation and inflammation of the eyelids. “I personally think sprays are better because they last longer and aren’t just for one-time use,” said Katsikos.
Silani recommended tea tree oil for people struggling with eyelash mites, which can be a significant contributor to dry eye symptoms. Tea tree oil helps to remove contaminants and prevents eyelash mites from reproducing. Heyedrate’s soap is organic, 100 percent vegan and contains organic green tea, olive oil, coconut oil, raw shea butter and tea tree essential oil to get the job done.
“My current favorite artificial tear is Refresh Relieva PF,” said Wolfe. “It’s a preservative-free formulation, which minimizes irritation to the ocular surface while stabilizing the tear film.” Refresh claimed the Relieva PF Eye Drops is the only preservative-free drop to come in a multi-use bottle.
This one’s a great choice for contact lens wearers, said Kosikos. Its triple-action formula works on all three layers of the tear film, lubricating and hydrating the area while protecting your natural tears from evaporating. It comes in a convenient multi-dose bottle and you don’t have to shake it before use.
Another preservative-free recommendation, Retaine MGD moisturizes, lubricates and protects moderate to severe dry eyes using electrostatic attraction — a fancy way of saying the drops stabilize the tear film and protect against moisture loss.
Leave on this antimicrobial dry eye compress from OcuSci for ten minutes to help hold moisture. It comes with a machine-washable cover to help make cleaning easier. When you have trouble falling asleep quickly, pop the compress into the freezer and wear it to help calm under-eye puffiness.
When chronic MGD causes the oil glands to clog, this can lead to a chalazion (a swollen, painless bump on the eyelid) or a stye (an oil gland infection that causes a painful eyelid lump). That’s when this single eye compress from Bruder comes in handy: Its patented medibeads absorb moisture from the air. Once microwaved, the absorbed water is released as a moist heat that relieves discomfort and speeds up the healing process.
Computer glasses aren’t a direct dry eye reliever, but they do reduce eye fatigue and eye strain, preventing you from adding to the list of uncomfortable symptoms you’re already experiencing. Plus, “glasses, in general, can block the turbulence from wind and fans that can contribute to dryness issues,” said Silani.
These sunglasses come with a patented silicone moisture chamber that reduces tear evaporation and locks in moisture, while also blocking out wind and airborne irritants that can flare up dry eye symptoms.
Living in a drier climate can lead to dry eyes by causing your tears to evaporate faster, and keeping humidity levels above 45 percent can help alleviate symptoms. Enter this super-quiet humidifier by Everlasting Comfort that will last for over two days straight before needing a refill.
Applying this preservative-free ointment just before bed can keep eyes from being exposed to dry air overnight, said Wolfe. It forms a protective layer for all-night relief.
“I recommend this mask for nighttime use in patients whose eyes are dry because of incomplete lid closure at night,” said Wolfe. “These moisture shields help prevent the tears from evaporating from a partially open eye.”
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