Dry Eye Home Care Regimen

Whether you have just learned that you may have dry eye disease, or have been instructed to begin home care by your eye doctor, here is what you need to know to take care of your dry eyes at home

Warm the Eyelids

This can be done via a warm compress that is either microwavable or electronically heated. You can also use a warming eye wand such as the one from Peep Club. Ideally you want to warm the eyelids for 10-15 minutes at a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. However, many device manufacturers and doctors recommend that you begin at the lower temperature and work your way up to avoid burning the sensitive eyelid skin.

You can also gently massage the upper and lower eyelids after the warm compress to help promote movement of the oil inside the oil-producing glands (meibomian glands).

Clean the Eyelids and Eyelashes

Cleaning your eyelids and lashes helps reduce inflammation and control the bacterial and microorganisms (like Demodex!) living on your eyelids. You can use a spray, gel cleanser, or lid wipe depending on your preferences and your doctor’s recommendations.

Ocusoft, We Love Eyes, Optase, and Zocular are great examples of brands that offer several types of eyelid cleansing solutions.

Help Your Tears with Eye Drops

There are several kinds of eye drops designed to help lubricate the eyes. These can be preserved or preservative free; the general rule is to use preserved drops no more than four times per day and then switch to non-preserved. Of course, you should always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

Some examples of eye drop names you might find are Refresh, Systane, Optase, Retiane, Ivizia. If you wear contact lenses, make sure you are choosing a drop that is safe for use over contacts.

DO NOT use drops that are for redness reduction like Rhoto, Visine, and Clear Eyes for this.

Note: Not all drops are lubricating drop, your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory drop like Restasis,, which is meant to combat inflammation associated with dry eye and is not meant to lubricate your eyes. If you are using multiple eye drops, make sure to wait at least ten minutes between drops.

Supplements

There are many supplements that are marketed for dry eye. It is important to know that supplements are not tightly regulated in the US and that not all supplements are the same. To find a good dry eye supplements, look for EPA and DHA amounts on the label- the sum of those numbers should be close to 1000. If in doubt, you should always consult your eye doctor.

Some examples Blink, PRN, HydroEye.

The Gut-Eye-Connection

Research tells us that the gut is very much connected to the rest of our body, eyes included, so taking care of your gut microbiome via good nutrition and appropriate water intake can help improve dry eye.

Check Your Surroundings

Your environment plays a major role in how you experience your dry eye symptoms. In general, a humid environment can help alleviate dry eye symptoms. Conversely, windy and dry environments can make your eyes feel more dry.

For instance, if you have a fan blowing towards your eyes in your car, this speeds up tear evaporation and can make your eyes feel worse. Turning the fan in your car, office, or home away from your eyes and ead will help reduce dry eye symptoms.

When Home Care Isn’t Enough

Many times, dry eye patients need more than care at home alone- just like a diabetic patient may need more than just diet and exercise modifications to control their blood sugar. Ask your eye doctor about what available treatment options that are based on your specific case.