Over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, also called artificial tears, are the simplest way to provide relief for a variety of eye irritations, dry eyes being no exception. When most people have dry eye symptoms the first thing they do is to try these types of drops because they add moisture and provide temporary relief from the burning, itching and general discomfort. The natural tendency is to think, “If my eyes are dry, then I need to add moisture,” which makes perfect sense.
Artificial tears come in two forms: those with preservatives (to prevent bacteria) and those without. Eye drops without preservatives are usually recommended for milder cases of dry eyes. Those with preservatives can cause irritation for people with moderate to severe cases which can defeat the purpose.
If you have to constantly keep using artificial tears, this might mean a chronic, more severe case of dry eye disease. If so, it’s advisable to get checked out by an eye doctor with experience diagnosing and treating dry eye disease. You may still be able to use eye drops, but you may require more than just those available over the counter.
Your doctor may then recommend prescription antibiotic or steroid eye drops. Restasis is one example that can increase the eye’s natural ability to produce tears, designed for people who aren’t using anti-inflammatory eye drops or punctal plugs. You can use Restasis together with artificial tears if you follow certain guidelines your doctor can tell you about.
There are other types of prescription eye drops that may be prescribed depending on your diagnosis. An experienced dry eye specialist like ours at Dry Eye Institutes of America™ can help you choose the right one.