There are a variety of dry eye treatments available to provide relief from dry eye. Once your eye care professional identifies the underlying cause of your dry eye, he or she will work with you to design a flexible treatment plan customized to your needs. If your dry eye is caused by your environment or behavior, you may be advised to make small changes. These can be as simple as reducing the speed of ceiling fans in your home — or remembering to blink more often when you use computers. Your eye care professional might recommend drinking more water or eating foods or supplements high in omega fatty acids or vitamin A. Your tear production may also be the cause of your dry eye. Eye drops including prescription medications, artificial tear drops, gels, or ointments are often used to increase eye moisture or tear production and may be used in combination with other treatments. Another option, called punctal plugs, retains tears in the eye by blocking the tear drainage canal. If you are experiencing dry eye as a result of another condition, your eye care professional will also treat that cause. For example, if you wear contact lenses, you may need to try other types of lenses. If you have inflamed or clogged eyelid glands, your doctor will offer methods to treat the glands ranging from at-home lid hygiene techniques to in-office procedures.

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