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Itchy, irritated eyes got you down? From eyedrops to medications, these solutions can help you find relief.
We put our eyes through a lot each day. So it’s no surprise that everybody deals with dry, irritated eyes now and again. But for about 16 million Americans, this frustrating feeling happens more regularly. And it can have a widespread impact on daily life.
This condition is called dry eye. It occurs when the glands that create tears “don’t produce enough to lubricate and nourish [the eyes],” says Chantal Cousineau-Krieger, MD, an ophthalmologist with the National Eye Institute. “That can make your eye feel uncomfortable and, in some cases, cause vision problems.”
Dry eye often feels like a burning, watering, itching sensation, or like something is stuck in your eye, says Andrew D. Pucker, OD, PhD. He’s an assistant professor and chief of the Myopia Control Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Other common dry eye symptoms include having red eyes, sensitivity to light and blurry vision.
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Dry eye happens when you don’t make enough tears, or the tears that you do make can’t properly protect your eyes. This means that they may evaporate too quickly or can’t spread around your eyes.
Causes and risk factors of dry eye include:
Conditions such as diabetes, thyroid problems and autoimmune disorders (such as lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome) can contribute, too. A 2021 study in Ophthalmology found that facial rosacea, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral artery disease and smoking also raise your risk for dry eye. Women and people over age 50 experience hormonal changes that may make them more likely to experience dry eye as well.
Fortunately, dry eye is often very treatable. Methods vary based on what’s causing the dry eye and can range from simple over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to surgery. Here's a look at some of the available treatments.
Artificial tears are usually the first line of defense against dry eye, Pucker says. These eyedrops lubricate the eyes. And they’re very effective for most dry eye cases, he says. These drops also come in gel or ointment form.
If OTC eyedrops or ointments don’t work, your doctor might prescribe a medication, such as lifitegrast (Xiidra®). These drops can help your eyes make more tears, Dr. Cousineau-Krieger says.
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Advanced cases of dry eye have the potential to damage the surface of your eyes and harm vision. That’s why doctors will sometimes recommend surgery or other procedures, including:
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You can try several easy day-to-day changes that might help your dry eye. One is applying a warm compress to your eyes for 5 minutes every day, which “can help clear the oil glands in the eye and help tears flow better,” Dr. Cousineau-Krieger says.
She also recommends drinking more water and making sure you get enough sleep. (Are you battling insomnia? Here’s how to find help.)
Be mindful of how your environment is impacting your dry eye, too. You might think about using a humidifier to raise the moisture levels in your home. And whenever possible, don’t sit in front of or under an air conditioning vent, Pucker says. “That’s one simple change that helps people instantly.”
If you often stare at objects such as screens or crafts, that could promote dry eye — or make it worse. The National Eye Institute recommends the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will help prevent dry eye and give your peepers a much-needed (and deserved) break.
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Additional sources
Dry eye overview: National Eye Institute
Conditions linked with dry eye: Ophthalmology (2021). “Systemic conditions associated with severity of dry eye signs and symptoms in the Dry Eye Assessment and Management Study”
Amniotic membrane treatment: Clinical Ophthalmology (2018). “Treatment outcomes in the Dry Eye Amniotic Membrane study”