Basic Guide To Dry Eye Treatment Options
For some people with dry eyes, regular drops, like those used by contact lens wearers, just don’t do the job. They need more effective dry eye treatment. Modern medicine offers many dry eye treatment options, from over-the-counter medication to surgery. The severity of the condition and inability to control it with other treatments determines which one is used.
If the dry eye problem is caused by medication, there is the choice to either change medication or manage the side effect. With only mild dryness, doctors may suggest staying on the medication. Also, with some medicines there is no alternative, or the alternatives all have less pleasant side effects. More severe dryness in the eyes may prompt doctors to try a different prescription. Often, for dryness which is mainly caused by medication, this fixes the problem entirely and no further dry eye treatment is required.
The easiest and least invasive dry eye treatment is basic re-wetting drops. These can work well for people with mild dryness. It may also be a solution for those on a medication that causes dryness in the eyes, and for which there is no alternative without that side effect. OTC drops usually add moisture to the eyes, and some contain special lubricants. They can help, but are unlikely to cure the condition.
People with a more severe condition may be placed on prescription drops for their eyes. Some doctors prescribe corticosteroid drops to reduce inflammation and soothe agitated membranes. If the problem is caused by or causing an infection, dry eye treatment may include antibiotic drops, as well. For some people, these more advanced, specialized drops control the problem and no further dry eye treatment is required.
Those whose eyes simply do not produce enough lubrication may use a daily tear replacement. This dry eye treatment requires a small, rice sized, insert be placed in the eye once a day. The insert is made of a lubricating agent, like the ones found in eye drops, which dissolves into the eye. It works like a time-release or extended release pill, keeping a constant supply of lubrication flowing onto the eye all day long. Some people prefer this to carrying drops for convenience. Others may find the insert distracting, difficult to place or otherwise uncomfortable. This dry eye treatment may be a bad choice, also, for those who spend a lot of time in unsanitary conditions. It is often easier to keep the tip of a bottle clean than to keep hands disinfected.
If the cause is over-efficient drainage, there are several ways to treat it. The first is to try a dry eye treatment using temporary plugs. The plugs are inserted into the drainage ducts around the eye. They keep the eyes from draining out the natural lubricating tears. After several days they dissolve, like stitches. Sometimes this short span is enough to see a great difference, even clearing up the problem entirely. It is used as a temporary dry eye treatment, to see if a more long-term, though similar, option would work. In some cases it does not help, and alternate treatments must be used.
Those for whom temporary plugs work may continue with a more permanent dry eye treatment involving plugging the ducts draining around the eye. Doctors use the same method to insert a silicone plug in the tear duct. The man-made plug does not dissolve. These will usually stay where they are placed until removed. Sometimes, they may migrate down the duct, pop out, or otherwise become dislodged. In those instances, the plugs would be replaced.
For some patients, plugs and the possible need for replacing them is too much of a hassle, or they have other problems with them. Those patients have the option of a dry eye treatment that involves having some of their tear ducts sealed off permanently. A doctor can cauterize the ducts, which drain into the nasal cavity. This not only cuts or seals the duct, it also causes some scarring. This dry eye treatment has the benefit of being very permanent. The scarring keeps the body from healing and re-opening the duct, and sealing removes the need for plugs. It is also among the most invasive. Being a surgical alternative, it also carries risks associated with any surgery.
As with any medical concern, a doctor should always be consulted before attempting any dry eye treatment. They can offer advice, testing and advanced dry eye treatment options that may not be available without a prescription. Dry eyes aren’t normally cured, but with proper management the discomfort and risks can be minimized.