Dry Eye Treatment Options

Foundational / At-Home Care

First-line options for most patients.

• Artificial Tears: Preservative-free drops used throughout the day. Lipid-enhanced or gel formulas work well for evaporative dry eye.
• Warm Compresses & Lid Hygiene: Daily use of warm compresses (10–15 minutes) followed by gentle lid scrubs to unclog meibomian glands.
• Lifestyle Changes: Blinking exercises, humidifiers, reduced screen time, omega-3 supplements (high-quality fish or flaxseed oil), and avoiding fans/AC directly on the face, moisture chamber goggles at night if needed.

In-Office Advanced Treatments

Highly effective for moderate to severe cases. These leverage technology to address root causes.

• Punctal Plugs: Tiny collagen or silicone inserts to conserve natural tears and maximize the effect of additional eye drops.
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): Reduces inflammation, kills Demodex mites, and improves gland function. Often improves skin texture and appearance as a positive side effect of treatment.
• Thermal Pulsation: Heat and expression of meibomian glands to promote more regular and higher quality tear consistency and visual stability.
• Microblepharoexfoliation: Deep cleaning of the eyelid margins.
• Amniotic Membranes: Thin, biological tissues applied to the cornea to: reduce inflammation, promote healing, prevent scarring, reduce discomfort and improve visual stability.

Prescription Medications

Anti-Inflamatory Drops

• Cyclosporine drops (Restasis, Cequa, Vevye)
• Lifitegrast (Xiidra)
• Short-term steroids (loteprednol)

Targeted Treatments

• Miebo (perfluorohexyloctane)- specifically for evaporative dry eye / MGD.
• Xdemvy (lotilaner)- For eradication of Demodex mites, a common contributor to dysfunctional eyelids and ocular surface.
• Tryptyr (acoltremon)- stimulates natural tear production quickly.
• Tyrvaya (varenicline nasal spray) — Nasal spray that activates tear production via nerves.