Medical conditions and issues related to eyes are often seen as trivial. However, they can be a major deterrent to your productivity. Dry eyes are one such problem that affects millions of people.

The increasing use of smartphones, laptops, etc., which keeps you glued to the screen is seen as a significant contributor to the problem. Dry eyes lead to redness, discomfort, irritation, and blurred vision. Hence, this is a serious concern that needs to be paid attention to.

Once, you have diagnosed that you are suffering from this condition, you need to find solutions for dry eyes. Dry eyes have different causes and also vary in the level of dryness. Some people experience temporary symptoms while they are working on a screen which goes away when they take a break. However, for some people, the situation can be more severe.

There are numerous eye care solutions in the market, and you can choose whichever suits your requirements. Let us discuss these eye care solutions to understand which ones can be helpful for your condition.

1. Warm compresses

One of the primary causes of dry eyes is meibomian gland dysfunction. This is also known as evaporative dry eye, where the oils fail to protect the natural tear film. Warm compresses are an age-old home remedy that can help in unclogging the blockages and adds moisture to the eye. It also provides relief from temporary discomfort and soothes the eye.

Warm compresses for eyes can take many forms.

It is available in the form of single-use self-heating pads that you can place over your eyes to provide heat to the area and clear blockages. Also, there are goggles with moisture pads and gels that can be used for a few minutes to provide relief from dry eyes. It stimulates tear production soothes the eyelids and area around the eyes.

However, you can also use hot water and a washcloth to provide warmth and lubrication to dry eyes.

2. Eye drops

Eye drops are the easiest way to treat dry eyes. Numerous eyes drop for dry eyes are available over the counter. It provides the eyes with the necessary lubrication and eases discomfort. Your doctor can also prescribe an eye drop with antibiotic or anti-inflammatory properties depending on your specific condition.

3. Artificial tears

These are amongst the most common solutions for dry eyes. It adds moisture to the eyes and provides relief from irritation and dryness. However, they do not fix any underlying causes of dry eyes.

The artificial tears need to be reapplied from time to time to keep the eyes moist, which can be slightly inconvenient.

4. Eye inserts

Another solution that works just like artificial tears and can be used when artificial tears fail to bring the desired results. However, their usage differs from the artificial tears. The eye inserts are similar to a transparent grain. It is inserted in between the lower eyelid and the eyeball. The insert dissolves and provides moisture to the dry eyes like artificial tears.

5. Autologous blood serum drops.

Autologous blood serum drops are obtained from the person’s blood and are amongst the best solutions for dry eyes. The blood of the patient suffering from dry eye is collected and processed. It is then mixed with saline water to obtain blood serum drop.

These eye drops are used in severe cases of dry eyes where other methods do not work well. It mimics the biochemical properties of natural tears and can heal numerous ocular surface diseases.

Apart from the above-mentioned methods, some in-office procedures and surgeries can provide relief from dry eyes. However, the choice of a solution depends on the symptoms and the causes of the eye condition.

For example, for menopausal women suffering from dry eyes, a health care provider may recommend HRT (hormone replacement therapy) as a treatment alternative. However, this may not be suitable in other cases.